A Companion to Greek and Roman Political Thought

Justice, virtue, and citizenship were at the center of political life in ancient Greece and Rome and were frequently discussed by classical poets, historians, and philosophers. This Companion illuminates Greek and Roman political thought in all its range, diversity, and depth. Thirty–four essays from leading scholars in history, classics, philosophy, and political science provide stimulating discussions of classical political thought, ranging from the Archaic Greek epics to the final days of the Roman Empire and beyond. These essays strike a judicious yet thought–provoking balance between theoretical and historical perspectives. A Companion to Greek and Roman Political Thought is an authoritative guide to the ancient Greek and Roman political questions that continue to shape and challenge the modern world.

Notes on Contributors. Acknowledgments. Note on Translations. List of Abbreviations. PART I: The Broad View. 1 Introduction: Rethinking the History of Greek and Roman Political Thought ( Ryan K. Balot ). 2 What is Politics in the Ancient World? ( Dean Hammer ). 3 Early Greek Political Thought in Its Mediterranean Context ( Kurt A. Raaflaub ). 4 Civic Ideology and Citizenship ( P. J. Rhodes ). 5 Public Action and Rational Choice in Classical Greek Political Theory ( Josiah Ober ). 6 Imperial Ideologies, Citizenship Myths, and Legal Disputes in Classical Athens and Republican Rome ( Craige B. Champion ). 7 Gendered Politics, or the Self–Praise of Andres Agathoi ( Giulia Sissa ). 8 The Religious Contexts of Ancient Political Thought ( Robin Osborne ). PART II: Democracies and Republics. 9 Democracy Ancient and Modern ( Peter Liddel ). 10 "Rights," Individuals, and Communities in Ancient Greece ( Paul Cartledge and Matt Edge ). 11 Personal Freedom in Greek Democracies, Republican Rome, and Modern Liberal States ( Robert W. Wallace ). 12 The Mixed Constitution in Greek Thought ( David E. Hahm ). 13 Republican Virtues ( Malcolm Schofield ). 14 Roman Democracy? ( W. Jeffrey Tatum ). PART III The Virtues and Vices of One–Man Rule. 15 The Uses and Abuses of Tyranny ( Sara Forsdyke ). 16 Hellenistic Monarchy in Theory and Practice ( Arthur M. Eckstein ). 17 The Ethics of Autocracy in the Roman World ( Carlos F. Norena ). PART IV The Passions of Ancient Politics. 18 Political Animals: Pathetic Animals ( Giulia Sissa ). 19 Anger, Eros, and Other Political Passions in Ancient Greek Thought ( Paul W. Ludwig ). 20 Some Passionate Performances in Late Republican Rome ( Robert A. Kaster ). PART V The Athens of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. 21 The Trial and Death of Socrates ( Debra Nails ). 22 The Politics of Plato′s Socrates ( Rachana Kamtekar ). 23 Freedom, Tyranny, and the Political Man: Plato′s Republic and Gorgias, a Study in Contrasts ( Arlene W. Saxonhouse ). 24 Plato on the Sovereignty of Law ( Zena Hitz ). 25 "Naturalism" in Aristotle′s Political Philosophy ( Timothy Chappell ). 26 The Ethics of Aristotle′s Politics ( David J. Depew ). PART VI Constructing Political Narrative. 27 Imitating Virtue and Avoiding Vice: Ethical Functions of Biography, History, and Philosophy ( Charles W. Hedrick, Jr ). 28 Greek Drama and Political Thought ( John Gibert ). 29 Character in Politics ( Philip A. Stadter ). PART VII Antipolitics. 30 Cosmopolitan Traditions ( David Konstan ). 31 False Idles: The Politics of the "Quiet Life" ( Eric Brown ). 32 Citizenship and Signs: Rethinking Augustine on the Two Cities ( Todd Breyfogle ). PART VIII Receptions. 33 Republicanism: Ancient, Medieval, and Beyond ( Christopher Nadon ). 34 Twentieth Century Revivals of Ancient Political Thought: Hannah Arendt and Leo Strauss ( Catherine H. Zuckert ). References. Index of Subjects. Index Locorum.

Ryan K. Balot is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. The author of Greed and Injustice in Classical Athens (2001) and Greek Political Thought (Blackwell, 2006), he specializes in the history of political thought.

"Of note is the indispensable list of primary sources and a prodigious bibliography of secondary texts. These alone probably justify the purchase price." (CHOICE , 2009)