Levels of Argument

A Comparative Study of Plato's Republic and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Häftad, Engelska, 2018

AvDominic Scott,Dominic (University of Oxford) Scott

519 kr

Beställningsvara. Skickas inom 5-8 vardagar. Fri frakt för medlemmar vid köp för minst 249 kr.

Finns i fler format (1)

Inbunden

1 829 kr

Skickas inom 5-8 vardagar

In Levels of Argument, Dominic Scott compares the Republic and Nicomachean Ethics from a methodological perspective. In the first half he argues that the Republic distinguishes between two levels of argument in the defence of justice, the 'longer' and 'shorter' routes. The longer is the ideal and aims at maximum precision, requiring knowledge of the Forms and a definition of the Good. The shorter route is less precise, employing hypotheses, analogies and empirical observation. This is the route that Socrates actually follows in the Republic, because it is appropriate to the level of his audience and can stand on its own feet as a plausible defence of justice. In the second half of the book, Scott turns to the Nicomachean Ethics. Scott argues that, even though Aristotle rejects a universal Form of the Good, he implicitly recognises the existence of longer and shorter routes, analogous to those distinguished in the Republic. The longer route would require a comprehensive theoretical worldview, incorporating elements from Aristotle's metaphysics, physics, psychology, and biology. But Aristotle steers his audience away from such an approach as being a distraction from the essentially practical goals of political science. Unnecessary for good decision-making, it is not even an ideal. In sum, Platonic and Aristotelian methodologies both converge and diverge. Both distinguish analogously similar levels of argument, and it is the shorter route that both philosophers actually follow--Plato because he thinks it will have to suffice, Aristotle because he thinks that there is no need to go beyond it.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2018-03-29
Mått141 x 216 x 14 mm
Vikt316 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor248
FörlagOUP OXFORD
ISBN9780198801610

Tillhör följande kategorier

Filosofiska discipliner inom Filosofi och religion

Dominic Scott is currently Professor in Philosophy at the University of Oxford and a Tutor at Lady Margaret Hall. He was awarded a PhD in Classics from the University of Cambridge in 1988 and taught there in the Faculty of Philosophy and Clare College until 2007. Since then has been at the University of Virginia, and has taught ethics and politics at the University of Kent. He has also held visiting positions at Oxford, Princeton and Harvard. From 2001 to 2003 he was a British Academy Research Reader. He has lectured extensively: in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. He has also done a great deal of work bringing philosophy into the public arena, working with government, civil service and business, and has co-authored a report on the worldwide state of the humanities.

Scott's analysis helps bring important questions about Aristotle's method into sharp focus; he assesses the evidence judiciously, and defends plausible positions in a way that allows the reader to make up her own mind. In terms of style, Dominic Scott is perhaps the most elegant writer working on ancient philosophy today.Levels of Argument sets a new benchmark for scholarship. It is one of the most original and thought-provoking works of ancient philosophy to appear in recent years. Like the works it studies, it rewards reading and re-reading, and will become a standard critical work for any serious student of ancient philosophy.

Mer från samma författare

The Pseudo-Platonic Seventh Letter

Myles Burnyeat, Michael Frede, Cambridge) Burnyeat, Myles (Robinson College, Oxford) Frede, Michael (formerly Keble College, FREDE BURNYEAT, Frede Burnyeat, Dominic Scott, Dominic (University of Kent) Scott

Inbunden

1 419 kr

Models of Leadership in Plato and Beyond

Dominic Scott, R. Edward Freeman, Oxford University) Scott, Dominic (Professor of Philosophy, Professor of Philosophy, University of Virginia) Freeman, R. Edward (University and Olsson Professor, University and Olsson Professor, The Darden School, R Edward Freeman

Inbunden

539 kr