The Politics of Aristotle

“Peter Simpson’s translation of Aristotle’s Politics is not only an outstanding literal translation, but it is a godsend for teaching the Politics to undergraduates.” —Philosophy in Review

“Professor Simpson’s translation of Aristotle’s Politics is at the same time the most accessible and the most accurate translation of this difficult and vitally important book into English. His rendering of the Greek is clear and readable, and it is as close to being a literal reflection of the original as one could hope for; students will find the chapter divisions and subdivisions an aid to comprehension and the summary introductions to each section exceedingly helpful. This is no ordinary translation; it is an highly ambitious attempt to make an old and famous book fully accessible to modern readers for the first time. The introduction is an invitation to rethink much of what we have supposed concerning Aristotle’s Politics.” —Paul A. Rahe, Yale University

“Peter Simpson’s translation is of high quality: it is precise and follows the Greek without sacrificing readability. . . . [He] offers the only available translation which enables students to read the Politics in a way which many scholars believe makes the best sense of Aristotle’s argument.” — Fred D. Miller Jr., Bowling Green State University

“Peter Simpson’s translation is of high quality: it is precise and follows the Greek without sacrificing readability. It also provides valuable aids such as headings which enable readers to find their way through the often difficult text. This edition is also unique in two respects. First, it starts with the final chapter of the Nichomachean Ethics as a preface to the Politics. This seems reasonable because the Nichomachean Ethics concludes with a transition to political philosophy, and the Politics evidently presupposes Aristotle’s ethical theory at critical junctures. Second, and more fundamentally, it departs from the traditional ordering of the books. Many leading commentators — including W. L. Newman, F. Susemihl, and R. D. Hicks — have argued that the so-called 'middle' books (iv through vi in the traditional numbering) presuppose and advance beyond the books traditionally numbered vii and viii. By transposing the traditional books iv through vi to the end, Simpson offers the only available translation which enables students to read the Politics in a way which many scholars believe makes the best sense of Aristotle’s argument.” —Fred D. Miller Jr., Bowling Green State University