Aristotle's Politics : Living Well and Living Together

“Man is a political animal,” Aristotle asserts near the beginning of the __Politics__. In this novel reading of one of the foundational texts of political philosophy, Eugene Garver traces the surprising implications of Aristotle’s claim and explores the treatise’s relevance to ongoing political concerns. Often dismissed as overly grounded in Aristotle’s specific moment in time, in fact the __Politics__ challenges contemporary understandings of human action and allows us to better see ourselves today. Close examination of Aristotle’s treatise, Garver finds, reveals a significant, practical role for philosophy to play in politics. Philosophers present arguments about issues—such as the right and the good, justice and modes of governance, the relation between the good person and the good citizen, and the character of a good life—that politicians must then make appealing to their fellow citizens. Completing Garver’s trilogy on Aristotle’s unique vision, __Aristotle’s Politics__ yields new ways of thinking about ethics and politics, ancient and modern. "'Man is a political animal, ' Aristotle asserts near the beginning of the Politics. In this novel reading of one of the foundational texts of political philosophy, Eugene Garver traces the surprising implications of Aristotle's claim and explores the treatise's relevance to ongoing political concerns. Often dismissed as overly grounded in Aristotle's specific moment in time, in fact the Politics challenges contemporary understandings of human action and allows us to better see ourselves today. Close examination of Aristotle's treatise, Garver finds, reveals a significant, practical role for philosophy to play in politics. Philosophers present arguments about issues--such as the right and the good, justice and modes of governance, the relation between the good person and the good citizen, and the character of a good life--that politicians must then make appealing to their fellow citizens. Completing Garver's trilogy on Aristotle's unique vision ... Aristotle's Politics yields new ways of thinking about ethics and politics, ancient and modern."--Jacket “Man is a political animal,” Aristotle asserts near the beginning of the Politics . In this reading of one of the foundational texts of political philosophy, this book traces the surprising implications of Aristotle's claim and explores the treatise's relevance to ongoing political concerns. Often dismissed as overly grounded in Aristotle's specific moment in time, the Politics in fact challenges contemporary understandings of human action and allows us to better see ourselves today. Close examination of Aristotle's treatise, the book finds, reveals a significant, practical role for philosophy to play in politics. Philosophers present arguments about issues—such as the right and the good, justice and modes of governance, the relation between the good person and the good citizen, and the character of a good life—that politicians must then make appealing to their fellow citizens. This book yields new ways of thinking about ethics and politics, both ancient and modern Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Abbreviations of Aristotle’s Works......Page 12 Introduction: Aristotle’s Politics: Living Well and Living Together......Page 14 1. Book I: Slavery and the Will to Power......Page 30 2. Book II: Aristotle’s State as a Work of Art......Page 55 3. The Justice of Book III and the Incompleteness of the Normative......Page 79 4. Practical Knowledge and the Four Orientations to the Best......Page 120 5. Factions and the Paradox of Aristotelian Practical Science......Page 145 6. The Best Life and the Common Life......Page 185 Conclusion: People as Political Animals......Page 227 Notes......Page 244 Works Cited......Page 296 Index of Names......Page 306 Index of Passages in Aristotle’s Works......Page 308 & Ldquo;Man is a political animal, & rdquo; Aristotle asserts near the beginning of the Politics. In this novel reading of one of the foundational texts of political philosophy, Eugene Garver traces the surprising implications of Aristotle & rsquo;s claim and explores the treatise & rsquo;s relevance to ongoing political concerns. Often dismissed as overly grounded in Aristotle & rsquo;s specific moment in time, in fact the Politics challenges contemporary understandings of human action and allows us to better see ourselves today. Close examination of Aristotle & rsquo;s treatise, Garver finds In This Novel Reading Of Aristotle's 'politics', Eugene Garver Traces The Implications Of The Claim That 'man Is A Political Animal', Arguing That Aristotle Challenges Contemporary Understandings Of Human Action And Allows Us To Better See Ourselves. Eugene Garver. Completes A Trilogy On Aristotle: Aristotle's Rhetoric: An Art Of Character (university Of Chicago Press, 1994) And Confronting Aristotle's Ethics: Ancient And Modern Morality (university Of Chicago Press, 2006) Were The First Two Books In The Series--preliminaries. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 283-291) And Index. "Man is a political animal," Aristotle asserts near the beginning of the Politics. In this reading of one of the foundational texts of political philosophy, the author traces the surprising implications of Aristotle's claim and explores the treatise's relevance to ongoing political concerns.