Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Virtue and Practical Wisdom in Aristotle's Eudemian Ethics

Project description

Uncovering character virtue in the Eudemian Ethics

Historically, Aristotle’s ethical thought has been examined in the Nicomachean Ethics (NE), but the Eudemian Ethics (EE) is now being explored as an equally valid source. Although the two texts have a shared set of three ‘common books’, the history of the common books and their inclusion in these texts is increasingly being forgotten across academic settings. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme the Virtue and Practical Wisdom (VandPW) project studies Aristotle’s discussions of character virtue in the Eudemian Ethics and the common books, emphasising the fundamental importance of practical wisdom for virtue and highlighting key differences. Overall, this research aims to advance understanding of Aristotle’s ethical theory.

Objective

Traditionally scholars have considered the Nicomachean Ethics (NE) as the unique vehicle for Aristotle’s ethical views. Over the last decades, however, his lesser-known Eudemian Ethics (EE) has increasingly become widely read and treated as equally authoritative. The relationship between these two treatises is complicated by the fact that they share three books in common: books V, VI, and VII of the NE have been handed down to us also as books IV, V, and VI of the EE; scholars disagree about their origin and where they should be read. In Virtue and Practical Wisdom (VandPW) I set out to give a comprehensive account of Aristotle's account of character virtue in the EE together with two of the so-called common books. Character virtue is accounted for in general terms in EE II. This general account is then applied to the individual virtues of character (courage, temperance, mildness, etc.) in EE III and then to justice in EE IV (=NE V). Finally, in EE V (=NE VI) Aristotle argues that character virtue requires what he calls practical wisdom. Thus a comprehensive account of character virtue in the EE requires us to connect EE II and III to two of the so-called common books, viz. EE IV (=NE V) and EE V (=NE VI). VandPW aims at examining this whole line of investigation. This endeavour will bring out several specificities of the EE vis-à-vis the NE as well as of the common books.

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI VENEZIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 209 483,28
Address
DORSODURO 3246
30123 VENEZIA
Italy

See on map

Region
Nord-Est Veneto Venezia
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Partners (1)

My booklet 0 0