What is it about?
Using Xenophon's historical novel about the empire-builder Cyrus the Great, this articles explores a Socratic philosopher's thoughts on the psychological gifts and drives and that go to make up supreme political ambition.
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Why is it important?
High ambition is an important and under-studied force in politics.
Perspectives
This article sheds light on things that are at work in all of us, though they are most visible in rare individuals like Cyrus the Great. I found that Xenophon made especially interesting and surprising suggestions on the connection between ambition and piety.
Lorraine Pangle
University of Texas at Austin Perry-Castaneda Library
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Xenophon on the Psychology of Supreme Political Ambition, American Political Science Review, February 2017, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s0003055416000721.
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