Practical Wisdom
Book VI of the EN, which deals primarily with phronēsis, the excellence of the practical intellect, contains much that is of great importance for the understanding of Aristotle's ethical theory. Aristotle divides phronēsis into its main kinds or varieties: political wisdom and practical wisdom are the same state of mind, but their essence is not the same. Of the wisdom concerned with the city, the architectonic form of practical wisdom is legislative wisdom. To have legislative wisdom is to understand the nature of human happiness, including above all the life of theoretical contemplation, and to be able to frame political constitutions and laws required for the attainment of happiness.
Keywords: ethical theory, practical intellect, Aristotle, phronēsis, political wisdom, legislative wisdom
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