Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to Aristotle on Ethics

249 Pages·2001·1.93 MB·English

Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to 1
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Aristotle
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on Ethics
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‘...for those attempting to come to grips with Aristotle’s Ethics 15
in the context of his own work and time, Hughes provides a 16
congenial and helpful introduction’ 17
Mary McCabe, King’s College London 18
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Aristotle’s Nichomachaean Ethics is one of the most important and
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central texts in the history of Western philosophy. It lies at the heart
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of contemporary moral theory and is essential to understanding the
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history of ethics.
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Gerard J. Hughes provides students with a stimulating, clear and
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accessible guide to Aristotle’s Nichomachaean Ethics. He explains the
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key elements in Aristotle’s terminology and highlights the controversy
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regarding the interpretations of his writings. The GuideBook carefully
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explores each section of the text, and presents a detailed account of the
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problems Aristotle was trying to address, such as happiness, responsi-
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bility, moral education and friendship. It also examines the role that
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Aristotle’s Ethicscontinues to play in contemporary moral philosophy
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by comparing and contrasting his views with those widely held today.
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Aristotle on Ethics is essential reading for all students coming
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to Aristotle for the first time and will provide an ideal starting point
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for anyone interested in ethical thought.
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Gerard J. Hughes is Master of Campion Hall at the University of 36
Oxford. He is the author of The Nature of God (Routledge, 1995). 37
i Folio
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Routledge
Philosophy
GuideBooks
Edited by Tim Crane and Jonathan Wolff
University College London
Berkeley and the Principles of Human Knowledge
Robert J. Fogelin
Aristotle on Ethics Gerard J. Hughes
Hume on Religion David O’Connor
Leibniz and the Monadology Anthony Savile
The Later Heidegger George Pattison
Hegel on History Joseph McCarney
Hume on Morality James Baillie
Kant and the Critique of Pure Reason Sebastian Gardner
Mill on Liberty Jonathan Riley
Mill on Utilitarianism Roger Crisp
Wittgenstein and the Philosophical Investigations
Marie McGinn
Plato and the Republic Nickolas Pappas
Locke on Government D. A. Lloyd Thomas
Locke on Human Understanding E. J. Lowe
Spinoza and the Ethics Genevieve Lloyd
LONDON AND NEW YORK
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Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to
O
Aristotle
U
on Ethics
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L
E
D
G
E
n Gerard J. Hughes
First published 2001 British Library Cataloguing in
by Routledge Publication Data
11 New Fetter Lane, A catalogue record for this book is
London EC4P 4EE available from the British Library
Simultaneously published in Library of Congress Cataloging
the USA and Canada in Publication Data
by Routledge Hughes, Gerard J.
29 West 35th Street, Routledge Philosophy GuideBook to
New York, NY 10001 Aristotle on ethics / Gerard J.
Hughes.
Routledge is an imprint of p. cm.—(Routledge Philosophy
the Taylor & Francis Group GuideBooks)
Includes bibliographical references
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis and index
e-Library, 2003. 1. Aristotle. Nicomachaean ethics.
I. Title: Aristotle on ethics. II. Title.
© 2001 Gerard J. Hughes III. Series.
B430.H84 2001
All rights reserved. No part of this 171´.3–dc21 00-051835
book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any ISBN 0-203-18157-3 Master e-book ISBN
electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or ISBN 0-203-18160-3 (Adobe eReader Format)
retrieval system, without permission in ISBN 0–415–22186–2 (hbk)
writing from the publishers. ISBN 0–415–22187–0 (pbk)
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Chapter 1 1
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Contents
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Acknowledgements ix
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Note on the text x n
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1 Aristotle’s life and work 1 21
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An outline of his life and times 1 t 23
His works and philosophical
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background 4
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s 26
2 Style, structure and aim of 27
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the Ethics 9
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The Nicomachaean Ethics 9 30
Aristotle’s aim in writing the Ethics 13 31
Aristotle’s Preface (1): 32
Why do we do anything at all? 14 33
Aristotle’s Preface (2): 34
Realistic expectations 16 35
Aristotle’s Preface (3): 36
Suitable students 17 37
v Folio
CONTENTS
1 3 The fulfilled life 21
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3 The meanings of eudaimonia and arete¯ 22
4 Fulfilled lives? 24
5 A central problem: ‘Dominant’ or ‘Inclusive’? 27
6 Two further agreed characteristics of eudaimonia 31
7 Background: Aristotle’s views on the human soul 33
8 The Function Argument 36
9 Theo¯ria and being a good citizen 45
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11 4 Moral virtues and moral training 53
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The definition of moral virtue 54
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Moral training 70
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16 5 Practical wisdom 83
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Overview of the issues 84
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Practical wisdom and theoretical ability 87
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Is practical wisdom like other practical skills? 88
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Practical wisdom: about means or about ends? 94
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Practical wisdom and moral virtue 106
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The unity of the virtues 109
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Is Aristotle’s account defensible? 112
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6 Responsibility 117
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27 ‘Acting willingly’: sorting out common opinions 118
28 Moral conclusions: the best index of character 129
29 Responsibility for one’s character 133
30 Decisions and freedom 137
31 Additional note on ‘wanting’ 142
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7 Moral failure 145
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35 Why is moral failure problematic? 145
36 Aristotle’s solution: one interpretation 148
37 A more detailed defence 154
Folio vi
CONTENTS
8 Relationships with others 167 1
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Aristotelian relationships 168 3
Is Aristotle an ethical egoist? 172 4
Flexibility, relationships and justice 179 5
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9 Pleasure and the good life 183
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The issues as they appeared to Aristotle 185 8
Aristotle’s comments on the moral arguments 188 9
The argument from opposites 190 10
Aristotle’s own view: arguments and problems 194 11
Are some pleasures not really pleasures? 199 12
Is the fulfilled life enjoyable? 205 13
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10 Aristotle’s moral world and ours 211 15
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Culture: acceptance and criticism 211 17
Virtues and principles 218 18
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Glossary 223 20
Bibliography 225 21
Index 229 22
Index of texts 235 23
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RESPONSIBILITY
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Folio viii
Chapter 1 1
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Acknowledgements
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The stimulus to write this book came from Jo Wolff. I am much
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indebted to him for his encouragement at every stage. Especially I must
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thank Justin Gosling for reading the entire manuscript in draft, and for
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taking the time to make many characteristically insightful comments.
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I am also most grateful to one of Routledge’s readers, who commented
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in detail most helpfully and constructively. Where I have resisted any
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of their suggestions, I have nobody to blame but myself. I should also
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like to thank Sue Hogg and Graham Pugin for being willing to take
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the trouble to read some of the more awkward bits and let me know
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whether people coming to Aristotle for the first time would find it an
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accessible introduction.
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Campion Hall
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Oxford
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March 2000
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ix Folio