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Copyright (c) 2002 by The Review of Metaphysics (posted by permission)

 

Arash Abizadeh. "The Passions of the Wise: Phronęsis, Rhetoric and Aristotle’s Passionate Practical Deliberation." The Review of Metaphysics 56.2 (2002): 267-296. pdf

 

Article Keywords: Aristotle; rhetoric; practical reason; phronesis; pathos; passions; deliberation

Article Abstract:

According to Aristotle, character (ęthos) and emotion (pathos) are constitutive features of the process of phronetic practical deliberation: in order to render a determinate action-specific judgement, practical reasoning cannot be simply reduced to logical demonstration (apodeixis). This can be seen by uncovering an important structural parallel between the virtue of phronęsis and the art of rhetoric. This structural parallel helps to show how Aristotle's account of practical reason and deliberation, which constructively incorporates the emotions, illuminates key issues in contemporary democratic theory concerning deliberation at the political level.

 

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