Sadler's Lectures What Is Aristotelian Prohairesis? - Sadler's Lectures
Dec 17, 2025
Dive into the fascinating world of Aristotelian prohairesis, or moral choice, as explored through multiple layers in Aristotle's works. Discover how this concept ties into deliberation and the complexities that define human responsibility. Learn why Aristotle believed animals and children lack prohairesis and how it connects to virtue and self-control. The interplay between reason and desire reveals the essential nature of practical wisdom, ultimately expanding prohairesis into a rich tapestry of moral understanding.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Standard View: Choice As Deliberation
- Gregory Sadler presents the standard view: prohairesis is deliberate choice tied to deliberation about means to ends.
- This links choice to reasoned deliberation and distinguishes it from mere desire or impulse.
Virtue Is Rooted In Patterns Of Choice
- Sadler shows Aristotle ties virtue to choice: virtuous actions proceed from prohairesis and character is judged by patterns of choice.
- Thus choice grounds moral responsibility and links individual acts to stable dispositions.
Choice As The Moral Evaluation Nexus
- Across Aristotle's corpus, choice functions as the primary locus for moral evaluation and explanation of wrongdoing.
- Whether praise or blame, Aristotle often locates moral status in what people choose.