Notes to Aristotle's Ethics (Classic Reprint)

Download or read book Notes to Aristotle's Ethics (Classic Reprint) written by William Edward Jelf and published by Forgotten Books. This book was released on 2017-07-12 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Notes to Aristotle's Ethics IT is not my purpose in this edition to set forth a complete system of moral philosophy, or to compare and reconcile dif ferent views, but simply to assist the student of the Ethics in understanding Aristotle's meaning, and in following his arguments in the book before us. There is, indeed, scarcely a page of the work which might not have served as a peg on which to hang a dissertation on some point of the theory and practice of morals; but to do so would have interfered with, rather than furthered, my main aim: and I have therefore ah stained from general disquisitions, and have neither referred to ancient systems of philosophy, except where Aristotle's meaning would have been obscure without such reference nor to modern views, except where they directly illustrate, in more familiar language, and thus enable us more completely to apprehend what Aristotle meant to say. And this was the less necessary, as I believe what I have left undone will be performed by able hands. I wish rather to guide students, as far as I am able, to an understanding of what Aristotle says, before they proceed to compare him with, or judge him by, what has been advanced by those who went before or came after him, I am sure that he who carefully and patiently studies his ethical writings, (in which I would include the Rhetoric, ) will gain a knowledge of many of the secrets of man' s%ature, as it practically exists, and of men as they practically act, which will be found of great service, as well in the abstract study of the subject, as in practical dealing with, or guidance of, men. For Aristotle, looking with a curious and careful eye on the realities of human life, saw the elements of man's nature, the motives and springs of action. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.