Aristotle on the Nature of CommunityThis reading of Aristotle's Politics builds on the insight that the history of political philosophy is a series of configurations of nature and reason. Aristotle's conceptualization of nature is unique because it is not opposed to or subordinated to reason. Adriel M. Trott uses Aristotle's definition of nature as an internal source of movement to argue that he viewed community as something that arises from the activity that forms it rather than being a form imposed on individuals. Using these definitions, Trott develops readings of Aristotle's four arguments for the naturalness of the polis, interprets deliberation and the constitution in Politics as the form and final causes of the polis, and reconsiders Aristotle's treatment of slaves and women. Trott then argues that Aristotle is relevant for contemporary efforts to improve and encourage genuine democratic practices. |
Contents
The Internal Principle of Change Interpretation of Nature | 16 |
The Four Arguments for the Naturalness of the Polis | 42 |
Logos and the Political Nature of Anthropos | 83 |
The Natural Rational Human and the Natural Rational Polis | 105 |
Deliberation and Constitution | 135 |
The Case for Political | 175 |
Bibliography | 213 |
| 225 | |
| 231 | |
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achieve the end action actuality aims Ajax arche Arendt Aristotelian Aristotle argues Aristotle explains Aristotle says Aristotle writes Aristotle’s account Aristotle’s argument Aristotle’s Conception Aristotle’s definition Aristotle’s Ethics Aristotle’s political theory Aristotle’s treatment become body Cambridge University Press capacity claim concern consider constitution contrast deliberation democracy Den Uyl determine energeia engage equal essence eudaimonia Eugene Garver final cause freedom Greek Hannah Arendt happiness household human individual Jacques Rancière kine¯sis Kosman living logos maintains manifests master rule means Meta metabole Mogens Herman Hansen motion munity natural slave natural thing Nicomachean Ethics organize Oxford passage person Philoctetes Philosophy Phys Physics physis Plato polis is natural political activity political community political rule Politics I.2 potential question Rasmussen reason regime relation remains role rulers self-sufficient sense shows slavery soul substance taking turns Tecmessa Teleology telos Three Basic Theorems tion virtue W. D. Ross women Yack