The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle's Politics

This volume provides an overview of political problems as Aristotle conceived of them his Politics.

Marguerite Deslauriers (Edited by), Pierre Destrée (Edited by)

9780521181112, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 29 August 2013

446 pages
22.6 x 15.2 x 2.3 cm, 0.72 kg

'All of the essays are engagingly written and scholarly … This is a welcome addition to the Cambridge Companion series and to scholarship on Aristotle.' Choice

One of the most influential works in the history of political theory, Aristotle's Politics is a treatise in practical philosophy, intended to inform legislators and to create the conditions for virtuous and self-sufficient lives for the citizens of a state. In this Companion, distinguished scholars offer new perspectives on the work and its themes. After an opening exploration of the relation between Aristotle's ethics and his politics, the central chapters follow the sequence of the eight books of the Politics, taking up questions such as the role of reason in legitimizing rule, the common good, justice, slavery, private property, citizenship, democracy and deliberation, unity, conflict, law and authority, and education. The closing chapters discuss the interaction between Aristotle's political thought and contemporary democratic theory. The volume will provide a valuable resource for those studying ancient philosophy, classics, and the history of political thought.

Introduction Marguerite Deslauriers and Pierre Destrée
1. The political character of Aristotle's ethics Dorothea Frede
2. The rule of reason Fred D. Miller, Jr
3. Economy and private property Karen Margrethe Nielsen
4. Natural slavery Pierre Pellegrin (translated by E. Zoli Filotas)
5. Political unity and inequality Marguerite Deslauriers
6. Civic virtue: citizenship, ostracism, and war Andrés Rosler
7. The common good Donald Morrison
8. Natural, ethical, and political justice Marco Zingano
9. Law, governance, and political obligation Christoph Horn
10. Claims to rule: the case of the multitude Melissa Lane
11. Faction Antony Hatzistavrou
12. Education, leisure and politics Pierre Destrée
13. Deliberating and acting together Bryan Garsten
14. Aristotle and Rawls on the common good Richard Kraut
Further reading Thornton Lockwood.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA], History of Western philosophy [HPC], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]