Aristotle’s statement in the Politics that “the polis exists by nature, and is prior to the individual” is one of the most celebrated and debated claims in the history of political philosophy. It lies at the heart of his conception of human beings as political animals (zoon politikon) and encapsulates the teleological orientation of his … Continue reading How should Aristotle’s assertion that the polis exists by nature and is prior to the individual be interpreted within the broader framework of his political philosophy, and what implications does it hold for understanding the relationship between community and individual in classical political thought?