Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics

Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics is now considered the better work, with many scholars arguing that the Nicomachean Ethics borrowed its Books V-VII from it. This critical edition of the Eudemian Ethics restores the corrupted text based on a new understanding of the relationships between the extant Greek manuscripts. The three primary manuscripts and a fourth identified by the editor have been freshly collated, and a more extensive apparatus criticus has been provided. A companion volume contains the arguments for every editorial choice made in the restoration.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics, once considered a lesser-known counterpart to his renowned Nicomachean Ethics, has recently gained renewed attention and scholarly interest. While it was once thought that the Eudemian Ethics borrowed its central books (IV-VI) from the Nicomachean Ethics, a compelling argument has emerged suggesting that the Eudemian Ethics may, in fact, have borrowed its Books V-VII from the former. This critical edition of Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics aims to address this issue, presenting only five books (I-III, VII-VIII) while treating the three disputed books as already available in the edition of the Nicomachean Ethics in the same series. However, it does so without prejudice, recognizing the ongoing debate surrounding their attribution.

The new edition of the Eudemian Ethics represents a significant milestone in the restoration of the corrupted text. Building upon the work initiated by Walzer and Mingay's 1991 Oxford Classical Text edition, this edition employs a fresh understanding of the relationships between the extant Greek manuscripts to rectify the corruption. The three primary manuscripts identified by Harlfinger, along with a fourth identified by the present editor, Christopher Rowe, have undergone meticulous collation, resulting in a comprehensive apparatus criticus. Substantial progress has been made in the restoration of the text, with numerous corrections and improvements made.

To accompany the restoration process, a separate companion volume titled "Aristotelica: Studies on the Text of Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics" has been published. This companion volume contains detailed arguments supporting every important editorial choice made during the restoration. It provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarly discussions and considerations that informed the restoration efforts, ensuring transparency and scholarly rigor in the process.

In conclusion, Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics has emerged from its relative obscurity, and this critical edition offers a fresh perspective on the debate surrounding its attribution. By presenting the text in a restored form and providing comprehensive arguments for editorial choices, it contributes to a deeper understanding of Aristotle's ethical philosophy. The restoration efforts undertaken in this edition are a testament to the ongoing scholarly endeavor to preserve and interpret ancient texts, ensuring that the wisdom of the past remains accessible to future generations.

Weight: 296g
Dimension: 131 x 194 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198838326