Recovering the political Aristotle: A critical response to Smith

Thomas Smith presents an Aristotelian view of the common good that resemble s much contemporary political theory in that it focuses on ethics rather th an politics. Smith contends that Aristotle is a potent remedy to a society in crisis due to its unconcern about the common good. Against Smith's apoli tical reading of Aristotle, we examine how Aristotle's views of common adva ntage, the multiple needs of citizens, and political friendship support nei ther harmonizing conceptions of the good nor a personal "radical conversion " that makes the common good our primary political concern. In engaging the political Aristotle, we find instead that he is concerned with the necessa ry conflict that resists attempts to arrive at the common advantage, with t he material basis of good citizenship, and with the institutions and practi ces that foster a good deliberative politics.