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Aristotle’s Political Philosophy offers a concise and accessible overview of Aristotle’s political thought in his Nicomachean Ethics, Politics, and Rhetoric.
Aristotle’s writings on politics are known for their legendary complexity and contradictions. In Aristotle’s Political Philosophy, renowned scholar Mark Blitz draws connections between the Nicomachean Ethics, Politics, and Rhetoric to explain how these texts relate and interact with each other. Throughout the book, Blitz examines the foundations of political action, devoting special attention to Aristotle’s understanding of virtue, justice, slavery, education, friendship, statesmanship, and speech. In doing so, Blitz clarifies the central ethical and political concepts presented throughout these works to articulate how these texts, together, advance a coherent political philosophy.
After offering a comprehensive analysis of Aristotle’s political thought, Blitz ultimately argues that Aristotelian philosophy remains fundamental for understanding modern political opinions, practices, and institutions.
“Blitz has a gift for explaining Aristotle's thought in a down-to-earth, lucid, and balanced manner that renders that thought helpfully accessible to the contemporary reader.” —Peter J. Ahrensdorf, author of Homer and the Tradition of Political Philosophy
“Blitz elucidates the fundamental ethical and political phenomena treated by Aristotle with a directness and conceptual clarity unmatched by anyone writing today, at the same time demonstrating the enduring relevance of Aristotle’s understanding to our modern liberal democratic regime.” —Christopher Lynch, author of Machiavelli on War
“With a remarkably sure hand, Mark Blitz guides the reader through the texts, weaving together summary and quotation with clear and penetrating analysis.” —Robert Bartlett, translator of Aristotle’s "Art of Rhetoric"
"In this new work, [Blitz] displays a magisterial command of Aristotle’s thought and writings. . . . Political science so understood shows the limits, indeed the falsehood, of materialism and reductionism. Blitz points in a more truthful and salutary direction, by doing justice to all the qualities of the human soul brought to light by Aristotle’s exemplary ethical and political philosophy." —Claremont Review of Books
Mark Blitz is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Political Philosophy at Claremont McKenna College. He is the author of numerous books, including Reason and Politics.
Introduction
Part One. Virtue
1. Happiness, The Good, and the Noble
2. The Virtues: Their Characteristics and Substance
3. Justice and Prudence
Part Two. Politics
4. The City and Its Necessities
5. The Regime
6. Regimes: Stability and Change
7. Political Excellence and Its Limits
Part Three. Speech
8. Friendship and the Soul
9. The Rhetoric
10. Intellectual Virtue