A Textual Analysis of Aristotle’s Discourse on the Intellectual Excellences in the Nicomachean Ethics: How Does One Know He Is Living Well? — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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A Textual Analysis of Aristotle’s Discourse on the Intellectual Excellences in the Nicomachean Ethics: How Does One Know He Is Living Well?

Name: Zachary Resch
Major: Great Ideas
Hometown: Sheboygan
Faculty Sponsor:
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Senior thesis
Funding: SURE

Abstract

While reading over Heidegger’s Sophist during the summer, I came away with the conclusion that the relationship of the two concepts φρόνησις and σοφία within Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics was not altogether clear to Heidegger. In order to address some of the possible inconsistencies that arose in Heidegger’s examination of Aristotle, I attempted to chart every use of the terms φρόνησις and σοφία throughout the Nicomachean Ethics to determine whether such a textual ambiguity could be found in Aristotle’s writings, and whether Heidegger’s own research was an attempt to offer a solution to a standing problem, in addition to completing a close textual analysis of Book VI of the Nicomachean Ethics. This thesis will look to clarify the concepts of φρόνησις and σοφία throughout the Nicomachean Ethics through a close examination of their particular usages and, furthermore, to elaborate on the relationship that they have to each other as this seems to be what may cause the inconsistencies in Heidegger’s reading of Aristotle’s texts. As a result of the analysis of the varying intellectual capacities, including both φρόνησις and σοφία, I will endeavor to make the argument that Aristotle provides a false priority to σοφία over φρόνησις at 1143b32, 1145a7, and 1178b29, when discussing what intellectual capacity is the highest in excellence, and thereby highest in accordance with the happy life.

Poster file