
What we’re about
We are a Great Books reading and discussion group that specializes in political philosophy. Over the years we have read a wide variety of thinkers, from Plato to Richard Rorty. We are currently reading the works of Friedrich Nietzsche from beginning to end. Our group is open to all comers, so please give us a try!
We meet on the third Thursday of every month at Central Market.
There is a one-page Discussion Guide describing how we work. Click on "More" and "Files" to download.
For more information on the group, including an archive of past readings, go to:
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Join us July 17th for a live discussion of Aristotle's PoliticsNeeds location
Reading: Aristotle, Politics
Book II, Chapter 8-12We'll start this conversation, likely our last on Book II, with Aristotle's treatment of the delightful Hippodamus, followed by a discussion of the regimes of Sparta and Crete, two cities considered successful models by practically every thinker in antiquity, and Carthage, a non-Hellenic city in north Africa. The Book concludes with a discussion of "some who became lawmakers", especially Solon of Athens.
RSVPs will receive directions to the live meeting in Rice Village by pm the week of the event. If you would like more information on the group or have any questions or comments, feel free to pm me any time.
A further inducement -- everyone is invited to join us for the dinner after-party at the fine Mexican restaurant a few steps from our meeting place. See the attached photo of last month's dinner. Who can resist such a fine-looking bunch?
Here are links for three translations:
Cairnes Lord -- most commonly used translation in universities today:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ANLZ3rQyO4a4kQ5sc-RL2U5IRmHpinX0/view?usp=sharing
Cairnes Lord, the Kindle version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z1jCLFbE02XOLU1qKljshb9T8kBGnbEk/view?usp=sharingErnest Barker -- the gold standard when I was in school:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AL8sjX-DsQO6fM1Ht-IQuKDw9Hy_Bvfm/view?usp=sharingJoe Sachs -- a recent translation that sticks closely to the Greek and is very helpful with Greek terminology:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A3Px3tYlFaXXJwNbwmS9jG9_oZsXZnvi/view?usp=sharing