Harvey Mansfield on Aristotle, Democracy, and Political Science

On what Aristotle has to teach us about democracy, and the relationship between philosophy and politics. For more conversations, visit

What does Aristotle have to teach us about democracy and the relationship of philosophy to politics? A profound treatment of this theme is found in Aristotle: Democracy and Political Science by Delba Winthrop (1945 – 2006), which has just been published by the University of Chicago Press. In this Conversation, Harvey Mansfield draws on Winthrop’s book and her stunning interpretation of Book III of Aristotle’s Politics. Mansfield argues that the political quarrels in every city between a “democratic” party and an “oligarchic” party have something crucial to teach us about political science, natural science, and human nature. As Mansfield demonstrates, Aristotle’s Politics reveals that philosophers have something to learn from politics. And, if they do, according to Mansfield, “they’re no longer just natural philosophers but political philosophers. This would make political philosophy central to all philosophy. Politics shows you the central heterogeneity of things.”