Book description
Twenty-three centuries after its compilation, 'The Politics' still has
much to contribute to this central question of political science.
Aristotle's thorough and carefully argued analysis is based on a study
of over 150 city constitutions, covering a huge range of political
issues in order to establish which types of constitution are best - both
ideally and in particular circumstances - and how they may be
maintained. Aristotle's opinions form an essential background to the
thinking of philosophers such as Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli and Jean
Bodin and both his premises and arguments raise questions that are as
relevant to modern society as they were to the ancient world.
Aristotle was born at Stagira, in the dominion of the kings of
Macedonia, in 384 BC. For twenty years he studied at Athens in the
Academy of Plato. Some time later, became the tutor of young Alexander
The Great. His writings have profoundly affectedthe whole course of
ancient and medieval philosophy.
T. A. Sinclair was Professor of Greek at the Queen's University of
Belfast for 27 years.
Trevor J. Saunders is Professor of Greek at the University of
Newcastle upon Tyne.
