Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle's monumental work, the "Nicomachean Ethics," delivers perhaps the most celebrated and profound philosophical discussion of friendship, particularly within Books VIII and IX. This particular edition features Michael Pakaluk's scrupulously accurate translation and a detailed philosophical commentary, offering the first systematic English study of these crucial books. Pakaluk illuminates how central Aristotle's treatment of friendship is to his ethics as a whole, revealing the remarkably coherent structure within Aristotle's often terse and compressed text. The commentary meticulously unfolds Aristotle's arguments, examining the logical form of his analysis, the subtle interplay between friendship and justice, the pivotal role of reciprocity, and the development of civic friendship from self-love and reflexive consciousness to broader societal bonds. This volume serves as an invaluable resource, making Aristotle's intricate ethical framework accessible to all readers, including those without prior knowledge of Greek, and solidifying its place as a cornerstone of moral philosophy.