Nicomachean Ethics

By Aristotle, translated by Thomas Taylor


Aristotle coined the term “ethics” to define a field of study first undertaken by Socrates and Plato that seeks a rational answer to the question of how human beings should best live. He considered ethics as a practical study, along with politics and poetics and rhetoric. At the core is the notion of moral virtue, an excellence of character that develops in part due to upbringing and in part as a result of habits of action. He outlines four cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, courage and justice, which combine in the continuing effort to achieve the highest human good. Reason is a critical component of virtue, as it is what sets humans apart. In his words, “The function of man is activity of soul in accordance with reason”.

Nicomachean Ethics is the best known and most mature of his ethical writings and was probably edited by his son and pupil Nicomachus, from which the name derives. It consists of ten books which were originally separate scrolls based on notes from his lectures at the Lyceum. It became a core work throughout history and was instrumental in the formation of European law and both Christian and Muslim theology. 

Play sample: 

Product Details

Read by: Geoffrey Edwards
Length: 9 hours 56 minutes.
Type: Solo reading
Media: MP3 CD
Package: DVD Box
Item No.: DB-1276
EAN/UPC: 0701236969962
List Price: $11.99

Credits


Production

Translated by: Thomas Taylor
Book Coordinator: Geoffrey Edwards
Meta Coordinator: TriciaG
Proof Listener: Hari

Artwork

Cover: Copy of Lysippus, Bust of Aristotle. Marble, Roman copy after a Greek bronze original from 330 BC
Inset: Engraving of Aristotle by Ambroise Tardieu (1788-1841)
Insert:  Aristotle, holding his Ethics, detail from the Vatican frescoe The School of Athens, Raphael, (1483-1520)

The Recordings

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The Recordings

These recordings were made using the author’s original published work, which is in the public domain. The readings were recorded by members of Librivox.org, which has generously made the recordings available to the public domain. While Librivox condones the sale and distribution of these recordings, it is not associated with the management or operations of MP3 Audiobook Classics. The audio files have been edited and engineered using professional audio tools for maximum sonic quality. We spend considerable time and effort to ensure the recordings are free of noise, equalized for maximum listener pleasure, and that tracks are leveled and normalized to provide a consistent listening experience.

Table of Contents

Track Section Length
08 08 Nicomachean Ethics - Book I 59:04
09 09 Nicomachean Ethics - Book II 40:42
10 10 Nicomachean Ethics - Book III 1:06:19
11 11 Nicomachean Ethics - Book IV 1:01:10
12 12 Nicomachean Ethics - Book V 1:03:47
13 13 Nicomachean Ethics - Book VI 43:33
14 14 Nicomachean Ethics - Book VII 1:13:44
15 15 Nicomachean Ethics - Book VIII 1:05:35
16 16 Nicomachean Ethics - Book IX 59:15
17 17 Nicomachean Ethics - Book X 1:03:08

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