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Aristotle: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) (Paperback)

by Jonathan Barnes (Author) "Aristotle died in the autumn of 322 BC..." (more)
Key Phrases: reputable opinions, four stomachs, beings qua, Posterior Analytics, Alexander the Great, Generation of Animals (more...)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A short, sweet, and selective commentary and analysis of Aristotle's works and ideas. A fine adjunct to the reading of the translated texts. A highly recommended aid to the student meeting Aristotle ab initio. Boy, what a book!"--Steven C. Fleishman, University of Maryland
"No other work on Aristotle accomplishes so much in such brief compass; its author's care for and knowledge of Aristotle's achievements are evident on every page."--Tom Cunningham, Grand Valley State College
"One of the finest critical introductions to Aristotle ever written. Clear, concise, and intelligible."--Religious Studies Review
"As an introduction to Aristotle, I find Barnes' book ideal....his book presents the basics in an understandable manner for beginners."--Rose Maries Surwilo, College of St. Francis
"There is something here for everyone with a nose for philosophy and its history...Barnes has provided a description which does justice to the grandeur and breadth of its subject."--Sarah Waterlow, Times Literary Supplement


Product Description
The influence of Aristotle, the prince of philosophers, on the intellectual history of the West is second to none. In this book, Jonathan Barnes examines Aristotle's scientific researches, his discoveries in logic and his metaphysical theories, his work in psychology and in ethics and politics, and his ideas about art and poetry, placing his teachings in their historical context.

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Product Details

  • Paperback: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 18, 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0192854089
  • ISBN-13: 978-0192854087
  • Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128,520 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Aristotle died in the autumn of 322 BC. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
reputable opinions, four stomachs, beings qua, necessity condition
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Posterior Analytics, Alexander the Great, Generation of Animals, Prior Analytics
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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, approachable introduction Aristotle., December 2, 2001
By Michael Strassberg (Hamilton Square, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
I have tried to approach Aristotle in two ways; reading his works directly, or reading criticisms or synopses of them. I had been stymied in both approaches. The original texts are very opaque and difficult to follow, and many of the expositors assume a greater knowledge than a novice will have. This book solves the problem. Written by an emminent Aristotelian scholar, it puts in plain, understandable language the basics of Aristotles philosophy. Barnes tries to give a unified presentation of Aristotle, so he chooses the original works by the philosopher to follow in a sequence which builds to a unified whole. A great place to start Aristotle for the beginner.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Best introduction I've found, March 22, 2003
For someone who is looking for the spark to engage them in Aristotle's thought, or someone who just wants to know a bit about Aristotle, this would be a good choice. There are a couple other really good introductions as well, one is 'Aristotle the Philosopher' by J.L Ackrill, which is a bit more detailed, another is 'Aristotle' by Sir David Ross which is a quite a bit more in depth. Both of these are good as well.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding introduction to and evaluation of Aristotle , March 2, 2005
This review is from: Aristotle (Past Masters) (Paperback)
Barnes tells the story of Aristotle's life briefly,and then discusses his contributions in various areas of intellectual life. The first and great impulse of Aristotle is the desire to know and Barnes makes it clear how Aristotle for over one- thousand years was ' the master of all those who know'. He seemed to take interest in every area of study, and his researches in the physical world were for centuries at the forefront of human knowledge. Barnes makes it clear that the Aristotelian view of the world scientifically was ' exploded' by the scientific revolution. No one teaches Aristotle's biology or physics today, and no one uses his methods. On the other hand in other areas, such as ethics and aesthetics his ideas still have a power and voice. The love of knowledge in Aristotle as Barnes makes clear was combined with his understanding of the human being as ' social animals'. Therefore no matter how high a value he placed on the contemplative life ( and this as the key to eudaemonia or happiness in Aristotle's thought) he understand the social, and political aspect of life as human necessity. Barnes outlines Aristotle's political theory, his perhaps too optimistic a view of the role of the state, his exclusion of whole human groups which we today consider rightfully entitled to participate in the ruling of society.
Barnes too makes an interesting analysis of the written style of Aristotle's work, taking it to be dry, factual, and without the poetic and imaginative elegance of Aristotle's great teacher, Plato. He shows how for Aristotle the chief value is in the transmitting of knowledge and that language is thus treated not as an end in itself, but as instrument.
One cannot help noting the great irony in Aristotle's story. He who loved knowledge so much and was so devoted to its accumulation and dissemination, nonetheless fostered countless misconceptions. There are many who believe his Physics held Mankind back for generations.
Nonetheless taken all in all , aside from his enormous historical role, Aristotle stands as a figure a great example of one fundamental human value , the quest for and love of knowledge and learning.
Barnes makes it clear that we have much to learn from him still.
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3.0 out of 5 stars Informative but dull
Barnes tries to give a unified presentation of Aristotle's work, but his method of quoting often from Aristotle's work makes the writing seem choppy. Read more
Published on June 1, 2003 by From_Plano_TX

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