POLITICAL VIRTUE AND PARTISANSHIP IN ARISTOTLE'S POLITICS

Professor Andrea Kowalchuk It has often been noted, but insufficiently explained, that for Aristotle the

city’s authority does not rely merely on habituation through legal punishment

and reward, for citizens also come to internalize the norms and values of

their city. By focusing on Aristotle’s analysis of governing bodies,

Prof. Kowalchuk explains how the city influences the kinds of activities

citizens will pursue, the specific virtues they will acquire, and the particular

view of justice that will command their allegiance. She argues that this first,

common, civic education, while necessary for both the city’s preservation

and a human being’s development, is ultimately distinct from, and even an

obstacle to, the philosophic, non-partisan insights of The Politics. She

concludes that for Aristotle, a genuine and deep understanding of political

life requires radical questioning of the city’s authoritative opinions about the

good and the just, and that such questioning has important implications for

the political efforts of men like Aristotle.

Political Virtue

and

Partisanship

in

Aristotle's

Politics

Professor

Kowalchuk

currently teaches in

the Philosophy

Department at

Aurora University

in Chicago

March 5, 2014

4:30p.m.

HUMN 1B80 followed by a

reception

SPONSORED BY

Herbst Program

of Humanities

Phone: 303-492-4777

Fax : 303-735-1783

herbst@colorado.edu