[Usyd_Classics_Events] Reading Group: Aristotle Politics Book 1

[Anthony Alexander]

Dear Ben

This is a very interesting initiative.  I hope it is a success.

But just one comment.  The Greek Reading Group remains very much in existence.  We are reading Thucydides book 7 and welcome anyone who would like to join to read a passage every other week.

So perhaps you'll need to find another name for your group!

All best wishes

Anthony

From: Usyd_Classics_Events <usyd_classics_events-bounces at mailman.sydney.edu.au> On Behalf Of Ben Brown via Usyd_Classics_Events
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 8:12 AM
To: Usyd_Classics_Events at mailman.sydney.edu.au; _Arts SSPS Academic <_ArtsSSPSAcademic at mcs.usyd.edu.au>; _ARTS SOH Academics <_ARTSSOHAcademics at mcs.usyd.edu.au>
Subject: [Usyd_Classics_Events] Reading Group: Aristotle Politics Book 1

Dear all,
Apologies for the spam but I wanted to be as inclusive as possible to gauge interest. I'm thinking of reactivating our Greek reading group and tackling the first book of Aristotle's Politics-hence the wide circulation beyond those more narrowly focused on the language. There are a number of reasons why I think it is timely to reconsider Aristotle's masterpiece, not least because (along with many) I believe the text has some important things to say to our current historical situation, about democracy, politics and how we frame (or ought to frame) the terms of a critique of our present. Aristotle's Politics is a starting point for so much modern thought (Marx, Arendt, Rancière, etc), but we rarely read and discuss the text directly in translation, let alone in Greek!

I want to start from scratch with Ross' 1957 Oxford Classical Text edition (a PDF can be supplied) and work through Book 1's thirteen chapters (25 pages of Ross' text) slowly across the year. Traditionally our reading group, formerly led magisterially by Anthony Alexander (who would be an honoured participant if you can make it!), was held from 4.30-6pm on Tuesdays in the Kevin Lee Room. I'd like to maintain the tradition (in the same location if possible), but first sound out the opinion of our larger community to see if it's something people are interested in. We'd begin in week 3, March 5. The Greek is not hard, but it is Aristotle, which means we will be pausing a lot to discuss the grammar, technical sense, his terminology and offer interpretations. With help of the group even beginners will find much to appreciate, but the Greekless too might enjoy the process of translation, explanation and philological commentary. We will read slowly and carefully. If we can get at least 7-8 regularly attending, it will be well worth it, and may very well extend to book 2 over the horizon.

Let me know what you think!

All best, Ben

DR BEN BROWN
Senior Lecturer, Classics and Ancient History
Honours and Research Seminar Coordinator
School of Humanities (SoH)
Co-director Critical Antiquities Network<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/enQ0CK1DvKTDG2MxwTM_aK_?domain=criticalantiquities.org>
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY NSW 2006
Ph.: 9351 8983; Office: Main Quad J6.07
E benjamin.brown at sydney.edu.au<mailto:benjamin.brown at sydney.edu.au> | W http://sydney.edu.au/arts/classics_ancient_history/staff/profiles/benjamin.brown.php

Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral
[signature_2450957005]
[A picture containing logo  Description automatically generated]<https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/b9dzCL7EwMfkZRwMOCq3Cvx?domain=bmcr.brynmawr.edu>

CRICOS 00026A
This email plus any attachments to it are confidential. Any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited. If you receive this email in error, please delete it and any attachments.

Please think of our environment and only print this e-mail if necessary.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mailman.sydney.edu.au/mailman/private/usyd_classics_events/attachments/20240124/a7ebe945/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 43650 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <https://mailman.sydney.edu.au/mailman/private/usyd_classics_events/attachments/20240124/a7ebe945/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 271906 bytes
Desc: image002.png
URL: <https://mailman.sydney.edu.au/mailman/private/usyd_classics_events/attachments/20240124/a7ebe945/attachment-0003.png>