Philosophy 290-2

The seminar will be concerned with a detailed analysis and critical discussion of the basic principles of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. It will focus on the conception of happiness as the good life, the distinction of character virtues and intellectual virtues as the basis of his phi-losophy of action. It will also elucidate the Aristotelian explanation for the phenomenon of akrasia, his conception and evaluation of pleasure, and take up the controversy whether Aristotle’s explanation of the philosophical life as the supreme good is consistent with his basic principles of the good life. The discussion will focus mainly on the text but also take note of crucial discussions in the secondary literature. Requirements: two 20-minute in-class presentations on the text or relevant secondary literature, one final research-paper.