Aristotle famously argued in his 'Politics' that the state is a natural institution. He posited that the state evolved from the family to the village, and finally to the polis (state). This organic view suggests that the state is the final stage of human social development, necessary for achieving the 'good life' and human flourishing.

Aristotle believed that the state is not merely an association for economic survival but a community organized to facilitate the 'good life' (eudaimonia). He argued that the state is a natural institution that allows citizens to achieve their full potential and exercise virtue, which is the ultimate purpose of political association.

The term 'city-state' (polis) specifically describes the independent political units of ancient Greece, such as Athens and Sparta. These entities functioned as sovereign states, encompassing a central city and its surrounding territory, where citizens actively participated in governance, law-making, and the defense of their community, forming the foundation of Western political thought.

This famous quote is attributed to Aristotle in his work 'Politics.' Aristotle used this statement to illustrate his belief that human nature is inherently social and political. He argued that the Polis (city-state) is the only environment where humans can fully realize their potential, morality, and rationality. To exist outside of this political community is to be sub-human or superhuman, as one would lack the social structure necessary for human life.

Aristotle viewed the family as the foundational unit of the state. In his 'Politics', he argued that the family is the natural starting point for human association, which eventually expands into villages and finally the polis (city-state). By providing the basic necessities and initial social bonds, the family serves as the essential building block upon which the more complex structures of political society are constructed and sustained.

Aristotle was born in 384 BC in the city of Stagira, which was a Greek colony located in Chalcidice. His birthplace is often referenced in historical texts as Stagirus or Stagira. This geographical origin is significant as it distinguishes him from the Athenian-born philosophers like Plato, though he later moved to Athens to study at the Academy and eventually founded his own school, the Lyceum.

Aristotle identifies the family (oikos) as the most basic unit of human association. It is the primary structure formed to satisfy daily needs and ensure the survival of the species. From this foundational unit, larger associations like villages and eventually the city-state emerge as human needs become more complex and social cooperation expands.

In his work 'Politics', Aristotle systematically reviewed and critiqued the political theories of his predecessors. He examined the constitutional proposals of Phaleas of Chalcedon, the urban planning and social theories of Hippodamus of Miletus, and the ideal state described by his teacher, Plato, to develop his own empirical political science.

Aristotle is renowned for his analysis of the individual as a 'political animal' who can only fully realize their potential within the context of the polis (city-state). He argued that the state is a natural development, and the individual's life is inextricably linked to the community, emphasizing the importance of civic participation for human flourishing.

The dialogue 'Eudemus' was written by Aristotle in memory of his friend Eudemus of Cyprus, who died in battle. It is one of his early exoteric works, written in the Platonic style of dialogue. While most of his early dialogues are lost, fragments and references in later works suggest it dealt with themes of the immortality of the soul and the nature of death.