The Philosophy of Aristotle (Signet Classics) [Paperback]

Renford Bambrough (Author), J. L. Creed (Author), A. E. Wardman (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Signet Classics | Publication Date: June 3, 2003

This annotated collection of the influential philosopher's most famous works includes: Metaphysics, Logic, Physics, Psychology, Ethics, Politics, and Poetics.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Aristotle was born at Stageira, in the dominion of the kings of Macedonia, in 384 BC. For twenty years he studied at Athens in the Academy of Plato, on whose death in 347 he left, and, some time later, became tutor of the young Alexander the Great. When Alexander succeeded to the throne of Macedonia in 335, Aristotle returned to Athens and established his school and research institute, the Lyceum, to which his great erudition attracted a large number of scholars. After Alexander's death in 323, anti-Macedonian feeling drove Aristotle out of Athens, and he fled to Chalcis in Euboea, where he died in 322. His writings, which were of extraordinary range, profoundly affected the whole course of ancient and medieval philosophy, and they are still eagerly studied and debated by philosophers today. Very many of them have survived and among the most famous are the Ethics and the Politics.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Signet Classics (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451528875
• ISBN-13: 978-0451528872
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #996,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #99 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Greek & Roman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect one-volume selection of "The Philsopher.", March 25, 2004

By 

Kendal B. Hunter (Provo, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Philosophy of Aristotle (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

Two things make this book great: its selection and its translation.

For a pocket size selection of Aristotle, this book is tops. It has sections from all of his major works, so it is useful for survey classes, or personal study. Of fundamental import is Metaphysics, which is the meta-basis for his thought. Also included are selections from his more popular Ethics and Politics, and lesser known Poetics.

What drew me to this book was the translation. Most translations are really crude transliterations. Yes, it is important to be as faithful to the text as humanly possible. But the "ivory tower academeese" sucks the life out of vibrant philosophies.

Creed and Wardmen avoid this problem entirely. This text was readable, and therefore enjoyable. It reminds me of the smooth prose of J. B Phillips or Edgar J. Goodspeed. It was like talking to a good friends, rather than a Latinized statue.

For a more comprehensive selection, I would recommend "Basic Works of Aristotle" (ISBN: 0375757996), or getting the books individually.

I love the cover!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Drawbacks and disadvantages of this edition, May 30, 2010

By 

Andy K (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Philosophy of Aristotle (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

This edition of Aristotle cuts quite severely from the complete books. There are very few complete books. In Nichomachean Ethics, for example, the chapters on friendship are omitted. This is so frustrating that I don't use it.

I'd suggest getting complete works as led by your interest primarily. Get the Ethics, Politics, Poetics, Physics.

The other problem is that the large amount of explaining before and between the actual texts in this edition doesn't actually explain anything. In fact, it makes it more confusing in many cases. You just can't out-clarify Aristotle, and the high-school-ese of the introductions is a bit patronizing to him and us. Better to have a personal response to the work or nothing than this faux objectivity.

Finally, as with other reviews I agree it's broad and fairly well translated, especially compared to the past translations, but I find older translations have a spirit and nobility which this frankly lacks.

I much anticipated this book's arrival. It was good to carry round - portability is fine. But it takes more than a convenient format to present Aristotle in a popular format.

I suggest trying the Penguin editions.