I believe Aristotle in his statement required an individual to be proactive and practically interested in the governance of state. However, it is a tad unrealistic to expect all citizens to either have the capability or even the passion to offer a constructive participation in a government's inner workings. At best a citizen is only but allowed to vote in a democratic process. Democracy in modern times goes hand in hand with capitalism and most capitalist systems are infected with the demons of rigid class structures, a vast divide between the over privileged and the underprivileged, varied levels of awareness or perception, social or economic impediments to actually become a part of governance. So, based on these notions I'd safely suggest that Aristotle's ideas were unrealistic and ill informed. To enable a truly people oriented governance substantial levels of awareness are required ideally to be reached by the citizens (who are citizens regardless of their levels of interest in governance) to make a truly democratic charter effective. An intelligent and conscientious tyrant with the interests of people at heart is capable of being more effective than a democracy of idiots.
