Φίλοι,
Thanks for your lively attendance of the first Aristotle seminar last night. Next time, we will dive into Aristotle’s infamous Nicomachean Ethics, a loving instructional manor for ethical behavior dedicated to his son Nicomachus. Notably, we will encounter the Function Argument, which asserts that the good for humans is found in fulfilling our unique rational function. Virtue, then, is the practice of rational activity in accordance with reason, leading to eudaimonia, or human flourishing.
I caved and decided to compile a document of the primary source readings. Of course, I also include the links to online sources for the Nicomachean Ethics below, especially if you hope to read more than the required selections or parse through other translations. You'll find attachments for this document, as well as the optional articles, at the bottom of the blog post.
Additionally, I've included the syllabus that was distributed last night. Please contact me regarding any questions, thoughts, musings-- it is very difficult to waste my time when it comes to philosophy. ;)
Required:
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book I Ch 1-7; Book II Ch 1, 2, 4, 6-9.
Optional:
Barnes, Jonathan. “Life and Work” in The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle. (PDF)
Irwin, T.H. "Conceptions of Happiness in the Nicomachean Ethics" in The Oxford Handbook of Aristotle. (PDF)
Happy reading!!!!!
See you all next week at the Global Arts Plus Upper campus.
