Overcoming Uncertainty in Ancient Greek Political Philosophy

Description

Overcoming Uncertainty in Ancient Greek Political Philosophy  makes an historical and theoretical contribution by explaining the role of opinion in ancient Greek political philosophy, showing its importance for Aristotle’s theory of deliberation, and indicating a new model for a deliberative republic.  Currently, there are no studies of opinion in ancient Greek political theory and so the book breaks new historical ground.   The book establishes that opinion is key for the political theories of Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics because each sees uncertainty as a problem that needs to be overcome if one is to establish a virtuous polity.  Since they have different notions of the nature of the uncertainty of opinion, they develop very different political strategies to overcome it.  The book explains that Plato’s and the Stoics’ analyses of uncertainty support oligarchy and monarchy, respectively, and that theoretical support for deliberate politics requires a more nuanced understanding of uncertainty that only Aristotle provides. Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations 1: Introduction References 2: Plato and the Uncertain World 1 Early Opinion 2 Soul as Circular Mover 3 Degrees of Truth 4 Conclusion References 3: Saving Magnesia Through Correct Opinion 1 Virtue 2 Nocturnal Caucus 3 Oligarchy 4 Conclusion References 4: Aristotle and the Complexities of Opinion 1 Objective vs. Subjective Uncertainty 2 Reputable Opinions and Induction 3 Reputable Opinions and Pros Hen Analogy 4 Deliberation 5 Conclusion References 5: Aristotle’s Model Polities 1 Questions of Unity, Order, and the Best Regime 2 Reputable Opinions and Their Difficulties 3 Pros Hen Analogy and the Core Best Regime 4 The Best Regime for Most 5 The Polarized Polity 6 Conclusion References 6: Chrysippus’ Uncertain Fools 1 Opinion and Knowledge 2 Subjective Uncertainty Cognitive Impressions Assent Two Forms of Opinion 3 Objective Uncertainty 4 Conclusion References 7: Chrysippus and the Rule of Knowledge 1 Virtue and the Good 2 The Universal Community of the Wise 3 Natural Law and Appropriate Actions 4 Conventional Politics 5 Conclusion References Conclusion Ancient Author Index Author Index Subject Index