ARISTOTELIAN THEORY OF POLITICAL COMMUNICATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LINGUISTIC TURN
The paper addresses the Aristotelian theory of the types of communication: family, community and state. The Aristotelian theory is examined through communication type, kind and individual differences. It is shown that the hierarchy of communication types is defined by the two extremes - speech and thinking. Speech is the generic principle of human communication. Thinking (λόγος) is viewed as an active form, an active principle of human communication. In the Aristotelian hierarchy, the lower level is represented by communication in the family and community, the essence of which is determined by speech. Communication in the family and community fosters the skill of judgment as worldly wisdom. The upper level is represented by political communication, the individual characteristics of which are determined by the form of thought, i.e. one of the methods of persuasion. The paper describes the meaning of political friendship as unanimity allowing citizens involved in political communication to reach agreement and act together for the benefit of all. The paper discusses the generic difference of political communication, which is determined by a specific combination of the form of thinking, i.e. the method of persuasion, with one of the three kinds of rhetorical speech: deliberative, judicial and epideictic (epideixis). The main focus of attention is the deliberative speech that most fully meets the tasks of discussing public affairs and making decisions. The relationship between politics and philosophy as a sphere of pure thinking is described in the context of political communication. It is established that the best political communication is the one in which rulers do not encroach on freedom of thought and freedom of philosophizing. The freedom of thought becomes the guarantor of the achievement of good, justice and equality in the state.