The New School Continuing Education

Philosophy Workshop-Hendrik Lorenz, Character-virtue as a nonrational state in Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics

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6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

I argue that Aristotle’s conception of character-virtue in the Eudemian Ethics is modeled on the conception of courage that Plato introduces in Book 4 of the Republic. As a result, character-virtue is a nonrational state. I then turn to the problem of how character-virtue, conceived of as a nonrational state, can make decision correct, as Aristotle in EE II 11 holds that it does. I reconstruct and discuss his inventive solution of this problem. The paper sheds light not only on the Eudemian conception of character-virtue, but also on the concepts of decision (prohairesis) and practical wisdom (phronēsis), as they are employed in the Eudemian Ethics.
Location:

6 E 16 St Room D1103

Admission:
Free; no tickets or reservations required; seating is first-come first-served



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