Our Philosophy

The concept of Arete Publica Associates® is embedded in the three words that make up our company brand and slogan:

Arete means both “excellence of any kind” and “moral virtue.” In ancient Greece, this notion would represent the act of living up to one’s full potential.

Publica is derived from res publica, meaning “Public Affair,” but nowadays, the term Publica can be connected to the Republic, a form of governance in which the country is a matter of the public.

Associates highlights our partnership with other consulting companies, individuals, or employees, in the multiple senses of this definition.

Likewise, our logo also embodies our company’s values. On a philosophical level, da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man constitutes an attempt to relate man to nature as a cosmografia del minor mondo (cosmography of the microcosm), where “the workings of the human body represent an analogy for the workings of the universe”. An interesting video by Ted-Ed explains the concept.

At Arete Public Associates, the individual at the center of the logo is the modern leader or executive, standing firmly in the organization and the environment surrounding it, for which they are responsible.

In this sense, the microcosm of an organization is in a complex interrelationship with the macrocosm of the ecosystem around it. Because a legal construct such as an organization does not have ethics, morals, or a sense of responsibility, it is ultimately the people inside such organization who bear this responsibility i.e. each and every one of us.

Corporation leaders bear a special responsibility, as it is their leadership which defines how a company’s culture develops, and it is these leaders upon whom the organization or company depends for their success.

Ultimately, our philosophy is to cater to all the needs of the modern leader, in the midst of the various rules, regulations, and responsibilities placed on him or her by civil society and governance. The jungle of public affairs legislation and international relations regulations can be hard to navigate, but Arete Publica Associates is here to help you through it. By providing your business with excellent consulting in the realm of public affairs, we can help you, the modern leader, reach the absolute summit of your capabilities.