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
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Join us for a discussion of Aristotle's Politics
Location not specified yetAristotle, Politics
Book III, Chapters 11-18
RSVPs will receive directions to our meeting location in Rice Village as the date approaches.
Our October meeting took us through Chapters 8-11, where Aristotle dove deeper into the questions of the true basis for the distinction between democracy and oligarchy -- is it wealth or number? How do they differ in their claims to justice? What is it about the political association that goes beyond the utilitarian benefits of peaceful trade? And what group in the city can claim to have a right to the highest authority -- or if none of them are without their weaknesses, what are we left with?
In November we will follow Aristotle's further investigation of the claims to justice, equality and worthiness to rule.
Here are 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=sharing
Ernest Barker -- the gold standard when I was in school:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AL8sjX-DsQO6fM1Ht-IQuKDw9Hy_Bvfm/view?usp=sharing
Joe 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=sharing4 attendees
Past events
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