Aristotle and His 'Nicomachean Ethics': Reception, Actualization, Historiology

This digest examines the reception of Aristotle's 'Nicomachean Ethics' through the lens of historiology, exploring how Raphael's 'School of Athens' and contemporary ethical crises shape our understanding of Aristotelian practical philosophy.

V. Stavniuk· Scientific Bulletin of the Izmail State University of Humanities Section «Historical sciences»· 2026· DOI 10.31909/26168774.2025-(71)-1.11-21

The core problem

The figure of Aristotle occupies a central place in the history of world civilization, and his reception is exemplified by works such as Raphael's 'School of Athens'. The author argues that Raphael may have embodied Renaissance-era conceptions of Plato and Aristotle, reflecting what could be termed 'paradigmatic' (in the spirit of Thomas Kuhn) or 'epistemic' (in the spirit of Michel Foucault) frameworks. Discussions about the extent to which Raphael consciously encoded such ideas remain ongoing and are inherently interdisciplinary. The paper proposes that historical studies focusing on the reception of civilizational heritage—particularly ancient Greco-Roman civilization—should employ not only historiographic but also historiological methods. The question of the 'messages' that Raphael might have encoded, as suggested by 'Angeletics Theory', also remains debatable. The interpretation of these messages depends not only on 'what is perceived' but also on 'who perceives', as expressed in the principle: *quidquid recipitur secundum modum recipientis recipitur* (whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver).

Innovation

The author adopts a historiological approach, which goes beyond traditional historiographic methods to examine the deeper structures and conditions of historical reception. This method is applied to the reception of Aristotle's 'Nicomachean Ethics', considering both its historical interpretations and its actualization in contemporary contexts. The study draws on interdisciplinary perspectives, including art history (iconographic and iconological methods), philosophy, and cultural history. The concept of 'Angeletics Theory' is referenced to explore potential encoded messages in Raphael's fresco. The methodology emphasizes the role of the perceiver in shaping reception, acknowledging that interpretations vary according to the recipient's framework. The author also situates the discussion within the broader context of the 'rehabilitation of practical philosophy' and the 'Aristotelian ideal of life', contrasting it with the 'ideal of modern life' characterized by utilitarianism rather than practicality.

Introduction

The figure of Aristotle occupies a central place in the history of world civilization, and his reception is exemplified by works such as Raphael's 'School of Athens'. The author argues that Raphael may have embodied Renaissance-era conceptions of Plato and Aristotle, reflecting what could be termed 'paradigmatic' (in the spirit of Thomas Kuhn) or 'epistemic' (in the spirit of Michel Foucault) frameworks. Discussions about the extent to which Raphael consciously encoded such ideas remain ongoing and are inherently interdisciplinary. The paper proposes that historical studies focusing on the reception of civilizational heritage—particularly ancient Greco-Roman civilization—should employ not only historiographic but also historiological methods. The question of the 'messages' that Raphael might have encoded, as suggested by 'Angeletics Theory', also remains debatable. The interpretation of these messages depends not only on 'what is perceived' but also on 'who perceives', as expressed in the principle: *quidquid recipitur secundum modum recipientis recipitur* (whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver).

Why it matters

The discussion centers on the implications of a historiological approach for understanding the reception of Aristotle's ethical thought. The author argues that the crisis of the moral world order necessitates a return to foundational texts and the practical philosophy of Aristotle. The 'Aristotelian ideal of life' is presented as an alternative to the 'ideal of modern life', which prioritizes utility over genuine practicality. The study underscores the importance of recognizing the role of the perceiver in the reception process, as encapsulated in the principle *quidquid recipitur secundum modum recipientis recipitur*. This principle implies that any reception is mediated by the recipient's context, making the study of reception inherently dynamic and interpretive. The author calls for further interdisciplinary research that combines historiographic and historiological methods to fully grasp the complexities of civilizational heritage reception. The 'Nicomachean Ethics' thus emerges not only as a historical artifact but as a living source for moral evaluation in the present.

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