From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!uwvax!myers
Newsgroups: net.politics
Title: definition of politics
Article-I.D.: uwvax.826
Posted: Sat Apr 16 20:11:29 1983
Received: Mon Apr 18 10:26:17 1983
References: hplabsb.1557


In the interest of stimulating discussion on what activity should be included
beneath the heading "politics", I would like to offer the following
definition:

	"Politics" means conscious action in pursuit of a common social goal.

In other words, I am rejecting the notion (implicit in Machiavelli's
writings) that "politics" is an autonomous activity with its own
principles and laws.  All purposefull human activity can be viewed as being
political.  For more learned expositions on this point of view, read
Antonio Gramsci and/or J.P. Sartre.

					Jeff Myers     myers@uwvax