Aristotle's defence of philosophy in the Protrepticus Ronja Hildebrandt

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hildebrandt, Ronja, author.

Series:

Oxford Aristotle studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Aristotle. Protrepticus.

Aristotle.

Philosophy--Philosophy.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford Oxford University Press [2026]

Summary:

Why should we study philosophy? Is it too abstract or too remote from real life to be of any value? 'Aristotle's Defence of Philosophy in the Protrepticus' examines Aristotle's response to such questions. Based on an examination of the fragments his Protrepticus, Ronja Hildebrandt argues that Aristotle defends philosophy, understood as knowledge of the fundamental causes of nature and of happiness, on the basis of both its utility and its intrinsic value. Philosophy is useful because it enables us to become authoritative judges of how to live well, equipping us to reconsider social conventions and chart our own courses. But it also has intrinsic value: doing philosophy is either identical with happiness or a part of it, as it is the human function (ergon) and end (telos)

Contents:

Cover

Aristotle's Defence of Philosophy in the Protrepticus

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Notes on Texts and Translations

1: Introduction

1.1 The History of Authenticating Aristotle's Protrepticus

1.2 The Methods of Authenticating Aristotle's Protrepticus

1.3 The Protrepticus ' Composition and Rhetorical Strategy

1.4 Aristotle's Argumentative Style in the Protrepticus

1.5 The Protrepticus ' Date of Composition and Form

2: Is Philosophy Useless?

2.1 An Overview of the Argument

2.2 If the End Is Useless, the Means Are Useless

2.3 The End of Studying Philosophy

2.4 On What Is Good and Beneficial

2.5 Explanatory Knowledge and Good Actions

2.6 Philosophy Leaves Behind the Greatest Good

2.7 Whom Does the Criticism Represent?

Isocrates' criticism against Plato in the Antidosis

Xenophon's Socrates on the usefulness of geometry and astronomy in Memorabilia IV.7

Plato's Socrates on the usefulness of mathematical subjects in Republic VII

A composite portrait of an opponent

3: What Is Philosophy in the Protrepticus ?.

3.1 Philosophy Is the Acquisition and Use of Wisdom

3.2 Philosophy Is Knowledge of Two Domains

3.3 Philosophy Is Knowledge of the Just and Helpful

3.4 Philosophy Is Knowledge of Nature and the Rest of Truth

3.5 Philosophy and the Relation of Its Parts

Aristotle's use of the terms ' phronēsis ' and ' sophia '

The distinction with respect to aims

The distinction with respect to sets of objects

3.6 Philosophy Is Fundamental Explanatory Knowledge

4: One Must Philosophize The Philosophēteon Argument

4.1 The Sources

4.2 Ambiguities

4.3 How Does the Argument Work?

5: Philosophy Is Good and Useful

5.1 An Overview of the Argument

5.2 Wisdom Is Authoritative

5.3 Wisdom Is the Best Thing

5.4 We Should Pursue Philosophy

5.5 Aristotle's Grand End View in the Protrepticus

6: Philosophy Is Easy

6.1 Philosophers Make Quick Progress

6.2 Philosophy Is Pleasant

6.3 Philosophy Is Self-Sufficient

6.4 Philosophy is Easy in Certain Respects

7: Philosophy Makes Us Happy The Protrepticus' Ergon Argument

7.1 An Overview of the Argument

7.2 Setting the Agenda: Searching for Our Proper Virtue

7.3 Our Proper Virtue Is the Virtue of Reason

7.4 Our Proper Virtue Is the Best Virtue

7.5 Our Proper Virtue Completes Our Ergon

7.6 The Principle of Teleological Priority

7.7 Our Proper Virtue Cannot Be Productive

7.8 Happiness and the Approximation of Theoretical Wisdom

8: Philosophy Is What We Come to Be For The Telos Argument

8.1 An Overview of the Argument

8.2 Human Beings Have an End

8.3 Ends Are Better and the Human End Is Best

8.4 The Criterion for Ends

8.5 Wisdom Is the Human End

8.6 Wisdom Is the Highest Good for Human Beings

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (viewed on March 16, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version :

ISBN:

9780191995613

0191995614

0198889917

9780198889915

OCLC:

1579622065

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license