full title · Nicomachean Ethics
author · Aristotle
type of work · Philosophical treatise
language · Ancient (Classical or Attic) Greek
time and place written · Between 334 and 323 b.c. in Athens; composed as lecture notes for Aristotle’s courses at the Lyceum
date of first publication · Compiled by editors an indeterminate, short time after Aristotle’s death
narrator · The Ethics are notes from Aristotle’s lectures, so the speaker is undoubtedly Aristotle himself
major topics · Virtue and happiness; moral education; the doctrine of the mean; the unity of the virtues; the importance of friendship; the life of contemplation
The author of this commentary claims that Aristotle's "concept of distributive justice is meant to ensure that the greatest privilege go to those male aristocrats who exhibit the greatest virtue rather than to those who have the greatest wealth, the greatest military strength, or the most friends." This claim is superficial and grossly misleading. We need to approach books by trying to understand them as the author understands them, and in this case Aristotle articulates a principle of justice, called merit, that transcends gender and socia
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Thanks for the good article.
To the previous poster: Can you explain where you see that Aristotle's principle is meant by the author to transcend gender etc.? I am especially confused by this because you state that we should not read the book as it might be interpreted, but as the author intended it to be interpreted (if I got you right). Doesn't it seem highly unlikely that someone like Aristotle would include anyone but citizens of the polis in his considerations? Do you have any citation that would support Aristotle including women ... Read more→
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Thank you Sparknotes for your great and concise articles. I got 95/100 on my exam.
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