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Politics and Practical Wisdom: Rethinking Aristotle’s Account of Phronesis

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Abstract

This paper examines the nature of Aristotelian phronesis, how it is attained, and who is able to attain it inside the polis. I argue that, for Aristotle, attaining phronesis does not require an individual to perfect his practical wisdom to the point where he never makes a mistake, but rather it is attained by certain individuals who are unable to make a mistake of this kind due to their education, habituation, and position in society.

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  1. Department of Philosophy, Tulane University, 105 Newcomb Hall, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Chris W. Surprenant

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  1. Chris W. Surprenant
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Correspondence to Chris W. Surprenant.

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Surprenant, C.W. Politics and Practical Wisdom: Rethinking Aristotle’s Account of Phronesis . Topoi 31, 221–227 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-012-9117-z

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