Which Aristotle Book Should I Read First?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You can tackle Aristotle's works however you want, but you'd probably want to start with

the Nicomachean Ethics

What is the best order to read Aristotle?

C. BCE). Andronicus grouped the works by category and arranged them in an order of study:

first logic, then natural science, then ethics and politics

. Note that the Metaphysics, as its title suggests, follows next in order after the works on natural science, and just before the works on ethics and politics.

Where should I start Aristotle?

Eventually you will simply have to start

reading Aristotle

. Early readings might include the Nicomachean Ethics, then Rhetoric, the Politics and the Poetics. To learn his theoretical philosophy, ie. his physics and metaphysics, read the works by those names.

Should I read Aristotle or Plato first?


First you need to read Plato

, and only after that study his student, Aristotle. But of course, before Plato (one discovers, while reading Plato, to dismay and chagrin!) one really should have read the pre-Socratics.

Is Aristotle difficult to read?


Aristotle can be tough

, partly because some of what we have of his is kinda like lecture notes. … In addition to reading the Aristotle, you could 2) Try reading something that tries to summarize Aristotle, like this Very Short Introduction to Ancient Philosophy.

What books by Aristotle should I read?

  • No. 1: Nicomachean Ethics. …
  • No. 2: Politics. …
  • No. 3: Metaphysics. …
  • No. 4: Poetics. …
  • No. 5: On the Soul (De Anima)

What is Aristotle's most important work?

Some of his most notable works include

Nichomachean Ethics

, Politics, Metaphysics, Poetics and Prior Analytics.

What are the main ideas of Aristotle?

In aesthetics, ethics, and politics, Aristotelian thought holds that

poetry is an imitation of what is possible in real life

; that tragedy, by imitation of a serious action cast in dramatic form, achieves purification (katharsis) through fear and pity; that virtue is a middle between extremes; that human happiness …

What is Aristotle famous for?

Aristotle was one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived and

the first genuine scientist in history

. He made pioneering contributions to all fields of philosophy and science, he invented the field of formal logic, and he identified the various scientific disciplines and explored their relationships to each other.

Does Aristotle believe in God?

God is absolute self-consciousness. In determining the content of divine thought, Aristotle uses a form of argumentation known in metaphysics as the doctrine of metaphysical perfection.

God is conceived as a perfect being

, and Aristotle simply carries the doctrine of God's perfection to its logical conclusion.

What is the best order to read Plato?

According to Iamblichus, for example, the First Alcibiades should be read first, then Gorgias,

Phaedo

, then Cratylus, Theaetetus, Sophist, Statesman, Phaedrus, Symposium, Philebus, and finally Timaeus and Parmenides.

Is Plato difficult to read?


Plato is complicated and demands re-readings and re-interpretations

. That's what makes him great, so just keep at it. I'd start with the Republic, even though it's probably his densest dialogue. You can also try something like “Philosophy for Beginners” by Richard Osborne.

What is the best introduction to philosophy?

  • Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.
  • A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell.
  • Philosophy: The Basics by Nigel Warburton.
  • The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant.

Is the Nicomachean Ethics hard to read?

The Nicomachean Ethics is

hard to read because

, like most other works of Aristotle that have remained, this one derives from lecture notes by Aristotle or one of his students. These are called Aristotle's esoteric works — meaning that they were intended for his students or other specialists.

How long does it take to read Nicomachean Ethics?

The average reader will spend

6 hours and 40 minutes

reading this book at 250 WPM (words per minute).

Who is known as the father of political science?

Some have identified Plato (428/427–348/347 bce), whose ideal of a stable republic still yields insights and metaphors, as the first political scientist, though most consider

Aristotle

(384–322 bce), who introduced empirical observation into the study of politics, to be the discipline's true founder.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.