阿伦特认为, 西方政治哲学起源于古老的政治和哲学之争, 由柏拉图所奠基的“沉思生活”高于“积极生活”的等级秩序以及“制作”代替“行动”的思维方式始终支配着西方政治哲学传统。在对西方传统政治哲学的批判中, 阿伦特表达了她对政治的看法———政治是一种以自身为目的的活动, 政治哲学的基础应当是对人类事务多样性的“惊异”。

In Arendt's view, Western political philosophy is derived from an old conflict between philosophy and politics.From then on, the mode of thinking establishing by Plato, that is, thinking action as work and elimination autonomy and plurality of action, has always dominated the Western tradition of political philosophy, even shared by our Moderns.Through her criticisms of Western political philosophy, Arendt expresses her views on politics——politics is an activity which takes the self as its end, and the foundation of political philosophy lies in the wonder for plurality of human affairs.