Citizens and Statesmen: A Study of Aristotle's Politics (Perspectives on Classical Political and Social Thought)

Two important criticisms of contemporary liberalism turn to Aristotle''s political thought for support that which advocates participatory democracy, and that sympathetic to the rule of a virtuous or philosophic elite. In this commentary on Aristotle''s politics the author explores how Aristotle offers political rule as an alternative to both the rule of aristocratic virtue and an unchecked participatory democracy. Writing in lucid prose, she offers an interpretation grounded in a close reading of the text, and combining a respectful and patient attempt to understand Aristotle in his own terms with a wide, sympathetic, and argumentative reading in the secondary literature. Origins Of The City : Books I And Ii Of The Politics -- Finding A Place For Beast And God: Book Iii Of The Politics -- Turning Regimes Into Politics: Books Iv, V, And Vi Of The Politics -- Best Regime And The Limits Of Politics: Books Vii And Viii Of The Politics -- Citizens, Statesmen, And Modern Political Theory. Mary P. Nichols. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 223-225) And Index. CONTENTS PREFACE INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 THE ORIGINS OF THE CITY Chapter 2 FINDING A PLACE FOR BEAST AND GOD Chapter 3 TURNING REGIMES INTO POLITIES Chapter 4 THE BEST REGIME AND THE LIMITS OF POLITICS Chapter 5 CITIZENS, STATESMEN, AND MODERN POLITICAL THEORY ENDNOTES WORKS FREQUENTLY CITED INDEX