Rewriting Contemporary Political Philosophy with Plato and Aristotle: An Essay on Eudaimonic Politics

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Many contemporary philosophers develop political theories in an attempt to justify the societies that we currently live in. But the distribution of wealth in our societies today is becoming ever more polarized. Can these philosophers offer theories that are truly just Paul Schollmeier takes us back to ancient political philosophy in order to present an original theory of what a society in our era ought to be, and to highlight the flaws in the liberal and libertarian political theories set forth by Robert Nozick and John Rawls. Adapting the ancient principle of happiness found in Plato and Aristotle, he introduces the concept of a eudaimonic polity, which promotes engagement in political activity primarily for its own sake and not for private profit or pleasure. Schollmeier argues that we can best exercise our rational and political nature when we participate together with others in political activity without an ulterior motive. Lucid in argumentation and original in approach, this book presents a strong case for a eudaimonic polity that firmly favors public interest over private interest.

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Schollmeier departs from Plato and Aristotle in maintaining that productive activity or craft labor can be intrinsically good as a form of rational activity Schollmeiers notion of 'artisanal happiness' enables him to avoid what is widely regarded as one of the most problematic aspects of classical Greek political philosophy. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
Schollmeier offers a penetrating critique of liberal and neo-liberal paradigms of political theory and proposes instead a "eudaimonic" polity of rational individuals who, rather than aiming at mere satisfaction of desire, engage in rational productivity. This is an important and much-needed argument that carves out an original space between ancient and modern theories with stimulating analyses of liberty, property, community and other key conceptions of political theory. * Phillip Mitsis A.S. Onassis Professor of Hellenic Civilization and Culture New York University, USA *

Author Bio

Paul Schollmeier is Barrick Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.