Review by Choice Review
In this compact and deeply profound reading of Aristotle's Politics, Davis explains in a new and intriguing way why the city is thought to be natural to man. Aristotle's city is the environment in which reason is most fully developed. But it is not only moral reasoning that citizens develop by making policy decisions about the just and the advantageous--theoretical reasoning is developed as well. This is so because the city is essentially problematic. Like the philosopher who knows only that he does not know, the city is always questing for a perfection that eludes it. For example, the city seeks to be governed by the very best regime, which reason says is kingship. But kingship is no regime at all since it is incompatible with the city's egalitarian nature. Also, the city seeks stability through the second-best regime, called polity. But stability is impossible since any ruling arrangement, no matter how just, offends the dignity of those who are ruled. Being incomplete, the city demands reflection upon itself. It provides the occasion for philosophy and is the place in which philosophy occurs, even though it can never be ruled by philosophy. An exceptional book, filled with exacting arguments and amazing insights. For upper-division undergraduates through faculty. P. Coby Smith College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review