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Essays on Aristotle's Ethics (Philosophical Traditions)

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In this collection of 21 essays, most written during the 1970s, Amelie Rorty has pulled together some penetrating and diverse analyses of the Nicomachean Ethics (and related works) of Aristotle. One of the valuable features of the book is its arrangement: the essays are grouped according to the books of the Ethics of which they treat. Thus, the essays on *akrasia* are grouped together. The two best essays in the book, in my humble opinion, are John M. Cooper's "Aristotle on Friendship," and Martha Craven Nussbaum's "Shame, Separateness, and Political Unity: Aristotle's Criticism of Plato." Both lead one to pursue further reading in these interesting topics. Nussbaum, for example, not only provides a critique of Plato's concept of self-respect, particularly in The Republic, and compares it to Aristotle's presentation in the Ethics and the Politics; she also brings in John Rawls' A Theory of Justice, and two novels by Henry James. For those looking for some guidance, and some analytic tools, in reading Aristotle's ethical works, this is a great resource.

This collection is by some of the major figures in ancient philosophy scholarship for the last few decades. It is not light reading, the interested non-philosopher intellectual can find something here but depending on what you do you might find parts of this collection tough. Enough of it is perfectly accessible to the well-educated curious layperson, however.

This book is more for professionals - who don't bother reading this review when looking to order this book. Advanced students and those interested in focusing on ancient and Aristotle must have this for their library. Advanced undergrads and graduate students taking courses on the Ethics need look no further for a great resource for writing papers.

If you are looking for something more introductory try one of those philosophy guidebooks and introductions all the various scholarly presses have EXCEPT the Cambridge book by Michael Pakaluk - it's garbage.

Keep an eye out for the Cambridge Companion to Aristotle's Nico-Ethics edited by R. Polansky. It should be quite good whenever it comes out.