Category Archives for Commentary

Video: Aristotle’s Poetics Explained

Really looking forward to the final Aristotle call tomorrow night, especially the discussion around Poetics. If any of you are still fuzzy on the concepts Aristotle lays down in the Poetics, here is an illuminating video clip. Continue reading

01. December 2009 by Arrian
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The Virtue of Wild Things

There was an op-ed in the New York Times yesterday from David Brooks that re-examines the classical notions of character against a modern notion. The philosopher’s notion of character according to Brooks is one that’s ingrained (see myth and Homer… Continue reading

21. October 2009 by Arrian
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Aristotle Politics – Questions?

I hope your Politics reading is going well. Book 1 is a bit rough with the awful commentary on slaves and women – at least I found it one of the more difficult to tolerate passages.Barring that, how is your reading going?Can you send one or more q… Continue reading

06. October 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Aristotle, Commentary | Tags: | 1 comment

Wisdom is a habit?

There’s been a lot of discussion in the Reading Odysseycommunity lately about wisdom, community and habits.When we read the Bible, we saw that King Solomon got hiswisdom as a gift from God. Wisdom was a divine attribute ofthe individual, who was e… Continue reading

18. June 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Aristotle, Commentary, Reader Call | Tags: | 1 comment

Nicomachean Ethics – Books I – III

We had a great phone conversation – and before that e-mail dialogue about Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics Books I – III.To download the mp3 audio click here: Download Aristotle-6-9-09NichEthicsI-IIIWe had a great dialogue about whether:- virtue and… Continue reading

10. June 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Aristotle, Commentary, Reader Call | Tags: | 1 comment

Aristotle Homework

Bill, Thanks for sending in your homework. Reminder to everyone else – work on your homework for Tuesday. It’s not due in written form. Bill sent it because he’ll miss the call. Back to your points below, Bill: – I think it’s an older translation … Continue reading

04. April 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Aristotle, Commentary | Tags: | 1 comment

McLuhan on Aristotle

I’ve been reading Marshall and Eric McLuhan’s book Laws of Media at the same time as Aristotle. The beginning of the book traces the development of our concept of linear space which evolved with the use of the alphabet and contrasts with the previ… Continue reading

09. February 2009 by Arrian
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How is the reading going for Aristotle? Quick reply?

Hey folks,How’s Aristotle going?I must say I love the discussion at the beginning of “On the parts of Animals” (pages 643 – 645) about what is education, the scientific method and so on.His answers are not always welcome (for example, the stuff th… Continue reading

07. January 2009 by Arrian
Categories: Aristotle, Commentary | Tags: | 1 comment

Aristotle reading group trivia

All,My dad noticed my Aristotle book the other day, and pointed out a bit of trivia that I was not aware of. Richard McKeon, editor of the volume, is apparently the U of Chicago professor who was the inspiration for the ‘Chairman’ character in Rob… Continue reading

05. January 2009 by Arrian
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An interesting read for those digging into books XIII & IX

It is surprising to me that I am forwarding around a link to Tucker Carlson’s work, but in reading books XIII and IX, I’ve been struck by how apropos they are to today’s world, and here I’ve found a great example to prove the point. Maybe we’ll ge… Continue reading

29. October 2008 by Arrian
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