Particularism in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Leibowitz, Uri D.

Abstract

In this essay I offer a new particularist reading of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. I argue
that the interpretation I present not only helps us to resolve some puzzles about Aristotle’s goals and
methods, but it also gives rise to a novel account of morality—an account that is both interesting and
plausible in its own right. The goal of this paper is, in part, exegetical—that is, to figure out how to best understand the text of the Nicomachean Ethics. But this paper also aims to contribute to the current
exciting and controversial debate over particularism. By taking the first steps towards a comprehensive
particularist reading of Aristotle’s Ethics I hope to demonstrate that some of the mistrust of
particularism is misplaced and that what is, perhaps, the most influential moral theory in the history of
philosophy is, arguably, a particularist moral theory.

Citation

Leibowitz, U. D. Particularism in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Journal of Moral Philosophy,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Deposit Date: Oct 19, 2011
• Journal: The Journal of Moral Philosophy
• Electronic ISSN: 1740-4681
• Publisher: Brill Academic Publishers
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1010862
• Related Public URLs: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/jmp; http://www.brill.nl/journal-moral-philosophy