Aristotle's practical epistemology / Dhananjay Jagannathan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jagannathan, Dhananjay, 1987- author.

Series:

Oxford scholarship online.

Oxford scholarship online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Aristotle. Nicomachean ethics.

Aristotle.

Conduct of life.

Knowledge, Theory of.

Wisdom.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (216 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2025]

Summary:

Aristotle's ethical writings are among the most influential in the history of Western thought. Key to these writings is the idea that some people better understand how they should act in order to lead successful lives as part of their communities. Their knowledge is called practical wisdom (phronesis). Some of what Aristotle says suggests that this kind of knowledge is intuitive or unreflective, but at other times it seems abstruse and theoretical. This book presents a novel interpretation of Aristotle's influential account of practical wisdom by situating the topic within his broader theory of ethical knowledge.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Detailed Contents

Introduction

I.1 The subject matter and main claim of this book

I.2 Four features of practical wisdom in Aristotle

Acknowledgments

I.3. Two aspects of Aristotle's method of inquiry

I.4. Outline of the book

1 Deflationism about Practical Knowledge

1.1 Practical Knowledge and Uncertainty

1.2 Isocrates on practical knowledge as skillful guesswork

1.3 Deflationism and conventionalism

1.4 Aristotle's rejection of conventionalism and deflationism

1.5 Confronting uncertainty with the help of ethical knowledge

2 Ethical Experience in the nicomachean ethics

2.1 A new vision of method in ethics

2.2 The practical contribution of experience

2.3 Political experience in NE X.9

2.4 Experience and technical knowledge

3 The Nature of the Virtues of Thought

3.1 Practical wisdom as an exceptional achievement

3.2 Practical wisdom amidst the virtues of thought

3.3 Virtues of thought and the possession of truth

4 Practical Understanding and Ethical Science

4.1 The superiority of understanding

4.2 The exercise of understanding

4.3 Ethics as a special science

5 Knowledge of Practical Universals

5.1 Knowledge of principles in ethics

5.2 Justice as a virtue of character

5.3 The unity of practical wisdom

6 Political Wisdom

6.1 The political character of Aristotelian practical wisdom

6.2 The identity of political and practical wisdom

6.3 Practical wisdom as the ruler's excellence

6.4 Practical universals in political life

6.5 Political deliberation as ethical deliberation

Appendix Further Alternatives to the Practical Epistemology of the Nicomachean Ethics

A.1 Ordinary practical knowledge as intuitive know-how

A.2 Ordinary practical knowledge as prudence.

A.3 Some philosophical lessons

Bibliography

General Index

Index of Quoted Passages.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (viewed on September 26, 2024).

ISBN:

9780197781517

0197781519

9780197781494

0197781497

OCLC:

1470860050