A beast or a god: What Aristotle said about solitude

When Aristotle said, "Ὁ μὴ δυνάμενος κοινωνεῖν ἢ μηδὲν δεόμενος δι' αὐτάρκειαν οὐκ ἐστὶ μέρος πόλεως, ὥστε ἢ θηρίον ἢ θεός" (“He who is unable to live in society, or has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god”), he revealed a profound truth about human nature and its inseparable connection to community. This line, often paraphrased as, “He who delights in solitude must be either a wild beast or a god,” goes beyond the individual. It’s a powerful statement about the human need for society, and more specifically, the city (polis).

The city as humanity’s natural framework

For Aristotle, the city is the ultimate expression of human nature. It is the structure through which humans fulfill their potential as social beings. Humans are political animals. Unlike other creatures that may live in groups for survival, humans naturally form communities that are organized, cooperative, and oriented toward higher goals like justice and flourishing.

Aristotle’s quote shows that rejecting the city means rejecting this core aspect of humanity. A person who lives entirely outside the bounds of society is either an animal, driven by instinct and survival, or a god, so self-sufficient that they require nothing from others. For the rest of us, the city is essential. It allows us to connect, collaborate, and build lives that are meaningful in ways that solitary existence cannot achieve. For those interested, this is the full quote. It's often put out of context, so it makes sense to include it here:

"Anyone who cannot live in a community, or who has no need to because they are self-sufficient, is no part of a city and must be either a beast or a god. By nature, humans are driven toward association, and whoever first united people into a community conferred the greatest of benefits. Man is by nature a political animal. Anyone who is without a city by nature, rather than chance, is either a worthless being or something greater than a human. As Homer said, ‘clanless, lawless, and heartless is he.’"

The social bonds of the city

The polis is where humans come together to create a shared life. Aristotle saw the city as the framework for justice, education, and culture. It’s the space where individuals contribute to something greater than themselves and where relationships are deepened through shared purpose and mutual understanding.

The city embodies our social nature. Humans are programmed to seek connection, and the city provides the environment for those connections to flourish. It’s where we form friendships, build families, and engage in civic life. These bonds are the foundation of a fulfilling human existence.

One of the city’s most important roles is to provide a structure for justice. Aristotle believed humans have a unique capacity for reason and speech, which allows us to discuss ideas of right and wrong, fairness and injustice. The city is the place where these discussions happen and where systems are created to uphold them.

A person living entirely outside society cannot engage in these conversations or contribute to the collective pursuit of justice. Without the city, there is no shared sense of morality, no accountability, and no opportunity to work toward the common good. Aristotle saw justice as a cornerstone of human life, and the city is where it takes root.

To Aristotle, isolation is unnatural. True solitude, detached from any connection to others, places a person outside the scope of humanity. Even those who may claim to need no one often rely on systems created by others, from infrastructure to culture to basic resources.

Does the lone wolf exist?

The image of the lone wolf is often romanticized. It appeals to our desire for autonomy and strength. However, even wolves are social animals, and the idea of permanent solitude as an ideal state is more fantasy than reality.

To reject the city and isolate oneself entirely is to deny the very essence of being human. Independence is valuable, but it must exist alongside meaningful relationships. The city enables us to achieve this balance, offering both the space for individual growth and the connections that sustain us.

Religious traditions, particularly monasticism, might seem to disprove Aristotle’s claim. Don’t monks and hermits embody a delight in solitude? Not quite. Even in these contexts, isolation is rarely absolute. Monks often live in communities, and even hermits maintain spiritual bonds through prayer or periodic interaction with others.

To truly delight in utter solitude—to prefer the absence of human connection entirely—one must either lack the capacity for social bonds (the “beast”) or exist beyond them (the “god”). People like that are extremely rare.

The romanticized image of the lone wolf might seem appealing, but it’s not a sustainable or fulfilling way to live. Humans need connection to grow, and the city is the environment where those connections are nurtured. Our brains are literally wired for social connection. The same neural networks that process physical pain also process social rejection. When we experience prolonged isolation, our bodies respond with increased inflammation, elevated stress hormones, and compromised immune function.