Statements prescribing virtue cannot be precise because the action must be proper to the occasion. Analysis for book x it seems appropriate that the closing book of the ethics should be devoted to a discussion of pleasure and its place in the good life. Nicomachean ethics is part of a vast scientific and philosophical system to which a teleological view of the universe is basic. Another word for an intermediate state is the mean or average. The highest good is the end telos or goal of that activity.
Nicomachean ethics reflection paper 1548 words bartleby. Hence men even define the virtues as certain states of impassivity and rest. This is the heart of the doctrine of virtue, both moral and intellectual. Justice can mean either lawfulness or fairness, since injustice is lawlessness and unfairness.
Nicomachean ethics aristotle faculty of social sciences. The laws encourage people to behave virtuously, so the just person, who by definition is lawful, will necessarily be virtuous. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 ethics and moral. It will be recalled that in platos republic the theme of the entire book was an attempt to find a satisfactory answer to the question what is. Aristotles nichomachean ethics begins with a simple premise, which is that everyone wants to be happy. Virtue being, as we have seen, of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue is for the most part both produced and increased by instruction, and therefore requires experience and time. As we have noticed before reference to this topic has been made in some of the earlier books but there were questions which still remained and it was for the. Chapter summary for aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 summary. The first book discloses aristotles belief on moral philosophy and the correlation between virtue and happiness. We get an overview of virtueboth intellectual and moraland learn that we arent really born with. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book ii summary and analysis. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the nicomachean ethics oxford worlds classics. There is, for instance, the case of its discussion of emotions, which has been explained in aristotles analyses of various emotions in rhetoric.
Summary book ii page 1 page 2 page 3 so virtue is a purposive disposition, lying in a mean that is relative to us and determined by a rational principle, by that which a prudent man would use to determine it. All things are to be understood in terms of their purposes, the ends. Virtue, courage, the perfect balance of character traits. Happiness or flourishing or living well is a complete and sufficient good. Moral responsibility is the blame or praise that our actions deserve. It is one of the most important topics discussed in the nicomachean ethics for justice was often used by the greeks in a manner that was practically synonymous with goodness. He describes virtue as a disposition, rather than an activity. Aristotle suggests three practical rules of conduct. The meaning of justice constitutes the subject matter of this book. Aristotle attempts to explain both how such actions are possible contra socrates, and how we can dissolve the puzzles aporiai generated by our most important kurios commonly held beliefs. Thus a sword that has the purpose of killing is a good sword if it achieves this well. This study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of nicomachean ethics.
Click anywhere in the line to jump to another position. Nicomachean ethics study guide contains a biography of aristotle, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. A virtue, as defined by book ii chapter 6 of the nicomachean ethics, is a state of being where one acts in the mean, acting in moderation, relative to two vices, two extremes, and within reason according to the prudent person aristotle 1107a1. In this lecture from my fall 2011 ethics class at marist college, we discuss aristotles nichomachean ethics book 2, specifically. Having the virtue of truthfulness means being direct, honest, and not embellishing the things one says. The greep philosopher aristotle wrote a great work in ten books, nicomachean ethics in which he expounds on a set of values. The first arises mostly from teaching and requires experience and time to mature. Aristotle outlines two sorts of virtue virtue of thought and virtue of character. Sparknotes is here for you with everything you need to ace or teach. Aristotle argument reconstruction nicomachean ethics, book ii, chapter 5. This implies a that it is desired for itself, b that it is not desired for the sake of anything else, c that it satisfies all desire and has no evil mixed in with it, and d that it is stable. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle, part of the internet classics archive.
Therefore, the goal or end of human activity is the highest good for man. The nicomachean ethics fits within the tradition of moral inquiry known as virtue ethics because of its emphasis on the importance of developing moral or character virtues in order to be good and. The nicomachean ethics is very often abbreviated ne, or en, and books and chapters are generally referred to by roman and arabic numerals, respectively, along with corresponding bekker numbers. The nicomachean ethics oxford worlds classics kindle edition by ross, david, lesley brown, lesley brown, david ross.
The work, which plays a preeminent role in defining aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the lyceum. Supposing this to be our aim, aristotle then proceeds in his nicomachean ethics to figure out how best to achieve this goal. In book 2, section 3 he dismisses the misconception that virtuous people are unaffected and undisturbed by the desire to seek pleasure and avoid painthey are still human. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 ethics and moral theory. The best way to become happy takes up much of the rest of the work, as aristotle examines the nature of happiness what sort of actions lead to it. He completes book 2 with a discussion of kinds of virtue or excellence of character and a reminder of the definition of virtue. Here, we go through a brief summary, and my argument on aristotles ethics, book ii. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in nicomachean ethics, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The nicomachean ethics is the name normally given to aristotles bestknown work on ethics.
The nicomachean ethics oxford worlds classics kindle. Taken together, these works emphasize aristotles conviction that the political art is the highest goodsince it encompasses the good ends desired by every part of the. The specific statement which forms the focal point of this study comes from aristotle. Chapter 6 of the nicomachean ethics 827 words cram. Since the things that occur in the soul are of three kindspassions, capacities, and statesvirtue must be one of these. This person, who is opposite of a boaster, is truthful both in what he says and how he lives. Aristotle defined goaldirected teleological ethics in terms of purpose and achievement of those ends. Aristotle now discusses what virtue or excellence must be. In nicomachean ethics, aristotle notes that as a condition to be held. Explicate aristotles arguments in nicomachean ethics, book ii, chapter 5. Here, aristotle identifies virtue as striking a mean between excess and deficiency too much and too little of some characteristic activity.
An intratextual study of aristotles nicomachean ethics. Aristotle concludes book ii by saying that, in light of whats been discussed, its hard work to be excellent. Nicomachean ethics quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. Aristotle defines many virtues in his book, nicomachean ethics. Book 5, chapter 2 1a1411a9 for now, aristotle wants to focus on justice as a virtueand injustice as a vice. But not because they dont want to, but because they dont know to act in this way. Philosophers aim to define our moral responsibility. All the characteristics that people look for in happiness virtue, practical wisdom, theoretical wisdom. Having examined virtue in the abstract, aristotle examines each particular virtue, starting with courage, which he defines as the appropriate attitude toward fear. Definition of the subject and nature of the problem a. Sample explication paper on aristotles nicomachean ethics, book ii, chapter 5. Courage does not mean fearlessness, as there are some things, such as shame or brutality toward ones family, which one ought to fear. Another view is that the happy man leads a good life, and this is in accordance with our definition of happiness as a good life and state of wellbeing. We have defined happiness formally as the complete and sufficient good for a human being.
This copy of aristotles nicomachean ethics includes a biography and extensive introduction. Many of the terms in the glossary are defined or are made known dia. Book i 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. We get an overview of virtueboth intellectual and moraland learn that we arent really born. Book 3 of aristotles nicomachean ethics focuses on the preconditions of virtue, that is, on the conditions that must be present for their to be virtue and virtuous action. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle the internet classics archive. The development of character virtues is by habituation i. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. Aristotle ethics book ii summary and argument youtube. Analysis at the beginning of book ii, aristotle distinguishes between moral virtues, which we learn through habit and practice, and intellectual virtues, which we learn through instruction. Formal definition of happiness or flourishing eudaimonia. Aristotles work, the nicomachean ethics, consists of numerous books pertaining to aristotles ethicsthe ethics of the good life. Since one extreme is generally worse than the other, its best to aim for the lesser of the evils.
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