Readings in Classical Political Thought

“A distinctive and superior collection of texts suitable for both graduate and undergraduate courses. There is nothing like it elsewhere. Steinberger’s commentary is succint, accurate, and very useful.”
     —Dr. Melvin Kulbicki, York College of Pennsylvania

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25914g

Edited by Peter J. Steinberger

2000 - 640 pp.

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Cloth 978-0-87220-513-0
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Paper 978-0-87220-512-3
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Instructor Examination (Review) Copy 978-0-87220-512-3
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Designed to include all of the texts from Presocratics through Machiavelli likely to be read in an undergraduate course on classical political thought, this anthology has at its core generous selections from Plato and Aristotle. Building on this core is a sufficiently diverse and substantial selection of texts from other writers—including Thucydides and the Sophists—to allow for inquiry into the variety of Classical Greek approaches to politics, as well as into Roman, Medieval and Renaissance developments of the classical tradition. Preeminent translations and the editor’s own thoughtful introductions further distinguish this unique anthology.

 

Reviews:

"This is an excellent collection, the best available in its field.”
     —J. Rufus Fears, University of Oklahoma

 

“A distinctive and superior collection of texts suitable for both graduate and undergraduate courses. There is nothing like it elsewhere. Steinberger’s commentary is succint, accurate, and very useful.”
     —Dr. Melvin Kulbicki, York College of Pennsylvania

 

"A useful and well-thought anthology, to be used in undergraduate courses in Classical political philosophy. Excellent idea to include plays that shed light on political life in ancient Greece.”
     —Dr. Aurelian Craiutu, Indiana University

 

"This is a wonderful resource. To my knowledge, it’s the only readily available reader focused solely on this time period. Moreover, the readings have been chosen with care.”
     —Stephen Leach, University of New Mexico

 

Contents:

Preface.

I. Early Poets. Homer: Iliad, 2.55-439; 12.297-342; 18.499-549; Hesiod: Theogony, 77-104, Works and Days, 204-428; Tyrtaeus of Sparta: Frag. 2, Frag. 4; Solon of Athens: Frag. 4, Frag. 5, 6, 7, Frag. 15, Frag. 32, Frag. 34, Frag. 36, Frag. 37; Theognis of Megara: 39-52.

II. Presocratics and Sophists. Heraclitus of Ephesus: 10.116-10.125; Protagoras: 18.7, 20, 21; Plato: Protagoras, 320d-328d, Gorgias, 18.19 (In Praise of Helen), Antiphon, 19.2; The Anonymus Iamblichi: 19.13-15.

III. Historians. Herodotus: Histories, 3.38, 80-82; 5.78, 92; Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.20.2-22, 140-145; 2.8, 35-54, 59-65; 3.37-51, 81.2, 82-85; 5.84-116.

IV. Tragedians and Comedians. Aeschylus: The Furies; Aristophanes: Clouds; Sophocles: Antigone.

V. Socrates and Plato. Plato: Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Republic; Laws 1-6 (abridged); 7.793e-794d, 797a-798d, 800a-801e, 802e-803a; 8; 835d-864c; 9.860d-864c; 10.885b-890e; 12.960e-969d.

VI. Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, 1.1-5, 7-8; 2.1-6; 10.6-9; Politics, 1.1-8, 13; 2.1-6, 9, 12; 3.1, 4; 6-9,11, 12; 4.1, 3, 11; 5.1, 8-12; 6.1-5; 7.1-4, 8-11, 13-17; 8.

VII. Cicero. The Republic (selections).

VIII. Augustine. City of God, Preface, 1.1-2; 2.4, 15, 19-21; 3.21, 30; 4.4, 33; 5.9,11, 15-17, 19, 24-26; 8.3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 19; 12.23-24, 27, 28; 13.2,10; 14.4-6, 10-13, 15-16, 18, 22, 24, 25, 28; 18.37, 39, 41; 19.1-2, 4, 12, 13, 15-17, 19, 19, 21, 23; 22.27, 29, 30.

IX. Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica. I-II, Qs. 90-97; Statesmanship 1.1, 6

X. Machiavelli. Letter to Francesco Vettori, The Prince, Discourses, Preface; 1-5, 9; 12, 13, 17, 18, 21, 27, .42, 46, 55, 58; 2.1, 29; 3.1-3, 29, 31.

Works Cited.

 

About the Author:

Peter J. Steinberger is Robert H. and Blanche Day Ellis Professor of Political Science and Humanities, Reed College.