Highest Good in the Nicomachean Ethics and the Bhagavad Gita

Book Description

Two of humanity's most profound philosophical works converge in this illuminating comparative study that explores how ancient wisdom addresses the fundamental question of living well. Roopen Majithia brings together Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and the Bhagavad Gita to examine their distinct yet complementary approaches to ethical action and the pursuit of the highest good.

This scholarly exploration reveals fascinating parallels between Greek and Indian philosophical traditions. Both texts recognize that human behavior stems from three fundamental driving forces, and both acknowledge that moral agency develops through the interplay of background, education, and habit within broader cultural and political contexts. Yet their approaches diverge in significant ways: the Gita emphasizes objective knowledge and transcendence of subjective experience, while Aristotle's Ethics centers on the individual knower and his foundational concept of substance.

Majithia's analysis demonstrates how each tradition generates its understanding of right action differently, offering readers insight into two cornerstone approaches to ethical living. By examining how practical wisdom relates to contemplative understanding in both works, this study deepens appreciation for these enduring texts and their relevance to contemporary seekers.

For those drawn to philosophical inquiry about virtue, purpose, and the good life, this comparative analysis provides a bridge between Eastern and Western wisdom traditions, revealing how different cultures have grappled with universal questions about human flourishing and moral excellence.