The golden mean in aristotles nicomachean ethics each moral virtue is a mean or lies between extremes of pleasure or of action doing or feeling too much or too little. Nicomachean ethics has been divided into the following sections. A summary of book x in aristotles nicomachean ethics. The nicomachean ethics aristotle 384 bce 322 bce, translated by thomas taylor 1758 1835 the work consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes said to be from his lectures at the lyceum which were either edited by or dedicated to aristotles son, nicomachus. A summary of book ii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Nicomachean ethics is part of a vast scientific and philosophical system to which a teleological view of the universe is basic. Aristotles interpretation of ethical virtues an ethical virtue is a habit, disposed towards action, by deliberate choice, being at the mean relative to us, and defined by reason and as a prudent man would define it the nicomachean ethics, book beta, 1107a. 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. Book iii, chapter 6, through the end of book v discusses moral virtues. Study questions 3 aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 2 questions question numbers correspond to book chapters. Nicomachean ethics aristotle faculty of social sciences. On this passage, aspasius notes in his commentary in ne 151. If, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake.
By using sophocless antigone, i will support aristotles theory of virtue in which he. Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. Accordingly, we are unsure if the book was dedicated to or inspired by either aristotles father or son. Aristotle revies book 1 2 and 3 of nicomachean ethics studymode.
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. Even medical men do not seem to be made by a study of textbooks. The nicomachean ethics quotes happiness for it seems possible for someone to possess virtue even while asleep or while being inactive throughout life and, in addition to these, while suffering badly and undergoing the greatest misfortunes. A comparison of aristotle and platos theory of ethics. View test prep aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 2 from phil 220 at whittier college. He justifies this belief by arguing that if the community is in disharmony, so will the person be.
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. In book ii of nicomachean ethics, aristotle presents his definition of virtue in which it is a kind of mean n. Dike justice, eirene peace, and eunomia good law book i, chapter 7. Every art, every inquiry, every pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. Aristotles work, the nicomachean ethics, consists of numerous books pertaining to aristotles ethicsthe ethics of the good life. An intratextual study of aristotles nicomachean ethics book. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Nicomachean ethics project gutenberg selfpublishing.
The development of character virtues is by habituation i. Aristotle nicomachean ethics aristotles best known work on ethics, the nicomachean ethics 350 b. The nicomachean ethics is a book written by aristotle named for nicomachus, which in keeping with the greek practice of boys being named after their grandfathers, was the name of both aristotles father and his son. Need help with book 2 in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Get free homework help on aristotles nicomachean ethics.
Nicomachean ethics5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, said to be dedicated to aristotles son nicomachus, is widely regarded as one of the most important works in the history of western philosophy. Nicomachean ethics book vi by rose cherubin is licensed under a creative. An intratextual study of aristotles nicomachean ethics. The following are detailed notes of aristotles nicomachean ethics, which. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Book i 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it. All page references here are to nicomachean ethics, translated and with an introduction. Thomson with revisions and notes by hugh tredennick, and an introduction and bibliography.
Eudoxus thought pleasure was the good because he saw all things, both rational and. Definition of the subject and nature of the problem a. The nicomachean ethics is the name normally given to aristotles bestknown work on ethics. Aristotle, the nicomachean ethics book 6 introduction to.
He believes that every activity humans do is to achieve a good. And our highest good is classified as the supreme good. Therefore, the goal or end of human activity is the highest good for man. Aristotle begins the work by positing that there exists some ultimate good toward which, in the final analysis, all human actions ultimately aim. Book 5, chapter 2 1a1411a9 for now, aristotle wants to focus on justice as a virtueand injustice as a vice. All the characteristics that people look for in happiness virtue, practical wisdom, theoretical wisdom. In this lesson, youll get aristotles insight into ethics and, in particular, his approach to moral responsibility and the best way to live. Oct 01, 2011 in this lecture from my fall 2011 ethics class at marist college, we discuss aristotles nichomachean ethics book 2, specifically. Ancient languages and cultures coursework in book vi of the nicomachean ethics. The first book discloses aristotles belief on moral philosophy and the correlation between virtue and happiness.
Aristotle in this chapter tries to establish what a virtue is and proceeds roughly as follows. For example, its not enough that action in accordance with the virtues be done. Jul 20, 2015 the nicomachean ethics is a book written by aristotle named for nicomachus, which in keeping with the greek practice of boys being named after their grandfathers, was the name of both aristotles father and his son. Aristotle revies book 1 2 and 3 of nicomachean ethics. This image from perseus depicts the horai or seasons. Commentary and analysis unknown binding january 1, 1980 by francis h eterovich author visit amazons francis h eterovich page. 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. The discussion concerning incontinence which occupies the greater portion of this book brings to light an important characteristic of greek ethics and one that stands in sharp contrast with the views presented in the judeochristian tradition.
The satisfactory goals we have are to achieve a greater good. Aristotles ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. The highest good is the end telos or goal of that activity. All the characteristics that people look for in happiness virtue, practical wisdom, theoretical wisdom, prosperity, etc. Youre about to go for a severalthousandyearold rideand aristotle aint going to make it easy for you. Aristotle admits that his comparison between crafts and virtues doesnt hold in every way. Every art and every kind of inquiry, and like in an lie dou man seelrf wiqe every act and purpose, seems to aim at sorne. 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. At least some intellectual excellences will be important in the realm of.
Both topics discuss the good for the individual and the community. Ross book ii 1 virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes both its birth and its growth to teaching for which reason it requires experience and time, while moral virtue c. Ethics summary book 1 in aristotles nicomachean ethics book one, he starts of describing good. Explicate aristotles arguments in nicomachean ethics, book ii, chapter 5. Aristotle now discusses what virtue or excellence must be. This penguin classics edition is translated from the greek by j. Longmans, green, 1907, also by chapter 69 aristotle. Nicomachean ethics i chose to write about aristotle and his beliefs about how the virtuous human being needs friends from book viii from nicomachean ethics. 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, which were either edited by or dedicated to aristotles son, nicomachus. It is written in a clear and pleasing style and so arranged that but a moments time is needed to find any line of the hundreds of important though small words which this book discusses. The moral virtues are the subject of the nicomachean ethics, and as aristotle notes, the name ethics in greek reflects the fact that virtues seem to be developed by means of habit ethos in greek. Here, aristotle identifies virtue as striking a mean between excess and deficiency too much and too little of some characteristic activity. Aristotle feels individuals and communities are inseparable, whether the community is a family, a tribe, or a city. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
Cliffsnotes on aristotles ethics explores the ancient greek philosopher and scientists writings on ethics, particularly his analyses of character, pleasure, courage, friendship, and intelligence as. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In this lecture from my fall 2011 ethics class at marist college, we discuss aristotles nichomachean ethics book 2, specifically. In this paper, i offer a reconstruction of aristotles arguments in book 2, chapter 5 of the nicomachean ethics. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle the internet classics archive. Addressing the question of how men should best live, aristotles treatise is not a mere philosophical meditation on the subject, but a practical examination that aims to provide a guide for living out its recommendations. 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. Nicomachean ethics book ii classical wisdom weekly part 6. Book beta of the nicomachean ethics by aristotle revolves around the central concept of virtue, in. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book i summary and analysis. The nicomachean ethics aristotle 384 bce 322 bce, translated by thomas taylor 1758 1835 the work consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes said to be from his lectures at the lyceum which were either edited by. How does happiness involve virtue and diverse goods. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 ethics and moral. Aristotles analysis in book x emphasizes the importance of making this distinction.
Aristotle views ethics as a necessary part of political science. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle, part of the internet classics archive. Cliffsnotes on aristotles ethics explores the ancient greek philosopher and scientists writings on ethics, particularly his analyses of character, pleasure, courage, friendship, and intelligence as ingredients. Sample explication paper on aristotles nicomachean ethics, book ii, chapter 5. Chapter summary for aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 summary. All things are to be understood in terms of their purposes, the ends. That is, virtues are not inborn, to aristotle, though the capacity to develop virtues is inborn in all of us. But a difference is observable among these aims or ends. An analysis of voluntary and involuntary actions in the nichomachean ethics. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 2 study questions 3. Find a summary of this and each chapter of nicomachean ethics. E has been one of the most essential philosophical treatises on ethical issues for the last several centuries.
In this lecture and discussion session from my spring 20 introduction to philosophy class at marist college, we look at aristotles discussions of the intellect and the intellectual virtues in. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of book 2 of aristotles philosophical text nicomachean ethics. Analysis for book vii cliffsnotes study guides book. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics, mullen, hard thinking about values proper function of man aristotle observes that the human body is composed of several distinct parts such as limbs, the other sense organs like eyes, ears, tongue and the head, which carry on some distinct and proper function to render better health. Book i 65k book ii 50k book iii 74k book iv 69k book v 74k book vi 55k book vii 78k book viii 70k book ix 66k book x 71k download. According to aristotle, moral virtue is a means to an end, happiness. Aristotle provides the teleological approach of how to live well in his collection of lectures, nicomachean ethics. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. Significantly, the book vi of the nicomachean ethics specifically deals with the intellectual virtue which is the continuation of the discussion on the moral virtues, covering books. In this essay i will talk about the three different kinds of friendship that utility, pleasure, and goodness that aristotle claims exist.
967 891 834 31 637 526 18 505 187 397 521 1170 398 1342 884 117 873 275 955 774 211 51 500 1377 696 419 1097 632 1106 592 744 1149 237 1137 661 654 534 1245 826 330 1085 643 519 833 643