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The Ethics of Aristotle  By  cover art

The Ethics of Aristotle

By: The Great Courses, Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
Narrated by: Father Joseph Koterski S.J.
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Publisher's summary

In this 12-lecture meditation on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, you'll uncover the clarity and ethical wisdom of one of humanity's greatest minds. Father Koterski shows how and why this great philosopher can help you deepen and improve your own thinking on questions of morality and leading the best life. The aim of these lectures is to provide you with a clear and thoughtful introduction to Aristotle as a moral philosopher. After absorbing some important background information designed to introduce you to Aristotle's career and general approach to the various fields of knowledge, you turn to the ten books (today we would call them chapters) of this brief but towering work. Throughout, you'll consider Aristotle's account of the four main virtues of courage, moderation, justice, and prudence; his claims that happiness (eudaimonia) is the real goal of life; his explanations of how and why people attain- or fall short of- ethical excellence; his differences with his teachers Plato and Socrates over the hard question of what knowing rightly has to do with acting rightly; where Aristotle's thought fits into the long history of ethical reflection; and much more.

Prepare for an illuminating, mind-broadening, and thought-provoking learning experience, and a chance to get up close and personal with one of Western philosophy's founding fathers.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2001 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2001 The Great Courses

What listeners say about The Ethics of Aristotle

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Excellent job.

superb lectures explaining Aristotle's ideas blended with the ideas of other thinkers! opened my eyes!

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Good review of a great book!

Although a little bit boring and monotonous, i think this review was very good and satisfactory to get a deep and sufficient understanding of the book Nichomacian Ethics.

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Insightful

Listening to the courses has not only expanded my knowledge of Aristotle’s ethics but also broadened my perspective on the nature of law and the virtues associated with it.

The lectures were clear, understandable, and easily accessible. I am forever grateful to Father Koterski. His impact is beyond time. May he Rest In Peace.

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Great introduction to Aristotle

If you could sum up The Ethics of Aristotle in three words, what would they be?

Founder of Western Philosophy

Who was your favorite character and why?

Aristotle of course

Which scene was your favorite?

When it goes into the scientific method

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but time did not allow for that

Any additional comments?

Great listen

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Very good -- recommended

All in all a great course. I have some previous knowledge of philosophy, including of Aristotle, and found this course to be well laid out and explained. It should serve to give a solid overview of a sensible, balanced approach to ethics that is generally relevant today.

I just have a few quibbles. Fr Koterski uses some phrases repeatedly that get a bit irritating -- "mindful of that" for example is used dozens of times.

Also I would have been fine with a longer course, perhaps contrasting Aristotle and his heirs such as Aquinas with other philosophers from Plato to the present day.

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Awesome insight!!! Relevant to TODAY!

Enjoyed it all. I'm deeply enthralled by the Greek era. Can't wait to review this material again... If you like this, then go to The Republic.

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Before or after or both or other

As I listened to this excellent audio program, my thought turned to prior comments on similar audio courses.
Usually, the commentary fails to do the original text proper justice. In FR. Koterski's course, my inclination involved taking my copy of Nicomachean Ethics to research WHILE listening. Powerful.

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Ethics: A Very thought-provoking subject

Certainly relevant in a fragile 21st C socio-political sphere. The content was well presented and keeps one laughing and engaged. I loved it.

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Great listen

I enjoyed this very much, the narrator was easy to listen to and the topic was great, obviously. The topics feel especially important today. however that probably how it always feels when ethics is being discussed.

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enjoyable

I enjoyed this series very much. I listened to several sections more then once. I found myself enlightened with a new awareness .

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