Action and Character According to Aristotle: The Logic of the Moral Life

Aristotle labors under no illusion that in the practical sphere humans operate according to the canons of logic. This does not prevent him, however, from bringing his own logical acumen to his study of human behavior. Aristotle, according to Fr. Flannery, depicts the way in which human acts of various sorts and in various combinations determine the logical structure of moral character. Some moral characters - or character types - manage to incorporate a high degree of practical consistency; others incorporate less, without forfeiting their basic orientation towards the good. Still others approach utter inconsistency or moral deprivation, although even these, in so far as they are responsible for their actions, retain a core element of rationality in their souls. According to Aristotle, moral character depends ultimately upon the structure of individual acts and upon how they fit together into a whole that is consistent - or not consistent - with justice and friendship. This book will appeal to professional scholars and graduate students with an interest in Aristotle's ethics and in ethics generally. It proposes comprehensive interpretations of some difficult passages in Aristotle's two major ethical works ( the Nicomachean Ethics and the Eudemian Ethics ). It brings to bear upon the analysis of human behavior passages in Aristotle's logical works and in his Physics. It also draws connections among areas of particular interest to contemporary ethics: action theory, the analysis of practical reason, and virtue ethics. Aristotle, According To The Author, Depicts The Way In Which Human Acts Of Various Sorts And In Various Combinations Determine The Logical Structure Of Moral Character. Some Moral Characters--or Character Types--manage To Incorporate A High Degree Of Practical Consistency; Others Incorporate Less, Without Forfeiting Their Basic Orientation Toward The Good. Still Others Approach Utter Inconsistency Or Moral Deprivation, Although Even These, Insofar As They Are Responsible For Their Actions, Retain A Core Element Of Rationality In Their Souls. According To Aristotle, Moral Character Depends Ultimately On The Structure Of Individual Acts And On How They Fit Together Into A Whole That Is Consistent--or Not Consistent--with Justice And Friendship.--from Publisher's Description. 1. Logic, Perception, And The Practical Syllogism -- 2. The Physical Structure Of The Human Act -- 3. Internal Articulation And Force -- 4. The Constituents Of Human Action And Ignorance Thereof -- 5. Intelligibility And The Per Se -- 6. Action, [phronēsis], And Pleasure -- 7. [phronēsis] And The [phronimos] -- 8. Some Other Character Types. Kevin L. Flannery, Sj. Text In English With Ancient Greek Excerpts. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Aristotle, according to the author, depicts the way in which human acts of various sorts and in various combinations determine the logical structure of moral character. Some moral characters--or character types--manage to incorporate a high degree of practical consistency; others incorporate less, without forfeiting their basic orientation toward the good. Still others approach utter inconsistency or moral deprivation, although even these, insofar as they are responsible for their actions, retain a core element of rationality in their souls. According to Aristotle, moral character depends ultimately on the structure of individual acts and on how they fit together into a whole that is consistent--or not consistent--with justice and friendship.--Résumé de l'éditeur Contents Introduction 1. Logic, Perception, and the Practical Syllogism 2. The “Physical” Structure of the Human Act 3. Internal Articulation and Force 4. The Constituents of Human Action and Ignorance Thereof 5. Intelligibility and the Per Se 6. Action, Φρόνησις, and Pleasure 7. Φρόνησις and the Φρόνιμος 8. Some Other Character Types Conclusion Appendix 1: On the Text of Metaph. ix, 6, 1048b18–35 Appendix 2: Eudemian Ethics ii,6–9 Bibliography Index of Names Index of Aristotelian Passages Cited Index of Subjects Aristotle labours under no illusion that in the practical sphere humans operate according to the canons of logic. This does not prevent him, however, from bringing his own logical acumen to his study of human behaviour. Aristotle, according to Fr. Flannery, depicts the way in which human acts of various sorts and in various combinations determine the logical structure of moral character.