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The Political Animal in Medieval Philosophy
A Philosophical Study of the Commentary Tradition c.1260âc.1410
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In The Political Animal in Medieval Philosophy Juhana Toivanen investigates what medieval philosophers meant when they argued that human beings are political animals by nature. He analyses the notion of âpolitical animalâ from various perspectives and shows its relevance to philosophical discussions concerning the foundations of human sociability, ethics, and politics.
Medieval authors believed that social life stems from the biological and rational nature of human beings, and that collaboration with other people promotes prosperity and good life. Toivanen provides a detailed philosophical interpretation of this view across a wide range of authors, including unedited manuscript sources. As the first monograph-length study on the topic, The Political Animal sheds new light on this significant period in western political thought.
Medieval authors believed that social life stems from the biological and rational nature of human beings, and that collaboration with other people promotes prosperity and good life. Toivanen provides a detailed philosophical interpretation of this view across a wide range of authors, including unedited manuscript sources. As the first monograph-length study on the topic, The Political Animal sheds new light on this significant period in western political thought.
Juhana Toivanen, DSocSc (2009), is an Academy Research Fellow at the University of Jyväskylä. He has published widely on medieval philosophical psychology and political philosophy, including the monograph Perception and the Internal Senses (Brill, 2013).
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
â1âHistorical Setting
â2âAuthors and Sources
â3âMethodology
â4âContents in Brief
â5âHow to Use This Study?
â6âA Note about Translations
1 Terminology
â1âBasic Terminology: Political, Conjugal, and Domestic
â2âPolitical or Social Animal?
â3âLater Developments
2 Needs, Desires, and Natural Inclinations
â1âPreservation of Oneself and the Species
â2âInclination and the Body That Makes Us Social
â3âReflections on Mirrors of Princes
â4âInstrumental Role of the Community
â5âCities and beyond
3 Good Life, Virtue, and Human Sociability
â1âGood Life and Virtue
â2âAims of Individuals and the Community
â3âSocial Role, Prudence, and Virtue
â4âIs Practical Happiness for Everyone? Virtue and Prudence of Citizens
â5âPrudence of Slaves (and Women)
â6âCraftsman qua Craftsman qua Human
â7âHappiness and Morality
4 Reason and Language
â1âNaturalness of Language
â2âLanguage and Justice
â3âCreating Communities
â4âPurpose of the Linguistic Argument
5 The Social and Political Nature of Animals
â1âThe Ant, the Bee, and the Crane
â2âForget the Bee: Truncating the Linguistic Argument
â3âNo Animal Is Political
6 Beasts, Gods, and Human Beings
â1âPart/Whole Metaphysics
â2âSolitary Humans
â3âWhat Is It Like to Be a God?
â4âWays of Being Wild
â5âThe Normative Scale: Above and below Beasts
Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography
Index
Abbreviations
Introduction
â1âHistorical Setting
â2âAuthors and Sources
â3âMethodology
â4âContents in Brief
â5âHow to Use This Study?
â6âA Note about Translations
1 Terminology
â1âBasic Terminology: Political, Conjugal, and Domestic
â2âPolitical or Social Animal?
â3âLater Developments
2 Needs, Desires, and Natural Inclinations
â1âPreservation of Oneself and the Species
â2âInclination and the Body That Makes Us Social
â3âReflections on Mirrors of Princes
â4âInstrumental Role of the Community
â5âCities and beyond
3 Good Life, Virtue, and Human Sociability
â1âGood Life and Virtue
â2âAims of Individuals and the Community
â3âSocial Role, Prudence, and Virtue
â4âIs Practical Happiness for Everyone? Virtue and Prudence of Citizens
â5âPrudence of Slaves (and Women)
â6âCraftsman qua Craftsman qua Human
â7âHappiness and Morality
4 Reason and Language
â1âNaturalness of Language
â2âLanguage and Justice
â3âCreating Communities
â4âPurpose of the Linguistic Argument
5 The Social and Political Nature of Animals
â1âThe Ant, the Bee, and the Crane
â2âForget the Bee: Truncating the Linguistic Argument
â3âNo Animal Is Political
6 Beasts, Gods, and Human Beings
â1âPart/Whole Metaphysics
â2âSolitary Humans
â3âWhat Is It Like to Be a God?
â4âWays of Being Wild
â5âThe Normative Scale: Above and below Beasts
Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography
Index
All interested in the history of political philosophy and the reception of Aristotelian philosophy in the middle ages, and anyone concerned with the foundations of human sociability.