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His ideas provide a useful filter with words personal qualities, and the moderation of virtues in Nichomchean Ethics pretty much describes what it means when we
by motohagiography 2y ago
His ideas provide a useful filter with words personal qualities, and the moderation of virtues in Nichomchean Ethics pretty much describes what it means when we say someone is 'honest.' it's a foundational read, along with the stoics.
the provocative aspect of Aristotle today is that for people who see themselves as not on the level of citizens and who reject being compared by the virtues he (and later, aquinas) articulated, the judgment implies they are somehow moral or spiritual fugitives from it. if I'm not patient, friendly, magnanimous, courageous, charitable, ambitious, truthful, etc, am I really an inferior or less worthy person? according to who? in that sense, the current concept of intersectionality is a kind of secular re-blessing of people marginalized by those values so as to organize them into a movement to dismantle this dominion of judgment by ancient virtues. viewed this way, Aristotle's values and how they support a conceptual moral "kingdom of god" are this movements shared enemy. I get that normal people want to see these things as just human progress vs. quaint old ideas, and not view the value of Aristotle today through the lens of eschatology, but if one did, it illuminates some aspects that should raise at least some eyebrows.
- analog31 2y agoAsk HN: What's a favored translation these days?
- seeknotfind 2y agoPenguin Classics edition of Nichomachean Ethics has a great introduction and is very readable.
- asimpletune 2y agoThe best comes from Hackett publishing.
- cybersoyuz 2y agoA recent translation by Bartlett and Collins has extensive notes and reflects up-to-date scholarship. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/A/bo11393496.html https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/A/bo113934...
- squirrelChrist 2y agoUnless you know enough Greek to get into serious depth, Oxford's Complete Works of Aristotle, edited by Barnes, is the standard thing scholars use.
- cafard 2y agoThis fall, I read a (fairly new) translation of The Eudemian Ethics by Anthony Kenny, in the Oxford World Classics series. It is handy (fits in a coat pocket, depending on your coat), with a useful introduction and notes.
- zvr 2y agoI know you've only asked for a translation, but if you are interested in more, there is an edition by Oxford University Press (April 11, 2002), 480 pages, ISBN 978-0198752714. An English translation by Christopher Rowe that strives to be meticulously accurate yet also accessible. The translation is accompanied by Sarah Broadie's detailed line-by-line commentary. https://a.co/d/4bOuqI5 https://a.co/d/4bOuqI5 Copying from an online review (at random): If you want only a translation, and quality doesn't matter much, this translation will probably be too expensive for you. However, if you want an extensive introduction (a historical one from pg. 3-7, a philosophical one from pg. 9-91), outlines on each book and commentary (pg. 261-452), a list of Greek vocabulary (pg. 453-5), a bibliography, and index, then this is your ticket.
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- geye1234 2y ago> if I'm not patient, friendly, magnanimous, courageous, charitable, ambitious, truthful, etc, am I really an inferior or less worthy person? Not in your essence. All people are equal in their essence. But it's better to be a person who's truthful than a person who constantly lies. So in that sense, a truthful person is better than a liar. Anyway, the beauty is that anyone can attain these virtues. It's very, very hard work, but even the pursuit brings very great joy. (Being 'ambitious' is not a virtue, btw :-) )
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- chambers 2y agoAnother fascinating comment by motohagiography. I wager the movement is less a rebellion of the few, and more the unbelief of the many. That is, people just don't believe there's a personal benefit to being virtuous. It's a completely rational calculation when there's no deep spiritual or religious belief in far-off rewards or punishments. Unfortunately, our age's contempt for belief in the "deep down" turns people to worship physical characteristics & preferences instead.
- motohagiography 2y agowhat a clever trick it would be to persuade so many people it is actually more virtuous, to choose-rationally, to act un-virtuously, than it is to actually work at becoming virtuous. super-human cleverness at play there, one might say. this phenomenon we're apprehending together isn't new either. history is full of guys who just spell it all out and try to warn us. you could take courses in religion and philosophy to find out who to read, but really, I just recommend starting with the ones murdered by their governments. the rest are flatterers anyway. compliment appreciated and i hope this handle doesn't become a thing, but thank you!