The Basic Works of Aristotle

by Aristotle and editor and introduction Aristotle / Richard McKeon

Book Overview

Preserved by Arabic mathematicians and canonized by Christian scholars, Aristotle's works have shaped Western thought, science, and religion for nearly two thousand years. Richard McKeon's The Basic Works of Aristotle-constituted out of the definitive Oxford translation and in print as a Random House hardcover for sixty years-has long been considered the best available one-volume Aristotle. Appearing in paperback at long last, this edition...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375757996
• ISBN13: 9780375757990
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: Modern Library
• Length: 1520 Pages
• Weight: 2.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.5" x 5.1" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Excellent

This is an excellent collection of Aristotle's works that is very interesting and well written.

Excellent!

Not everyone who is interested in reading Aristotle will want to buy the two volumes of the Oxford translation of Aristotle's complete works. If you're someone who is studying Aristotle for a college course or simply want to become acquainted with what he wrote, then I recommend this book. As other reviewers have said it has complete versions of all of the most famous works of Aristotle e.g. Nichomachean Ethics,Politics,Metaphysics and Physics and also the complete Categories and De Interpretatione from the Organon. As for the translations, these are taken from the original Oxford translation published in 12 volumes in the 1920's. They may not be quite as up to date as the translations in the present Oxford translation but they're perfectly acceptable and correct. As it says on the back cover of the book, this is the best one volume edition of Aristotle's works that you can buy.

BUY!

This book is the best one-volume selection of Aristotle's works out there. Your other choices are either the two-volume complete works of Aristotle (ISBN: 069101650X and 0691016518), choppy and ragged selections of the overall books, or buying the individual books. This books facilitates study of Aristotle's comprehensive and coherent philosophy.This edition has Organon, Physics, On The Heavens, On generation And Corruption, On The Soul, Short Physical Treaties, the Three Animals Treaties, Metaphysics, Ethics, Politics, Rhetoric, and Poetics. You have all of the standards that a student would need, plus the lesser-known works. Therefore, this book has achieved the Aristotelian "mean." It is in perfect balance.The selection is superb, but the translation is moderate. Being done in the 1940's, it sounds tinny. The "old school" translation is full of Latinisms, archaisms, and is stuffy. All this means that it is unclear, which is deadly to a translation.The Philosophy of Aristotle (ISBN: 0451528875), on the other hand, is a lively and vibrant. And above all, a clear translation.I recommend getting the hardcover edition. The paper is sturdy, and not the newsprint like tin the soft cover. Furthermore, it is a high-quality binding, and even comes in a protecting box. This book is made to last, to endure, and to be used.

The First Philosopher

Scarcely any writer in the social sciences and the liberal arts does not begin his exposition with a quote from Aristotle, and yet, it cannot be claimed for him that he started a religion. One reason perhaps is that he put first things first. He began logically with the study of everything; in fact, he is the earliest source of the founding principle of logic, that you cannot both assert and deny the same predicate of the same subject in the same way. His worldview is apt to be less known to today's atomists. It is, in fact, the theory of matter and form. You should not be put off by it, however. Get introduced today; if you have not done so, read some Aristotle now! Chances are, you'll still be reading it 20 years from now, but also, you'll be glad you began at the beginning, at whatever time you began to do so.

"Simply the Best Out There"

Richard Mckeon's "Basic Works of Aristotle" proves to be the best single volume extract from the writtings of Aristotle. All the necessary prerequisites were applied in creating this wonderful book. The quality price ratio far surmounts that of any other volume. It's comprehensive and concise, lengthy yet time saving. Definitely a steal; please purchase Mckeon's work, it's the best volume out there!