The word also means character, and aristotle shows how the concepts are related. In this book aristotle tackles the question of moral responsibility. 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. 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. Mar 21, 2008 aristotle, on rhetoric book ii taken from kennedygrimaldi and clare chapter 1. In his quest for an answer, aristotle covers a great deal of ground and touches upon a variety of topics that, while not obviously so, tie significantly into to. Objections to aristotle argument, nicomachean ethics, book ii, ch. It will serve newcomers as an informative, accessible introduction to the nicomachean ethics and to many issues in aristotles philosophy, but also has much to offer advanced scholars. The nicomachean ethics, aristotles most important study of personal morality and the ends of human life, has for many centuries been a widelyread and influential book. Nicomachean ethics summary and analysis of book one.
A summary of book ii in aristotle s nicomachean ethics. The nicomachean ethics is the name normally given to aristotles bestknown work on ethics. As then our present study, unlike the other branches of philosophy, has a practical. Pleasure can cause a person to do vulgar or corrupt actions, and pain. Hearkening back to the definition of the function of the human beingthe activity of the soul in accordance with reasonaristotle begins to break. 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. Therefore, the goal or end of human activity is the highest good for man. In addition, the book vividly reflects aristotles achievements in other areas of philosophy and is a good example of his analytical method, which must be considered the ultimate basis of all modern scientific research. In this paper, i offer a reconstruction of aristotle s arguments in book 2, chapter 5 of the nicomachean ethics.
He published nicomachean ethics, a series of books to present his ideas on ethics. An analysis of aristotles book nicomachean ethics kibin. Chapter summary for aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 summary. We shall speak about this formula later, and consider both the definition of. Another word for an intermediate state is the mean or average. Mar 31, 2011 aristotle s nicomachean ethics, said to be dedicated to aristotle s son nicomachus, is widely regarded as one of the most important works in the history of western philosophy. Aristotles politics greek is a work of political philosophy. 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. In what ways, if any, do the virtues apply to womens actions.
Aristotle begins his study on ethics by asserting that there is some ultimate good which is both complete and selfsufficient, and defines this good as happiness. In this paper, i offer a reconstruction of aristotles arguments in book 2, chapter 5 of the nicomachean ethics. Addressing the question of how men should best live, aristotle s 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. Aristotles nicomachean ethics by aristotle, paperback. Aristotle nicomachean ethics aristotles best known work on ethics, the nicomachean ethics 350 b.
Here, we go through a brief summary, and my argument on aristotles ethics, book ii. The ethics of aristotle is one half of a single treatise of which his politics is the other half. Aristotle in this chapter tries to establish what a virtue is and proceeds roughly as follows. Aristotle was a greek philosopher who lived around 350 b. Unlike the teleological ethics perspective that the. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The commentary is noteworthy for its frequent citations of relevant passages from other works in aristotles corpus, which often. Mary louise gills aristotle on substance is right on the topic and relatively recent. Ideas central to ethicsthat happiness is the end of human endeavor, that moral virtue is formed through action and habituation, and that good action requires prudencefound their most powerful proponent in the person medieval scholars simply called the philosopher. A liberal man gives with a good end in view, in the right way.
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 purpose of clarifying them that he returned to the same subject. Character consists of virtues, which are skills people need to practice. Among its most outstanding features are aristotles. Among its most outstanding features are aristotle s.
Book i 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is. Nicomachean ethics is a philosophical inquiry into the nature of the good life for a human being. Nov 03, 2015 mary louise gills aristotle on substance is right on the topic and relatively recent. Material definition of happinesswhat it consists in. The aristotelian ethics all aim to begin with approximate but uncontroversial starting points. In nicomachean ethics, aristotle goes on to discuss in much more detail what conditions make an action worthy of praise or blame.
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. Definition of the subject and nature of the problem a. Aristotle now discusses what virtue or excellence must be. Brief notes for lectures on aristotles nicomachean ethics. Aristotle continues his analysis of virtues by moving onto liberality, the right attitude to money and property. The word means delight at anothers misfortune, schadenfreude.
In its original form, this subject is concerned with the human aim of having virtue greek arete of character ethos, or in other words having excellent and wellchosen habits. Aristotles ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Why does aristotle include a discussion about regimes in the middle of a section on friendship. Our definition of happiness includes all the other things that people commonly think of as the goodvirtue, prudence, wisdom, pleasure, etc. In addition, the book vividly reflects aristotle s achievements in other areas of philosophy and is a good example of his analytical method, which must be considered the ultimate basis of all modern scientific research. The highest good is the end telos or goal of that activity. Prodigality is the excess and illiberality or stinginess is the deficiency.
Explicate aristotle s arguments in nicomachean ethics, book ii, chapter 5. Nicomachean ethics book three summary and analysis. Courage, temperance, liberality, magnificence, proper pride, ambition, good temper. The specific statement which forms the focal point of this study comes from aristotle. This definition aligns with popular views of happiness, which see the happy person as virtuous. Enough has now been said to show that moral virtue is a mean, and in what sense this is so, namely that it is a mean between two vices, one of excess and the other of defect. A summary of book v in aristotles nicomachean ethics. An involuntary act is something done as a result of force or ignorance with the individual contributing nothing to it. Aristotle has some things to say about this in book 3, chap. Nicomachean ethics aristotle mcmaster faculty of social. Explicate aristotles arguments in nicomachean ethics, book ii, chapter 5.
Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book ii summary and analysis. An intratextual study of aristotles nicomachean ethics. A summary of book i in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 2 study questions 3. 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.
Sep 29, 2014 summary and analysis of book 1 of aristotle s ethics, with a focus on the meaning of life. Aristotles definition of political science voegelinview. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle, part of the internet classics archive. The nicomachean ethics, aristotle s most important study of personal morality and the ends of human life, has for many centuries been a widelyread and influential book. E has been one of the most essential philosophical treatises on ethical issues for the last several centuries. Aristotle argues that someones pleasure or pain following an action gives an indication of that persons state. They work exactly like youd think were taught intellectual virtues, and we learn moral virtues by doin. Books for introductory readings by aristotle himself, here is a compilation that might be.
The end of the nicomachean ethics declared that the inquiry into ethics necessarily follows into politics, and the two works are frequently considered to be parts of a larger treatise, or perhaps connected lectures, dealing with the philosophy of human affairs. About aristotles ethics cliffsnotes study guides book. A comparison of aristotle and platos theory of ethics. Aristotle, on rhetoric book ii taken from kennedygrimaldi and clare chapter 1. Aristotle begins the work by positing that there exists some ultimate good toward which, in the final analysis, all human actions ultimately aim. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. How aristotle describes best life in nicomachean ethics. Philosophy revision on aristotles nicomachean ethics, book one learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. People have not changed significantly in the many years since aristotle first lectured on ethics at the lyceum in athens. We could only see how powerful these objections are by spelling them out more fully and considering what aristotles response would be. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
The necessary characteristics of the ultimate good are that it is complete, final, selfsufficient and. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle. Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. For example, if someone enjoys abstaining from pleasures, hes moderate and levelheaded. In his book, the nicomachean ethics, aristotle raises questions about human happiness and what it takes to make a good human life. 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.
Summary and analysis of book 1 of aristotles ethics, with a focus on the meaning of life. Nov 28, 2012 here, we go through a brief summary, and my argument on aristotles ethics, book ii. There must be one final end of all human actions, because a human action by definition is one that is done on purpose and for a definite goal. Nicomachean ethics5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. The nicomachean ethics is one of aristotles most widely read and influential works. He starts by drawing attention to the fact that there are various degrees of voluntariness.
Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book i summary and analysis. In the nicomachean ethics aristotle says explicitly that one must begin with what is familiar to us, and the that or the fact that ne i. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Study questions 3 aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 2 questions question numbers correspond to book chapters. Aristotle ethics book ii summary and argument youtube. The soul is analyzed into a connected series of capacities. So now that we know we must be virtuous to be happy, i should probably tell you what virtue is.
The greek word for habit is ethos, the genesis of the word ethical. An analysis of aristotle s book nicomachean ethics. 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. Here well only mention a few points that might give rise to reasonable objections to aristotles argument. Ethics as a subject begins with the works of aristotle, and his treatment of a philosophical question which had been raised by his predecessors socrates and plato. What does aristotle mean when he says that justice only exists for people who live in community.
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. Youre about to go for a severalthousandyearold rideand aristotle aint going to make it easy for you. But it is not enough merely to define virtue generically as a disposition. This subject is what aristotle calls in one place the philosophy of human affairs.
A summary of book ii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Though written more than 2,000 years ago, it offers the modern reader many valuable insights into human needs and conduct. A voyager might be carried off course by the wind or an individual might be in the power of others. Virtue, courage, the perfect balance of character traits, and the nature of reality are a few topics that are. This video describes how aristotle concluded that the purpose of human life is to attain happiness, and.
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