Aristotle on Practical Wisdom and the End of Action
Sapkota, Gagan
Citations
Abstract
In this thesis, I explore Aristotle’s conception of the relation between practical wisdom (phronesis) and the end of action. Intellectualists claim that phronesis determines the end of action, whereas non-intellectualists claim that virtue as a non-rational state determines the end of action. Recently, Jessica Moss has provided a sustained defense of the non-intellectualist interpretation. I offer three arguments against Moss’s interpretation: (1) the line at 1144a6-7 that is taken to provide an obvious support for the non-intellectualist interpretation does not provide an obvious support. (2) The non-intellectualist interpretation is inconsistent with the conclusion of Aristotle’s function argument. (3) The non-intellectualist interpretation fails to distinguish between two distinct senses of ‘goal.’ After arguing against the non-intellectualist interpretation, I explore the relation between phronesis and eudaimonia.