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One of the fundamental works of Western political thought, Aristotle’s masterwork is the first systematic treatise on the science of politics. For almost three decades, Carnes Lord’s justly acclaimed translation has served as the standard English edition. Widely regarded as the most faithful to both the original Greek and Aristotle’s distinctive style, it is also written in clear, contemporary English. This new edition of the Politics retains and adds to Lord’s already extensive notes, clarifying the flow of Aristotle’s argument and identifying literary and historical references. A glossary defines key terms in Aristotle’s philosophical-political vocabulary. Lord has made revisions to problematic passages throughout the translation in order to enhance both its accuracy and its readability. He has also substantially revised his introduction for the new edition, presenting an account of Aristotle’s life in relation to political events of his time; the character and history of his writings and of the Politics in particular; his overall conception of political science; and his impact on subsequent political thought from antiquity to the present. Further enhancing this new edition is an up-to-date selected bibliography.
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CARNES LORD is professor of military and naval strategy at the Naval War College. He is the author or editor of several books, including The Modern Prince: What Leaders Need to Know Now. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 60637 The University of Chicago Press, Ltd., London © 1984, 2013 by The University of Chicago All rights reserved. Published 2013. Printed in the United States of America 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4 5 ISBN-13: 978-0-226-92183-9 (cloth) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-92184-6 (paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-92185-3 (e-book) ISBN-10: 0-226-92183-2 (cloth) ISBN-10: 0-226-92184-0 (paper) ISBN-10: 0-226-92185-9 (e-book) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Aristotle. [Politics. English. 2013] Aristotle’s Politics / translated and with an introduction, notes, and glossary by Carnes Lord. — Second edition. pages ; cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-92183-9 (hardcover : alkaline paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-92184-6 (paperback : alkaline paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-226-92185-3 (e-book) ISBN-10: 0-226-92183-2 (hardcover : alkaline paper) 1. Political science—Early works to 1800. I. Lord, Carnes, translator, writer of added commentary. II. Title. III. Title: Politics. JC71.A45L67 2013 320.1—dc23 2012030592
This paper meets the requirements of ANSI / NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).
ARISTOTLE’S Politics
Second Edition TRANSLATED AND WITH AN INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY BY CARNES LORD
The University of Chicago Press CHICAGO AND LONDON
CONTENTS Introduction A Note on the Text and Translation Analysis of the Argument Maps
Politics BOOK 1 BOOK 2 BOOK 3 BOOK 4 BOOK 5 BOOK 6 BOOK 7 BOOK 8
Notes Glossary Select Bibliography Index of Proper Names General Index
INTRODUCTION To say that Aristotle’s Politics is a classic work of political thought is to understate considerably the achievement and significance of this remarkable document. The Politics is a product of that singular moment in the history of the West when traditional modes of thinking in every area were being uprooted by the new mode of thinking that had made its appearance in the Greek world under the name of philosophy. It was in and through the elaboration of a philosophicscientific approach to natural and human phenomena by the ancient Greeks— above all, by Plato and Aristotle—that the intellectual categories of the Western tradition took shape. The significance of Aristotle’s Politics lies in the first instance in the fact that it represents the earliest attempt to elaborate a systematic science o