In the Politics, Aristotle sets out to discover what is the best form that the state can take. Similar to his mentor Plato, Aristotle considers the form that will produce justice and cultivate the highest human potential; however Aristotle takes a more empirical approach, examining the constitution of existing states and drawing on specific case-studies. In doing so he lays the foundations of modern political science. This Readers Guide is the ideal companion to this most influential of texts offering guidance on: Philosophical and historical context Key themes Reading the text Reception and influence Further reading
Author Biography
Judith Swanson is Associate Professor of Political Science at Boston University, USA and Associate Faculty member of the Department of Philosophy. She is the author of The Public and Private in Aristotle's Political Philosophy (Cornell University Press) and numerous chapters/articles on Aristotle. C. David Corbin is Assistant Professor of Politics, The King's College, New York City, USA
