Action and Contemplation: Studies in the Moral and Political Thought of Aristotle

by Robert C. Bartlett (Editor), Susan D. Collins (Editor)

Overview

This wide-ranging collection of essays by European and American scholars presents some of the most interesting and important work now being done on the political philosophy of Aristotle. Part One investigates what is arguably the most urgent and controversial question of concern to students of Aristotle today, namely, the possibility of grounding moral and political action in some version of Aristotelian rationalism. Part Two considers a series of specific questions arising from the Politics and the Nicomachean Ethics, among which are Aristotle's understanding of moral virtue; the problem of evil; justice and the very idea of "common good"; friendship; the status of the philosophic life vis-à-vis the political; and the outlines of the best possible political community.

[Contributors include Wayne Ambler, Robert C. Bartlett, Ronald Beiner, Richard Bodéüs, David Bolotin, Hauke Brunkhorst, Eric Buzzetti, Susan D. Collins, Kent Enns, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Louis Hunt, Joseph Knippenberg, David K. O'Connor, Lorraine Smith Pangle, Judith A. Swanson, Aristide Tessitore, Franco Volpi, and Bernard Yack.]

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780791442524
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	08/26/1999
Series:	SUNY series in Ancient Greek Philosophy
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Robert C. Bartlett is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Emory University. He is the editor of Xenophon's The Shorter Socratic Writings: "Apology of Socrates to the Jury," "Oeconomicus," and "Symposium." Susan D. Collins is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and Fellow at Liberty Fund in Indianapolis.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part One
Aristotle Today
Relativism and the Possibility of Rational Moral Judgment

Chapter 1
The Rehabilitation of Practical Philosophy and Neo-Aristotelianism
Franco Volpi; Translated by Eric Buzzetti

Chapter 2
The Modern Form of the Classical Republic
The Repression of the Judeo-Christian Heritage in Hannah Arendt's Attempt to Renew the Aristotelian Concept of Politics
Hauke Brunkhorst; Translated by Louis Hunt

Chapter 3
Do We Need a Philosophical Ethics?
Theory, Prudence, and the Primacy of Ethos
Ronald Beiner

Chapter 4
Aristotle and the Ethic of Imperatives
Hans-Georg Gadamer; Translated by Joseph M. Knippenberg

Chapter 5
The Natural Foundations of Right and Aristotelian Philosophy
Richard Bodéüs; Translated by Kent Enns

Part Two
Issues in the Nicomachean Ethics and Politics

Chapter 6
The Ambitions of Aristotle's Audience and the Activist Ideal of Happiness
David K. O'connor

Chapter 7
The Moral Virtues in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics
Susan D. Collins

Chapter 8
Aristotle on the Question of Evil
David Bolotin

Chapter 9
Friendship and Self-Love in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics
Lorraine Smith Pangle

Chapter 10
Socrates in Aristotle's "Philosophy of Human Affairs"
Aristide Tessitore

Chapter 11
Aristotle on Nature, Human Nature, and Justice
A Consideration of the Natural Functions of Men and Women in the City
Judith A. Swanson

Chapter 12
Aristotle and Thrasymachus on the Common Good
Wayne Ambler

Chapter 13
Community and Conflict in Aristotle's Political Philosophy
Bernard Yack

Chapter 14
The "Realism" of Classical Political Science
An Introduction to Aristotle's Best Regime
Robert C. Bartlett

List of Contributors

Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book is distinguished from other books sensitive to the connection between Aristotle's Ethics and his Politics in two regards. First, it is a collection of essays by scholars representative of different schools of thought and not a sustained argument by an individual. More important, it bridges the gap between Aristotle's closely linked works. It proposes neither a politically informed reading of the Ethics nor an ethically informed reading of the Politics; it brings the two together in an exceedingly fruitful way, treating them as a single, extended argument." — Paul A. Rahe, University of Tulsa

"This book not only contains a set of first-rate essays on Aristotle, but it also supplies the context in which readers can be convinced that Aristotle, after several centuries, is once again relevant and useful. If I were looking for one book that would make clear why Aristotle has come back into favor, and what might be done with his thought, this would be it." — Harvey C. Mansfield, Harvard University

From the Publisher

European and American scholars survey the work that is currently being done on the political philosophy of Aristotle. Five essays consider the possibility of grounding moral and political action on some version of his rationalism. Nine additional essays look at specific questions arising from the and the . They include the ambitions of Aristotle's audience and the activist ideal of happiness, moral virtues, evil, friendship and self- love, Socrates, and community and conflict. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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