Selection from the Preface:

In this translation, as in the other Peripatetic Press translations of the works of Aristotle, the same principles of terminology and of thought are used, for in this way the reader is least likely to be confused or misled by linguistic and semantic difficulties which lead to unfair criticism of Aristotle’s thought. The Commentaries and the Glossary, too, are of help, especially to the serious reader; for Aristotle wrote scientifically, and scientific reading requires an accurate terminology. The Introduction will discuss mainly the choice of two crucial terms and give the reasons why we differ from other translators. The Commentaries are limited mainly to points which bear on Aristotle’s thought on political theory. Those who are interested in the historical background and other such matters may use The Politics of Aristotle, four volumes, by W.L. Newman, perhaps the best work on that subject.

Standard terms or expressions in italics, unless used for emphasis or for works by Aristotle and other authors, have meanings which differ somewhat from the corresponding meanings of the same terms or expressions without italics. For example, the terms “desire” and “desire,” although closely related, differ in meaning. Expressions appearing in brackets are not translations from the Greek text but are inserted as specifications or interpretations and are used for the sake of the reader. In the margins of the translation, we have inserted the pages and lines of the Bekker pages, which are standard. The various works of Aristotle and the corresponding Bekker pages which contain each of them are listed at the beginning of the Commentaries.