I caught an embarrassing typo in the video, but it was too late for me to change it. At 2:05 I spelled Thomas Aquinas' name as 'Thomas Aquinus.' I regret the error. If I catch any other errors, I'll put them here, too. In the meantime, let me know here what other topics you'd like to see covered. I'm making a list and planning for 2025!
Great video! I also, mostly side with Aristotle here. It would be cool to see more modern iterations of virtue ethics (particularly Anscombe's) and see those works discussed/compared.
12:40... you miss spoke? "That it's the mean and that could imply that it sits exactly in the middle between the two virtues but Aristotle says that ethics is an imprecise area of inquiry."... surely between the two VICES... ?
Took a class last semester on this, now taking a course on aquinas. Same professor both semesters, Dr. Patricio Fernandez. This guy is an expert on both these men, lives in Austin, and maybe you'd be interested in talking to him! Probably the smartest person I've met.
I don’t typically comment on videos but wow! the production quality in this is superb! seriously. you’re doing god’s work making philosophical thought as important as Aristotle’s widely accessible to layman and others alike.
As someone who has mostly tried to live virtuously at the cost of other types of success, I wholeheartedly agree with Aristotle. Without true friendship life is hollow and bleak. Trying to make up for this now but it’s a hard thing to find ‘virtue’ friendships as you get older.
I majored in philosophy and miss it dearly. Before I even knew that you had your PhD in philosophy, your videos and your demeanor really reminded me of the professors and PhD students I knew during my time as an undergrad. This is a great lecture, and I hope you make more videos like this. We need trained philosophers to explain this stuff to people, especially as it trends in popularity. Unfortunately, I think there's a lot of bad information/interpretations swirling around out there about the Nichomachean Ethics and Stoicism in particular. I think too many people view it in our Liberal/Capitalist context as just more individual "self-improvement content" rather than a radical call to re-examine oneself--your goals, your interactions with others, your relationships, how you treat others, what virtues you encourage in others, and how you contribute to mutual the flourishing of all people.
I found Plato by pure accident(or divine plan?🤷♂️) in a HS textbook someone abandoned in the lobby of my apartment building. When I first read, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”, it occurred to me how much time and energy I spent examining the lives of others.
I read the Nichomachean Ethics about a year ago for the first time and while i was able to grasp its ideas i didn‘t really see the meaning and beauty behind them. Your video was great and made me really understand why you have Aristotle as your favourite philosopher! I thoroughly enjoyed that lengthy and in depht type of video and i would love more of that kind on different philosophers! Great work!
This is really a great lecture. I'm sure this will help me and many others to make their lives better. And also read this book also coz surely I'm gonna read it
Jared's videos on subjects like this are sooo much better than traditional college classes - at least equally if not more knowledgeable and informative, more material covered in a more concise manner, more insightful and thought provokon, and simply far more enjoyable to follow along, all of which are tremendous aids to learning! 😊
I can’t say either way as I haven’t taken even one college course on the subject. It seems unlikely all college courses would fit your description though.
Great work Jared. I've watched dozens of your vids, and this is probably my favourite. I listened with great interest, and agree with much of what Aristotle has to say. Bravo Jared and Aristotle.
This is a nice summary. I like your take on living a good life and how we should make this more available to more people. Calling him elitist missed the point. Everyone should be able to work and support themselves in a way that provides enough leisure time for contemplation if they want it. The idea that only some people are deserving of this good life is actual elitism.
Such a good video Jared, I've been following your newsletter, though I still can't subscribe, the free posts have been very enlightening already, thank you for your work!!
Fantastic. This type of overview is really wonderful. It gives me a beginning understanding of an area that I can take as is or pursue deeper. Thank you
I am fascinated by what Virtue is. As a Catholic man virtue plays a critical achievement for those who long to live a life in accordance with the Spirit of God, however, in Christianity, Virtue is usually achieved by the grace given by God to the humble man. Virtue becomes the merit of the spirit. Anyway... I find your content exquisite. It's nice watching something I can use and flavor in the midst of noise and chaos.
I very much appreciate the perspective that a virtuous contemporary life is possible. Although more challenging often it is possibly the beacon that shows us where we have allowed modern pressures and conveniences to consume our time and make this appear difficult. Essentially, declare what is ideal and review why that is hard to achieve. Not what is blocking it, but why
Thank you for this video, great stuff. I only wish more people were interested in this topic. And just to let you know, I watched to the very end. I'll check out 80,000 Hours.
Incredible video. More of these deeper dives into specific theories/fields would be awesome. Can you also link the music? I’m curious what you’re using in the background
Great video thank you. Putting one together on Aristotle and weight training so it’s helpful to me. Random one - how do you get such beautiful audio?!??
Hi Jared, I just discovered this channel and really admire your videos! How you summarized the good life according to Aristotle, the idea of moderate living at around 24:30, not in poverty nor rich, reminds me of chapter 30 verses 7-9 of the book of Proverbs in the Bible. However, in the Proverbs this moderate living is centered around the writer Agur’s attitude towards Yahweh. I developed a love for reading when I started studying the Bible daily 4 years ago. I want to continue that but am also trying to diversify what I read. Classic works of literature and philosophy seem like a great place to start. I bought Aurelius’ meditations recently but maybe I could give the nicomachean ethics a try. I learned some about Aristotle back in college so the idea of eudaimonia is familiar. I also wanted to know if you have interacted with any books in the Bible? If so, what was that like?
@15:00 you should do a 9 part video series describing the vicious and anti-vicious (i know you said the word but i can't remmember) of each of these 9 virtues. i am particularly confused on magnanimity, prudence, and wisdom.
Great video! I wonder if it could help to put somewhere in the thumbnail (or title) a clue about what the video is about for those who are new to philosophy (like “what is a good life?” or something along those lines). I clicked on this video in support of you, if that makes sense, after enjoying your recent videos and subscribing. But I am unfamiliar enough with the title “Nichomachean Ethics” to see that and get a sense of why I might want to watch the video. Anyway, I’m mostly just commenting to give you some early engagement on the video so feel free to discard the suggestion! Keep up the good work!
@@_jared Video idea: 3 diciplines of epictetus, as explained by Pierre Haddot in his works 'The Inner Citadel'. I think his 3 diciplines, as expressed in Marcus's Meditations, can be talked about so much! so practical and effective for a traquil philisophical life.
CBT often pontificate about "the good life", which usually involves morals, little about satisfaction, if you're conflating both then you're still missing the point.
It was a very nice video and I agree with what you said (broadly I think what he said is universally applicable and accepted too in some way or another). But I still think his words are meant for outer World more or on how we behave , whereas from what you describe as stoics pov( I don't know much about them), I find myself agreeing with stoics more at spiritual level or at level of our inner core. Though if look at things even more minutely And from what I know of my own native ancient philosophy in east personally I think it makes most sense. ( maybe bcz of my biases or not) .
I wonder, though, if you're not a philosopher or a scientist how do you engage in the "contemplative life"? I'm guessing trying to learn as much as you can, reading philosophy and other things that are educational and engaging in discussions in the matter? Even if you don't come up with big ideas like the dedicated philosophers? Does creating art count as that? Does it depend on the purpose and meaning of your work? I just got my copy of the nichomachean ethics and I'm looking forward to learning about this a bit more in depth but I don't know if it's going to answer these questions
I’ve been following your channel for quite a while, though not regularly. My impression, figuratively speaking, is that you are offering your viewers a kind of “Khazar Dictionary.” “How to keep a journal like... (a philosopher, Marcus Aurelius)... Why keep a journal at all? Why share your story with others? Why philosophy at all?” There was a time when the gap between natural sciences and classical disciplines wasn’t so vast. Philosophy aimed to act as a sort of “unified field theory” for the knowledge of its era-synthesizing and making the discoveries of science and revelations useful for everyone. What is the purpose of philosophy today? Entertainment? Perhaps it’s an obsolete relic with no place in the modern world? Or is it merely a collection of humanity's errors-so why do we need it? How do you answer this question?
@7:16 my understanding of the word eudaimonia is that it means supreme happiness and is not achievable for the living. only after you are dead can someone look back upon your life and say that you achieved it. granted... i am regurgitating what i heard my freshman prof say, so either i remember incorrectly or this dude is correct.
FDR in his four freedoms speech talks about human rights. Like a job and a home and a living wage. In my opinion FDR is the best president in U.S. history. I wish our political leaders today agreed with him but most of them only care about money.
Some further thoughts/possiblities on 'the best human life'... Should marriage and children be included? You are a recent father, Jared. Is your life now not fuller, richer, better? And what of creative and satisfying work? With the hands as well as the mind? Are humans not made for work? And as a Christian (I believe you are in the Orthodox tradition), what of Jesus' teaching as to the good life... loving God and loving neighbour, serving, sacrificing, taking the low places, obedience, community? If Aristitotle is an 'essentialist' it seems that he has missed some things that are essential to being human. Particularly if we are indeed created by God for a purpose.
@10 seconds in: Aristotle got it all wrong: What is the best human life? Aristotle's answer is incorrect - and almost no one has the intelligence to realize it - that's why Aristotle is idolized and celebrated - as if he was brilliant - because next to no one has the intelligence to realize the errors that Aristotle made.
I caught an embarrassing typo in the video, but it was too late for me to change it. At 2:05 I spelled Thomas Aquinas' name as 'Thomas Aquinus.' I regret the error.
If I catch any other errors, I'll put them here, too.
In the meantime, let me know here what other topics you'd like to see covered. I'm making a list and planning for 2025!
Great video! I also, mostly side with Aristotle here. It would be cool to see more modern iterations of virtue ethics (particularly Anscombe's) and see those works discussed/compared.
12:40... you miss spoke?
"That it's the mean and that could imply that it sits exactly in the middle between the two virtues but Aristotle says that ethics is an imprecise area of inquiry."... surely between the two VICES... ?
Happens ot the best of us, bud. Still a good video.
Took a class last semester on this, now taking a course on aquinas. Same professor both semesters, Dr. Patricio Fernandez. This guy is an expert on both these men, lives in Austin, and maybe you'd be interested in talking to him! Probably the smartest person I've met.
I don’t typically comment on videos but wow! the production quality in this is superb! seriously. you’re doing god’s work making philosophical thought as important as Aristotle’s widely accessible to layman and others alike.
Totally agree!
Absolutely! His production quality is improving rapidly and well.
Subscribed! What an excellent video! Thank you
As someone who has mostly tried to live virtuously at the cost of other types of success, I wholeheartedly agree with Aristotle. Without true friendship life is hollow and bleak. Trying to make up for this now but it’s a hard thing to find ‘virtue’ friendships as you get older.
Yes, it does sound like a challenge for you.
Are you in or near a city? That might open things up for you.
I majored in philosophy and miss it dearly. Before I even knew that you had your PhD in philosophy, your videos and your demeanor really reminded me of the professors and PhD students I knew during my time as an undergrad. This is a great lecture, and I hope you make more videos like this. We need trained philosophers to explain this stuff to people, especially as it trends in popularity. Unfortunately, I think there's a lot of bad information/interpretations swirling around out there about the Nichomachean Ethics and Stoicism in particular. I think too many people view it in our Liberal/Capitalist context as just more individual "self-improvement content" rather than a radical call to re-examine oneself--your goals, your interactions with others, your relationships, how you treat others, what virtues you encourage in others, and how you contribute to mutual the flourishing of all people.
I found Plato by pure accident(or divine plan?🤷♂️) in a HS textbook someone abandoned in the lobby of my apartment building.
When I first read, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”, it occurred to me how much time and energy I spent examining the lives of others.
I read the Nichomachean Ethics about a year ago for the first time and while i was able to grasp its ideas i didn‘t really see the meaning and beauty behind them. Your video was great and made me really understand why you have Aristotle as your favourite philosopher!
I thoroughly enjoyed that lengthy and in depht type of video and i would love more of that kind on different philosophers!
Great work!
As someone who has a great interest in philosophy, but has neither time nor energy to read much up on it, thank you so much for these videos!
This is really a great lecture. I'm sure this will help me and many others to make their lives better. And also read this book also coz surely I'm gonna read it
Jared's videos on subjects like this are sooo much better than traditional college classes - at least equally if not more knowledgeable and informative, more material covered in a more concise manner, more insightful and thought provokon, and simply far more enjoyable to follow along, all of which are tremendous aids to learning! 😊
I can’t say either way as I haven’t taken even one college course on the subject. It seems unlikely all college courses would fit your description though.
@CMA418 Thanks, that's true, I don't mean to imply all college classes, but I'm just speaking in general from my own experience.
You are better than my greek teachers 18 years ago - keep going at it. I take notes and keep reading from your videos regularly
Great work Jared. I've watched dozens of your vids, and this is probably my favourite. I listened with great interest, and agree with much of what Aristotle has to say. Bravo Jared and Aristotle.
This video deserves way more attention. Great video!
Well done. Thank you for putting this together. (And thanks to the sponsor for allowing the video content to come first - I watched their spot.)
what a great video. This video makes a break companion to overview topics before/after reading them.
Please make more videos like this. ❤👏🙏
Great video, request more on other philosophy books.
This is a nice summary. I like your take on living a good life and how we should make this more available to more people. Calling him elitist missed the point. Everyone should be able to work and support themselves in a way that provides enough leisure time for contemplation if they want it. The idea that only some people are deserving of this good life is actual elitism.
Such a good video Jared, I've been following your newsletter, though I still can't subscribe, the free posts have been very enlightening already, thank you for your work!!
Fantastic. This type of overview is really wonderful. It gives me a beginning understanding of an area that I can take as is or pursue deeper. Thank you
I am fascinated by what Virtue is. As a Catholic man virtue plays a critical achievement for those who long to live a life in accordance with the Spirit of God, however, in Christianity, Virtue is usually achieved by the grace given by God to the humble man. Virtue becomes the merit of the spirit. Anyway... I find your content exquisite. It's nice watching something I can use and flavor in the midst of noise and chaos.
Very good, thanks! I read the book three years ago around this time, and I was thinking of revisiting it as I watched your video.
Thank you, Jared. Your substack on this caught my eye, and got bookmarked. .....this video moved it up on my list of 'to do's.
Very well put. Concise & to the point 🙏
Loved this summary! Appreciate you distilling the main themes.
I very much appreciate the perspective that a virtuous contemporary life is possible. Although more challenging often it is possibly the beacon that shows us where we have allowed modern pressures and conveniences to consume our time and make this appear difficult. Essentially, declare what is ideal and review why that is hard to achieve. Not what is blocking it, but why
Thank you so much❤
Thank you for this video, great stuff. I only wish more people were interested in this topic. And just to let you know, I watched to the very end. I'll check out 80,000 Hours.
Really love the video. I like how you broke it down thematically instead of book by book
Excellent channel and professor.
Is it possible to add subtitles in other languages? Mine is Spanish. Thank you very much.
Awesome video, so glad you're able to work full time on these
Thank you for this wonderful explanation. 🙂
Now rereading the Nichomachean Ethics will be much more enjoyable.
you always inspire me and give me the energy to read, thank you!
Incredible video. More of these deeper dives into specific theories/fields would be awesome. Can you also link the music? I’m curious what you’re using in the background
I’d have to talk to my editor about it. I’ll see what I can do.
Can you do a video on the Chomsky-Foucault debate? Summarize their positions and give your opinions on their positions.
That's a really nice idea. I had never thought of that, but I'll put it in the brainstorming box.
This is so fabulous! Thank you.
Now a paid subscriber on Substack - this and your recent video on the Stoics convinced me!
Great video thank you. Putting one together on Aristotle and weight training so it’s helpful to me.
Random one - how do you get such beautiful audio?!??
That mic is pretty affordable, even with a windscreen. Then I mix it all in Adobe Audition. You need to get a feel for your voice and your mic.
@ thanks man. Good of you to respond
Excellent video, I'd love to see more in this style if you enjoyed making it
I love these sorts of video. I hope to make many more.
I'm already enjoying this, just like with your other video about Stoicism. Would love to see more videos like this like on Wittgenstein
oh uau that descreption of what a good human life was, was a very close summery of my life at the moment lol
Nice video Jared!❤
Hi Jared, I just discovered this channel and really admire your videos!
How you summarized the good life according to Aristotle, the idea of moderate living at around 24:30, not in poverty nor rich, reminds me of chapter 30 verses 7-9 of the book of Proverbs in the Bible. However, in the Proverbs this moderate living is centered around the writer Agur’s attitude towards Yahweh.
I developed a love for reading when I started studying the Bible daily 4 years ago. I want to continue that but am also trying to diversify what I read. Classic works of literature and philosophy seem like a great place to start. I bought Aurelius’ meditations recently but maybe I could give the nicomachean ethics a try.
I learned some about Aristotle back in college so the idea of eudaimonia is familiar.
I also wanted to know if you have interacted with any books in the Bible? If so, what was that like?
@15:00 you should do a 9 part video series describing the vicious and anti-vicious (i know you said the word but i can't remmember) of each of these 9 virtues. i am particularly confused on magnanimity, prudence, and wisdom.
You might consider a pop filter for the microphone. And thank you for video. I never took a philosophy class so this was interesting.
The friendship and partnership between Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger is the perfect example of a Friendship of Virtue.
Great video! I wonder if it could help to put somewhere in the thumbnail (or title) a clue about what the video is about for those who are new to philosophy (like “what is a good life?” or something along those lines). I clicked on this video in support of you, if that makes sense, after enjoying your recent videos and subscribing. But I am unfamiliar enough with the title “Nichomachean Ethics” to see that and get a sense of why I might want to watch the video. Anyway, I’m mostly just commenting to give you some early engagement on the video so feel free to discard the suggestion! Keep up the good work!
I'll consider this - I think the title isn't helping people know that they could click and still get something out of it, certainly!
So good! Thank you for this.
ya know what... this is the first video whose advertisement i've seen that actually made me want to click.
That 80,000 Hours group sounds great for people!
They were a sponsor I was very happy to work with.
In a loving community
Great video
Im reading plato at the moment but it seems i'll enjoy aristotle even more!
Beautiful video please keep it up ❤
Excellent video, you should do this more for the stoics
I did one on the Stoics a few months ago! I’ll probably do more on some more recent philosophers, by which I mean later than Ancient Greece or Rome.
@@_jared Video idea: 3 diciplines of epictetus, as explained by Pierre Haddot in his works 'The Inner Citadel'.
I think his 3 diciplines, as expressed in Marcus's Meditations, can be talked about so much! so practical and effective for a traquil philisophical life.
CBT often pontificate about "the good life", which usually involves morals, little about satisfaction, if you're conflating both then you're still missing the point.
Outstanding! Even by your high standards!
Love this ideas,
Go in depth into stoicism! Would be appreciated
I already made that video! Search for 'Stoicism: An In-Depth Explanation.'
@ seen it already, sorry for typing to fast 😂
I mean like more into stoicism, and theese ancient philosophers 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
We need guidance for philosophy of Ethics.... Explain Its Complecation, books or resources to follow
It was a very nice video and I agree with what you said (broadly I think what he said is universally applicable and accepted too in some way or another). But I still think his words are meant for outer World more or on how we behave , whereas from what you describe as stoics pov( I don't know much about them), I find myself agreeing with stoics more at spiritual level or at level of our inner core. Though if look at things even more minutely And from what I know of my own native ancient philosophy in east personally I think it makes most sense. ( maybe bcz of my biases or not) .
I wonder, though, if you're not a philosopher or a scientist how do you engage in the "contemplative life"? I'm guessing trying to learn as much as you can, reading philosophy and other things that are educational and engaging in discussions in the matter? Even if you don't come up with big ideas like the dedicated philosophers? Does creating art count as that? Does it depend on the purpose and meaning of your work? I just got my copy of the nichomachean ethics and I'm looking forward to learning about this a bit more in depth but I don't know if it's going to answer these questions
I love the old footage of greek art. Where did you find those videos?
My editor found that footage; he just trawls through public domain archives.
Aristotle to me was the philosopher king that plato wanted
The sketch at 8:17 shows my house! Or, rather, where it would be built some decades later.
@12:28 "...even when they really ought to." This opens up a debate, doesn't it?
You just gained a sub.
Thanks!
I’ve been following your channel for quite a while, though not regularly. My impression, figuratively speaking, is that you are offering your viewers a kind of “Khazar Dictionary.” “How to keep a journal like... (a philosopher, Marcus Aurelius)... Why keep a journal at all? Why share your story with others? Why philosophy at all?”
There was a time when the gap between natural sciences and classical disciplines wasn’t so vast. Philosophy aimed to act as a sort of “unified field theory” for the knowledge of its era-synthesizing and making the discoveries of science and revelations useful for everyone.
What is the purpose of philosophy today? Entertainment? Perhaps it’s an obsolete relic with no place in the modern world? Or is it merely a collection of humanity's errors-so why do we need it?
How do you answer this question?
Is it possible to add subtitles in other languages? Mine is Spanish. Thank you very much.
@7:16 my understanding of the word eudaimonia is that it means supreme happiness and is not achievable for the living. only after you are dead can someone look back upon your life and say that you achieved it. granted... i am regurgitating what i heard my freshman prof say, so either i remember incorrectly or this dude is correct.
FDR in his four freedoms speech talks about human rights. Like a job and a home and a living wage. In my opinion FDR is the best president in U.S. history. I wish our political leaders today agreed with him but most of them only care about money.
Some further thoughts/possiblities on 'the best human life'... Should marriage and children be included? You are a recent father, Jared. Is your life now not fuller, richer, better? And what of creative and satisfying work? With the hands as well as the mind? Are humans not made for work? And as a Christian (I believe you are in the Orthodox tradition), what of Jesus' teaching as to the good life... loving God and loving neighbour, serving, sacrificing, taking the low places, obedience, community? If Aristitotle is an 'essentialist' it seems that he has missed some things that are essential to being human. Particularly if we are indeed created by God for a purpose.
The more I understand aretology the more it seems it was made without actually taking humanity into account
Not a fan of the clicking sound with the transitions, 10/10 nonetheless lol
I swear the law of attraction has been working for me lately.
So, do you believe in virtue? No. I was trained to believe in virtue. My trainer knows best.
Jared why are you not a fan of Ayn Rand?
👏
Love 🎉❤
@10 seconds in: Aristotle got it all wrong: What is the best human life? Aristotle's answer is incorrect - and almost no one has the intelligence to realize it - that's why Aristotle is idolized and celebrated - as if he was brilliant - because next to no one has the intelligence to realize the errors that Aristotle made.
Tips Fedora. In this moment i feel euphoric.......
@@koiwiederfisch6368 I uploaded a video about this - nearly a year ago - called Philosophy of Life
Out of context: this style (vestimentary) suits you well.
Nobody is like Aristotle. Brilliant mind! Not as that liar Plato.
Good video though!
20 SECONDS
Greek pronunciation is ok. Νους is pronounced like noose.
None has a good life in a bad society.
@13:27 i feel like wittiness and modesty are at odds
Nah the plagiarism is crazy! 4:32 😉
what’s the clicking that keeps happening???? damn it reminds me of nail clippers and i have to turn it off, it’s grating my nerves.
It's like slides in an old fashioned slide show. I like it
Please do this content more. 🫶🏻😭
That’s my plan!