ABSTRACT
The tradition of political theory is multifaceted and ever evolving. Perhaps its most pronounced boundaries are those distinguishing ancient, modern and postmodern political thought. This chapter explores continuities and innovations within the tradition of political theory. It addresses and integrates the ancient concern for the cultivation of virtue and the formation of character, the modern effort to set politics upon the foundations of science the better to build institutions and regulate interactions, and the postmodern focus on the social construction of identity. The chapter demonstrates that border crossings can make for good theory.
