A nice canonical compendium of philosophical theories https://plato.stanford.edu/contents.html#a
Nicomachean Ethics
71–80 of 160 posts
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#72I read HN because it's the only place on the Internet where a link to a Wikipedia page on Nicomachean Ethics could hit the #1 position.
Is HN the only place that happens? Has anyone found another site that has a lots of well organized quality intellectually stimulating content?
There is slatestarcodex.com and a handful of twitter accounts. Also, there are some think tank slacks that are out there, but most of the good stuff is private. Occasionally the ArmsControlWonk slack will be hours ahead of the news and with a lot more certainty over something.
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#73It's been awhile since I've read this. Rereading about it now, it seems like a conceptual mess. I also have this sense, hard to put into words, that it is written from a perspective of socioeconomic privilege and implicitly assumes a certain freedom, or has as its focus certain concerns that reflect that. It comes across to me now as narrow-minded and lacking in understanding of the broader human condition and divers…
> The sort of paradigm being asserted in The Ethics provides no way out to address the question of "how do I improve the lot of my fellow persons?" or to develop virtues in others.
Aristotle says that the peak of virtuousness isn't living a life devoted to the theory, but one that puts it into practical use through politics and legislation.
This seems like a direct call to action to help improve society and bring the theory to more people such that they may improve themselves.
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#74For those interested in a grand overview of history of philosophy (the ideas themselves and the people behind them), this is a worth-reading classic:
A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_History_of_Western_Philosoph...
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#75I bought the paperback of this book a few years ago, and I make a point to read it at least once a year. Every time I do, I find something new.
Continually amazed that humans were so insightful so long ago.
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#76This is one of the books that, until yo do read it, you think (because that is the “folklore wisdom”) will be a huge bore. Then it blows your mind, and you start to understand freedom.
Aristotle is difficult to read, for a number of reasons. The main one in my opinion is that it is so dense of inestimable content that I am overwhelmed at every paragraph.
My suggestion, based on what worked for me, is to use a highlighter. Highlight things that are both interesting and confusing. At the end of a chapter, review. I found the passages I highlighted because they were confusing ended up being truly interesting.
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#77Any recommendations on which edition or translation to get? Thanks in advance!
I thought the "Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 2nd Edition" revision was quite good. Can be found on Amazon.
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#78I read HN because it's the only place on the Internet where a link to a Wikipedia page on Nicomachean Ethics could hit the #1 position.
So true. Love the diversity.
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#79I would like to suggest "History of Philosophy without any gaps" podcast website which explains in a rather complete way Philosophy in layman's terms. Everything is neatly organized (just check the top menu). Also it includes non western philosophy such as Avicenna's writings, its importance and relation to Aristotle's work. Here is ths relevant episode on Aristotelian ethics: https://historyofphilosophy.net/aristotl…
I enjoyed that podcast, and would second your recommendation, but for me the best philosophy podcast by far is The Partially Examined Life[1].
Here's their episode on the Nichomachean Ethics: [2]
[1] - https://partiallyexaminedlife.com/
[2] - http://traffic.libsyn.com/partiallyexaminedlife/PEL_ep005_6-...
Re: Nicomachean Ethics
#80Years ago a good friend had this quote hung up on the wall by her desk: "ἔστι ... ὁ φίλος ἄλλος αὐτός" (A friend is another self), which I loved: you experience the world through loved ones too, and expand your consciousness (on a related note see Hofstadter's Strange Loop on his thoughts about having a version of his deceased wife's consciousness "running" in his brain).
Later I learned that it came from the Nicomachean Ethics (https://www.loebclassics.com/view/aristotle-nicomachean_ethi...) and is much deeper that I thought.
Bonus quote from Antisthenes: "τῷ σοφῷ ξένον οὐδὲν" (The wise person is foreign to nothing). One interesting thing about this one is that Ancient Greek had two words fro nothing: ouden and meden.