Aristotle's Ethics

David Bostock presents a fresh critical introduction to one of the great classics of moral philosophy. Aristotle's Nicomachaen Ethics is and deserves to be his most widely studied work, for much of what it has to say is still important for today's debate on the problems of ethics. In this new book, David Bostock guides the reader through explanations and evaluations of all the main themes of Aristotle's work, paying due attention to questions of interpretation, and the differing views of a range of commentators. The emphasis is on the philosophical merits and demerits of the doctrines that emerge and these are critically discussed in simple and straightforward terminology. Each chapter concludes with suggestions for further reading on the themes and ideas discussed within the chapter, and the book finishes with an evaluation of the Ethics as a whole. Bostock provides the ideal companion to study of this great work, helping the reader to engage with its ideas and arguments as living philosophy.

Table of Contents:
Introduction The Good for Man: First Discussion (Book I) 1: Introduction 2: The Good as the Ultimate End 3: The Ultimate End as 'Eudaimonia' 4: The Good for Man and the 'Function' of Man 5: Rival Interpretations 6: Some Reactions [7]: Appendix. Aristotle on the Platonic Theory in I.6 Virtues of Character (Book II) 1: The Parts of the Soul (I.13) 2: Virtue as a Disposition (II.5) 3: Virtue as a 'Mean' (II.6) 4: Feelings and Actions 5: Concluding Remarks Justice (Book V) 1: Universal and Particular Justice (V.1-2) 2: Justice in Distribution (V.3) 3: Justice in Rectification (V.4) 4: Justice in Exchange (V.5) 5: Justice and the Mean 6: A General Observation on 'Virtue of Character' [7]: Appendix. V.6-11 Virtues of Intellect (Book VI) 1: The Introduction (1138b18-34) 2: The Theoretical and the Practical (VI.1-3, 6) 3: The Technical (VI.4) 4: What Practical Wisdom is 5: Comment [7]: Appendix. Note on 1142a25-30 Responsibility (III.1) 1: Introduction 2: The Analysis of Responsibility (III.1) 3: Aristotle and the Problem of Free Will (III.5) 4: Two Comments [7]: Appendix. Comparison with 'EN' V.8 Self-Control 1: Preliminaries (VII.1-2) 2: Aristotle's Account of 'Akrasia' (VII.3) 3: Objection 4: Explanations [5]: Appendix. Note on the Practical Syllogism Pleasure (VII.11-14, X.1-5) 1: Book VI and X 2: The Goodness of Pleasure 3: Friendship and Altruism 4: The Relation between Pleasure and Activity 5: Pleasure and Activities Friendship (Books VIII-IX) 1: Introduction 2: The Varieties of Friendship 3: Friendship and Altruism 4: Why One who is 'Eudaimon' Needs Friends (IX.9) 5: Conclusion The Good for Man: Second Discussion (X.6-8) 1: Recapitulation 2: Aristotle's Arguments 3: Aristotle's Position 4: Escape Routes 5: A Comment Aristotle's Methods in Ethics 1: Dialectic 2: Aristotle on First Principles 3: Aristotle's Basic Principles Concluding Remarks References Index Locorum General Index

About the Author :
David Bostock is Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy at Merton College, Oxford, and Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Oxford

Review :
`David Bostock's study succeeds admirably in keeping the text in view from both angles: as a fairly idiosyncratic diagnosis of the intimations of a specific and often formidably distant culture, but also as a vigourous, sustained and illuminating piece of consecutive thinking, which protrudes imperiously into the most pressing puzzles and arguments of our day. ...it guides the student through Aristotle's main themes and arguments, sometimes to dismiss them abruptly, but never without first taking the trouble to grasp them accurately. ... Bostock's thoughtful, patient, decorous, deft and very Oxonian book would be the most instructive of companions' John Dunn, professor of political theory, University of Cambridge 'helpful and original discussions of particular passages' Mind