What do you think?
Rate this book
La Gran Moral
Aristóteles (en griego antiguo Ἀριστοτέλης, Aristotélēs) (384 a. C. – 322 a. C.) fue un filósofo, lógico y científico de la Antigua Grecia cuyas ideas han ejercido una enorme influencia sobre la historia intelectual de Occidente por más de dos milenios.
Aristóteles escribió cerca de 200 tratados —de los cuales sólo nos han llegado 31— sobre una enorme variedad de temas, incluyendo lógica, metafísica, filosofía de la ciencia, ética, filosofía política, estética, retórica, física, astronomía y biología. Aristóteles transformó muchas, si no todas, las áreas del conocimiento que tocó. Es reconocido como el padre fundador de la lógica y de la biología, pues si bien existen reflexiones y escritos previos sobre ambas materias, es en el trabajo de Aristóteles donde se encuentran las primeras investigaciones sistemáticas al respecto.
Entre muchas otras contribuciones, Aristóteles formuló la teoría de la generación espontánea, el principio de no contradicción, las nociones de categoría, sustancia, acto, potencia, etc. Algunas de sus ideas, que fueron novedosas para la filosofía de su tiempo, hoy forman parte del sentido común de muchas personas.
Aristóteles fue discípulo de Platón y de otros pensadores (como Eudoxo) durante los 20 años que estuvo en la Academia de Atenas,luego fue maestro de Alejandro Magno en el Reino de Macedonia, y finalmente fundó el Liceo en Atenas, donde enseñó hasta un año antes de su muerte.
Aristóteles escribió cerca de 200 tratados —de los cuales sólo nos han llegado 31— sobre una enorme variedad de temas, incluyendo lógica, metafísica, filosofía de la ciencia, ética, filosofía política, estética, retórica, física, astronomía y biología. Aristóteles transformó muchas, si no todas, las áreas del conocimiento que tocó. Es reconocido como el padre fundador de la lógica y de la biología, pues si bien existen reflexiones y escritos previos sobre ambas materias, es en el trabajo de Aristóteles donde se encuentran las primeras investigaciones sistemáticas al respecto.
Entre muchas otras contribuciones, Aristóteles formuló la teoría de la generación espontánea, el principio de no contradicción, las nociones de categoría, sustancia, acto, potencia, etc. Algunas de sus ideas, que fueron novedosas para la filosofía de su tiempo, hoy forman parte del sentido común de muchas personas.
Aristóteles fue discípulo de Platón y de otros pensadores (como Eudoxo) durante los 20 años que estuvo en la Academia de Atenas,luego fue maestro de Alejandro Magno en el Reino de Macedonia, y finalmente fundó el Liceo en Atenas, donde enseñó hasta un año antes de su muerte.
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 341
12 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Aristotle
4,324 books5,590 followersAristotle (Greek: Αριστοτέλης; 384–322 BC) was an Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. His writings cover a broad range of subjects spanning the natural sciences, philosophy, linguistics, economics, politics, psychology, and the arts. As the founder of the Peripatetic school of philosophy in the Lyceum in Athens, he began the wider Aristotelian tradition that followed, which set the groundwork for the development of modern science.
Little is known about Aristotle's life. He was born in the city of Stagira in northern Greece during the Classical period. His father, Nicomachus, died when Aristotle was a child, and he was brought up by a guardian. At 17 or 18, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of 37 (c. 347 BC). Shortly after Plato died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip II of Macedon, tutored his son Alexander the Great beginning in 343 BC. He established a library in the Lyceum, which helped him to produce many of his hundreds of books on papyrus scrolls.
Though Aristotle wrote many treatises and dialogues for publication, only around a third of his original output has survived, none of it intended for publication. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him. His teachings and methods of inquiry have had a significant impact across the world, and remain a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.
Aristotle's views profoundly shaped medieval scholarship. The influence of his physical science extended from late antiquity and the Early Middle Ages into the Renaissance, and was not replaced systematically until the Enlightenment and theories such as classical mechanics were developed. He influenced Judeo-Islamic philosophies during the Middle Ages, as well as Christian theology, especially the Neoplatonism of the Early Church and the scholastic tradition of the Catholic Church.
Aristotle was revered among medieval Muslim scholars as "The First Teacher", and among medieval Christians like Thomas Aquinas as simply "The Philosopher", while the poet Dante Alighieri called him "the master of those who know". His works contain the earliest known formal study of logic, and were studied by medieval scholars such as Pierre Abélard and Jean Buridan. Aristotle's influence on logic continued well into the 19th century. In addition, his ethics, although always influential, gained renewed interest with the modern advent of virtue ethics.
Little is known about Aristotle's life. He was born in the city of Stagira in northern Greece during the Classical period. His father, Nicomachus, died when Aristotle was a child, and he was brought up by a guardian. At 17 or 18, he joined Plato's Academy in Athens and remained there until the age of 37 (c. 347 BC). Shortly after Plato died, Aristotle left Athens and, at the request of Philip II of Macedon, tutored his son Alexander the Great beginning in 343 BC. He established a library in the Lyceum, which helped him to produce many of his hundreds of books on papyrus scrolls.
Though Aristotle wrote many treatises and dialogues for publication, only around a third of his original output has survived, none of it intended for publication. Aristotle provided a complex synthesis of the various philosophies existing prior to him. His teachings and methods of inquiry have had a significant impact across the world, and remain a subject of contemporary philosophical discussion.
Aristotle's views profoundly shaped medieval scholarship. The influence of his physical science extended from late antiquity and the Early Middle Ages into the Renaissance, and was not replaced systematically until the Enlightenment and theories such as classical mechanics were developed. He influenced Judeo-Islamic philosophies during the Middle Ages, as well as Christian theology, especially the Neoplatonism of the Early Church and the scholastic tradition of the Catholic Church.
Aristotle was revered among medieval Muslim scholars as "The First Teacher", and among medieval Christians like Thomas Aquinas as simply "The Philosopher", while the poet Dante Alighieri called him "the master of those who know". His works contain the earliest known formal study of logic, and were studied by medieval scholars such as Pierre Abélard and Jean Buridan. Aristotle's influence on logic continued well into the 19th century. In addition, his ethics, although always influential, gained renewed interest with the modern advent of virtue ethics.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 17, 2023
Denna bok försöker hantera de stora frågorna - vad är moraliskt beteende, frivillighet, tillförligtlighet och vänfasthet rent praktiskt? Hur relaterar det privata till det politiska?
Jag kan inte säga att den oblandat besvarar frågorna väl - slutet exempelvis, lämnar frågan om vänskapernas rimliga funktion rätt hängande - men den försöker genomgående besvara dem. I någon mån är det en motsvarighet till Menondialogen, men med ett tydligare fokus på dygd som interaktion med andra, och på hur dygd påverkar andras liv.
Jag gillar färdiga tankar, och klara svar. I andra texter (undantaget hans problemböcker) erbjuder Aristoteles detta; i denna lämnar han åt läsaren att avsluta argumenten. Mer än hälften finns genomgående, men han lämnar slutsatserna vaga. Det gör att jag tror att denna bok är mer användbar som tankebok eller samtalsverktyg - eller kanske nybörjarbok i Etik - än som redogörelsetext.
Jag kan inte säga att den oblandat besvarar frågorna väl - slutet exempelvis, lämnar frågan om vänskapernas rimliga funktion rätt hängande - men den försöker genomgående besvara dem. I någon mån är det en motsvarighet till Menondialogen, men med ett tydligare fokus på dygd som interaktion med andra, och på hur dygd påverkar andras liv.
Jag gillar färdiga tankar, och klara svar. I andra texter (undantaget hans problemböcker) erbjuder Aristoteles detta; i denna lämnar han åt läsaren att avsluta argumenten. Mer än hälften finns genomgående, men han lämnar slutsatserna vaga. Det gör att jag tror att denna bok är mer användbar som tankebok eller samtalsverktyg - eller kanske nybörjarbok i Etik - än som redogörelsetext.
October 3, 2025
The “magna”—meaning “great”—in Magna Moralia definitely refers more to the weight of the subject than to the book itself; in other words, it is morality that is great, not the text.
It is quite a difficult work to interpret, because while it serves as an ideal entry point for beginners in philosophy, for more advanced readers like myself it does not really offer much that is new. Even considering the period it was written in, and when compared to the works of Aristotle’s contemporaries, its explanatory power remains more limited. Still, this does not make the book worthless; on the contrary, it adds a certain “readability” to it. Magna Moralia feels like a text straight out of Aristotle’s workshop of thought, carrying the air of trial and error. In this respect, it is both simple and sincere; it almost tells the reader, “look, this is thought, and this is how it progresses.” Moreover, the language is much lighter and more fluid compared to other ancient texts, which makes it relatively easier to read. This makes the book more inviting, especially for those who might otherwise be hesitant to approach philosophy.
The structure of the book is quite systematic: first a term is defined, then its opposite is given, afterward the middle ground—i.e. the ideal—is presented, and finally, one or more examples of this ideal are provided. This simple framework allows the reader to internalize the idea of the “middle way” step by step. It also brings to light the paradoxes of that era; some of them Aristotle resolves himself, while others he leaves for future generations to grapple with. These unresolved paradoxes give the reader the chance to add their own interpretation, which for me was one of the most enjoyable aspects: to revisit ancient paradoxes with a modern perspective.
I would also like to share a funny experience I had while reading: in most ancient philosophers—such as Seneca or Marcus Aurelius—it is common to encounter blatant misogyny. When I reached the final pages of Magna Moralia (around page 110), I caught myself thinking, “Aristotle is surprisingly enlightened, so far he hasn’t said anything misogynistic.” On the very next page, however, he compared the relationship between men and women to that of master and slave, and I was disappointed.
Up until now, whenever people asked me “where should I start with philosophy?” my go-to recommendation was always Plato’s Republic. But Magna Moralia has now taken its place. The language is much simpler, and although the book is just over a hundred pages long, it conveys fundamental ideas in a remarkably compact way. In this respect, it is an excellent resource for beginners.
In conclusion, my rating is: 3 stars for advanced readers, but definitely 5 stars for those taking their first steps into philosophy.
It is quite a difficult work to interpret, because while it serves as an ideal entry point for beginners in philosophy, for more advanced readers like myself it does not really offer much that is new. Even considering the period it was written in, and when compared to the works of Aristotle’s contemporaries, its explanatory power remains more limited. Still, this does not make the book worthless; on the contrary, it adds a certain “readability” to it. Magna Moralia feels like a text straight out of Aristotle’s workshop of thought, carrying the air of trial and error. In this respect, it is both simple and sincere; it almost tells the reader, “look, this is thought, and this is how it progresses.” Moreover, the language is much lighter and more fluid compared to other ancient texts, which makes it relatively easier to read. This makes the book more inviting, especially for those who might otherwise be hesitant to approach philosophy.
The structure of the book is quite systematic: first a term is defined, then its opposite is given, afterward the middle ground—i.e. the ideal—is presented, and finally, one or more examples of this ideal are provided. This simple framework allows the reader to internalize the idea of the “middle way” step by step. It also brings to light the paradoxes of that era; some of them Aristotle resolves himself, while others he leaves for future generations to grapple with. These unresolved paradoxes give the reader the chance to add their own interpretation, which for me was one of the most enjoyable aspects: to revisit ancient paradoxes with a modern perspective.
I would also like to share a funny experience I had while reading: in most ancient philosophers—such as Seneca or Marcus Aurelius—it is common to encounter blatant misogyny. When I reached the final pages of Magna Moralia (around page 110), I caught myself thinking, “Aristotle is surprisingly enlightened, so far he hasn’t said anything misogynistic.” On the very next page, however, he compared the relationship between men and women to that of master and slave, and I was disappointed.
Up until now, whenever people asked me “where should I start with philosophy?” my go-to recommendation was always Plato’s Republic. But Magna Moralia has now taken its place. The language is much simpler, and although the book is just over a hundred pages long, it conveys fundamental ideas in a remarkably compact way. In this respect, it is an excellent resource for beginners.
In conclusion, my rating is: 3 stars for advanced readers, but definitely 5 stars for those taking their first steps into philosophy.
May 14, 2019
Lo leí para el trabajo. Aunque no queda muy claro si en verdad lo escribió Aristóteles (se piensa que puede ser un texto apócrifo posterior) las ideas que expone son claras y sistemáticas.
February 24, 2023
I have the impression that we've all been tricked into thinking of philosophy as something out of reach for people who are not studying it in some capacity.
There are so many ideas that should make a comeback in our society, not to say that there are clearly others that have just aged poorly -let's consider place and time.
Anyway, even if this concepts should or should not be practiced nowadays, at least they are good food for thought.
There are so many ideas that should make a comeback in our society, not to say that there are clearly others that have just aged poorly -let's consider place and time.
Anyway, even if this concepts should or should not be practiced nowadays, at least they are good food for thought.
October 3, 2023
Concuerdo mucho con la idea de que el hombre hace el mal por ignorancia y que se está en constante búsqueda con hacer el bien, sin embargo hay muchos otros puntos con los que no concuerdo, especialmente sobre su punto de vista sobre las mujeres. Aún así, fue una lectura interesante aunque algo repetitiva en mi opinión.
January 30, 2024
Buen libro, está pesado por la complejidad de lo que quiere explicar, y denso por lo que uno reflexiona y muchas veces tienes que regresar para captar el hilo de la idea pero muy enriquecedor. Lo recomiendo mucho
March 22, 2023
Nefasto, simple, con contradicciones, sin profundidad y contrario a la Ética a Nicómaco. Evidentemente es PseudoAristóteles. Quiero pensar que ni siquiera de alumno peripatético.
October 14, 2016
Bellissima la parte finale dove sei afferma che per l'uomo la cosa più difficile ma allo stesso tempo più bella è conoscere sé stessi ma che ciò non è possibile se non attraverso gli amici.
November 19, 2025
Esta es una obra interesante sobre todo para la época y como se comprendía el mundo aunque actualmente está un poco muy desfasado.
Read
September 10, 2012In Spanish
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews