The Politics of Philosophy: A Commentary on Aristotle's Politics

by Michael Davis

Overview

In the most original interpretation of Aristotle's Politics in years, Michael Davis delivers many memorable and provocative formulations of Aristotle's messages concerning the constitutive tensions of political life. He traces the uncanny parallel between politics and philosophy in Aristotle, arguing that their connection is much deeper than it is ordinarily understood to be and that, for Aristotle, understanding either requires understanding the other. Davis presents his interpretation with a striking clarity and accessibility that makes the book a pleasure to read.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780847682065
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	04/02/1996
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)
Lexile:	1250L (what's this?)

About the Author

Michael Davis is professor of philosophy at Sarah Lawrence College and is the author of Aristotle's Poetics: The Poetry of Philosophy (Rowman & Littlefield, 1992).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Rational Animal/Political Animal
Part 2 Philosophy and Politics
Chapter 3 Politics Book 1: Cannibalism and Nature
Chapter 4 Politics Book 2: Parricide and Politics
Chapter 5 Politic Book 3: The Poverty of Philosophy
Part 6 Politics
Chapter 7 Politics Book 4: The Soul of the Polis
Chapter 8 Politics Book 5: Eros and Physics
Chapter 9 Politics Book 6: Democracy and the Haphazard
Part 10 Politics and Philosophy
Chapter 11 Politics Book 7: Politics and Poetry
Chapter 12 Politics Book 8: Poetry and Politics

Editorial Reviews

A truly remarkable book. It is a delight to read.

Mary Nichols

Michael Davis has for the first time shown how the disparate parts of Aristotle's Politics are to be understood in light of their several perplexities, and how all the parts constitute a whole that constitutes in turn political philosophy and the philosophical nature of human, i.e., political, life.

Seth Benardete

In this compact and deeply profound reading of Aristotle's Politics, Davis explains in a new and intriguing way why the city is thought to be natural to man. An exceptional book, filled with exciting arguments and amazing insights.

Choice

In this compact and deeply profound reading of Aristotle's Politics, Davis explains in a new and intriguing way why the city is thought to be natural to man. An exceptional book, filled with exciting arguments and amazing insights.

CHOICE

Compact and deeply profound reading . . . exceptional book, filled with exacting arguments and amazing insights.

Social and Behavioral Science

Full of surprising insights and memorable formulations.

Stephen Salkever

This landmark interpretation . . . is an important work that will endure.

Joseph Cropsey

In this compact and deeply profound reading of Aristotle's Politics, Davis explains in a new and intriguing way why the city is thought to be natural to man. An exceptional book, filled with exciting arguments and amazing insights.

Choice Reviews