Citing Aristotle feels different because it is. Forget standard author-date formats for a moment. When you reference the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, you step into a long tradition that uses a special system to pinpoint ideas. This system, centered on what we call Bekker numbers, is the universal key to discussing Aristotle’s works, ensuring a scholar in Tokyo can find the exact same passage as a student in Toronto. It’s a ghost-like standard that haunts every modern edition of his work.
TLDR: For any in-text citation of Aristotle, use the title of the original work followed by its book, chapter, and the specific Bekker number (e.g., Nicomachean Ethics 1.7, 1098a16). The full citation in your reference list will then follow the rules of your required style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago), detailing the specific translation you used.
What Are Bekker Numbers?
So how does this ancient system translate to your modern paper? Bekker numbers are the standardized referencing method for the body of Aristotle’s works. They get their name from the 19th-century classical philologist August Immanuel Bekker, who organized a definitive Bekker edition of the philosopher’s writings for the Prussian Academy of Sciences. This system has nothing to do with the page number of the book you’re holding, which is a vital distinction. Instead, it’s a uniform map to the entire Aristotelian corpus.
Each Bekker number points to a precise location and contains three parts:
- A page number from the Bekker edition.
- A column letter (letters ‘a’ or ‘b’).
- The specific line number (or range of line numbers).
You’ll find these Bekker numbers printed in the margins of nearly all modern editions and academic publications that feature Aristotle. They allow for a fantastically precise quotation or paraphrase.
Crafting Your In-Text Citation
The beauty of using Bekker numbers for an in-text citation is their consistency across different styles. The core information remains the same. You always begin with the title of the text, then the book and chapter numbers, followed by the specific Bekker number. I remember the first time I had to do this, staring at the crisp feel of a library book’s page, thinking the jumble of numbers and letters was a typo. It’s not.
Here is an example of a proper in-text citation for Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics:
“Aristotle famously argued that “happiness, then, is something final and self-sufficient, and is the end of action” (Nicomachean Ethics, 1.7, 1097b20-21).”
Work Title
Book and Chapter
Bekker Number
This structure for the in-text citation is standard. You use it whether you are directly quoting a passage or just summarizing an idea from the text. This consistent format makes citing Aristotle surprisingly straightforward once you get the hang of it.
Handling the Reference List
While the in-text method is uniform, the reference list entry depends entirely on the citation style your instructor requires. This entry gives your reader the specific details of the version you read, including the translator and publication date. But the reference list? That’s a different story.
Below is a table showing how to format the references for the same book by Aristotle in different styles. Notice how each prioritizes slightly different information about the edition you used to access the classical works.
| Citation Style | Reference List Format Example |
|---|---|
| APA 7 | Aristotle. (1999). Nicomachean ethics (T. Irwin, Trans.; 2nd ed.). Hackett Publishing Company. (Original work published ca. 350 B.C.) |
| MLA 9 | Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Translated by Terence Irwin, 2nd edition, Hackett Publishing Company, 1999. |
| Chicago 17 (Note-Bibliography) | Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. 2nd ed. Translated by Terence Irwin. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1999. |
For more on handling classical works, the official APA style website offers excellent guidance on including the original date of a publication. Some publishers, like Oxford University Press, provide very clear details in their editions to make this easier.
What About Citing a Translator’s Note?
Sometimes you need to cite a detail not from Aristotle, but from the translator’s commentary in the edition you’re reading. In this case, your in-text citation should mention the translator by name in your sentence, and the work should be listed in your references as shown above. As the Chicago Manual of Style explains, you should clarify who is being credited. You wouldn’t need a separate entry for the translator, so just make it clear in the sentence who the idea belongs to. For example:
Terence Irwin notes in his translation of the Ethics that the Greek concept of eudaimonia is complex (Aristotle, 1999, p. xvii).
Why can’t I just cite a normal page number from my book?
Different editions and translations of Aristotle have completely different page numbering. Using a page number would make it nearly impossible for someone with a different version of the text to find your source. Bekker numbers are universal, meaning the Bekker number 1097b will point to the same passage in the original work regardless of which modern translation someone is reading.
Do I always have to include Aristotle in my main reference list?
Most of the time, yes. Some styles, like APA, suggest that for very famous classical works, a clear in-text citation can be sufficient, and you don’t need a full entry. However, academic best practice, and what most instructors expect, is to include a full entry in your references. This entry gives your reader critical information about the specific translation and edition you consulted for your article or document. When in doubt, include it.
Correctly citing Aristotle is a skill that demonstrates your engagement with the traditions of philosophy. While a citation generator can help format your reference list entry, understanding how to deploy Bekker numbers in text is a manual skill you’ll have to master. For a deeper look at the principles behind sourcing, explore this guide to mastering citations. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in your academic writing.