Philosopher’s Theoretical Life vs. Auto-deification? Possible readings of Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics”, book X.

Abstract

This is a continuation of “Rational vs. Mystical Readings of Aristotle’s Nous Poietikos. Introduction to the Subject and Overview of Central Positions” where I gave a synopsis of the readings of nous poietikos. I ordered them by introducing a division into “mystical” and “rational”. The mystical ones are rooted in a view that nous poietikos does not belong to particular human beings, but is identical with Deity/divine sphere. According to the rational readings nous poietikos is our cognitive tool and through its activity we can learn about the Deity and emulate it. In this paper, I aim to check which of these models is better suited for Aristotle, in other words: would Aristotle approve of any of them? By comparing the ways of life appointed by them I wish to put theory into practice. In order to solve a mystery from De Anima, I refer to Nicomachean Ethics.

Keywords

• nous poietikos
• interpretacje mistyczne i racjonalistyczne
• Arystoteles
• psychologia
• Bóg/Bóstwo
• nieśmiertelność