The Promise of PoliticsIn The Promise of Politics, Hannah Arendt examines the conflict between philosophy and politics. In particular, she shows how the tradition of Western political thought, which extends from Plato and Aristotle to its culmination in Marx, failed to account for human action. The concluding section of the book, “Introduction into Politics,” examines an issue that is as timely today as it was when Arendt first wrote about it fifty years ago–the modern prejudice against politics. When politics is considered as a means to an end that lies outside of itself, argues Arendt, when force is used to create “freedom,” the very existence of political principles is imperiled. |
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activity Aeneid annihilation appear arena Arendt Aristotle become beginning brute force cave centuries Christian citizens concept concern conflict context deeds defined desert destroy destruction dialectic doxa equality existence fact foundation freedom goals Greek Greek philosophy Hannah Arendt Hegel Homer human affairs human condition human plurality human world idea individual inherent insofar Introduction into Politics judged judgment labor live longer maieutic Martin Heidegger Marx Marx's Marxism matter meaning of politics means of force ment modern Montesquieu moral nation nature necessities never Nietzsche opinion origin philoso phronesis Plato polis political action political experiences political philosophy political realm political thought possible prejudices principles of action question reality relationship remained revolutions rience Roman Rome Rome's rule rulership Socrates speak speech sphere standards things thinking Thucydides tion totalitarian tradition of political trial of Socrates Trojan War truth understand words