In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle emphasizes that cultivating virtue is a matter of forming the proper habits. But the best way to form virtuous habits is not through individual, isolated efforts to make good decisions. Rather, it is by dwelling in good communities and abiding by the laws they set down. Aristotle concludes, therefore, that "someone who wishes to make people better...should try to acquire legislative science...."
In Book X, then, he proposes to "study the collected political systems" in order to "grasp better what sort...is best; how each...should be organized so as to be best; and what laws and habits it should employ." But just as he proposes those things, he ends the book! The closing words are "let us discuss this, then, having made a start."
The Politics is where this promised discussion takes place, and our goal in this course will be to take up Aristotle's charge - to study the collected political systems and better grasp what sort is best. We will be reading the text in its entirety, and we will be attempting 1) to understand his classification of regimes, 2) to see how he thinks they are best organized, and 3) to clarify the laws and habits he thinks they should employ.
Text: The Politics, by Aristotle (translated by CDC Reeve)
Schedule: June 10th, 12th, 17th, 19th, 24th, and 26th at 10:00 AM (CST)
Facilitator: Dr. Michael Vendsel
GH employees (and affiliate school employees): use voucher code ghemployee (case sensitive) at checkout.
