Nov 28, 2012 here, we go through a brief summary, and my argument on aristotle s ethics, book ii. The nicomachean ethics is one of aristotles most widely read and influential works. Aristotle ethics book ii summary and argument youtube. 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. The nicomachean ethicsalong with an earlier inquiry called the eudemian ethicsare part of a larger conversation about community that culminates in his work politics. Nicomachean ethics5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general.
Oct 23, 2015 aristotle on pleasure, pain, virtue, and vice nic ethics book 2 philosophy core concepts duration. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A summary of book v in aristotle s nicomachean ethics. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
The nicomachean ethics, aristotle the nicomachean ethics is the name normally given to aristotles bestknown work on ethics. Aristotle, for example, is very different from the aristotle of the catholic tradition. Yet others say that pleasure cannot be the supreme good. 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. A comparison of aristotle and platos theory of ethics. For it is thought to be most intimately connected with our human nature, which is the reason why in educating the young we steer them by the rudders of pleasure and pain. An analysis of aristotle s book nicomachean ethics. This book will be an excellent introduction to aristotles ethics. Aristotles ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Here, we go through a brief summary, and my argument on aristotles ethics, book ii. Read a brief overview of the work, or chapter by chapter summaries.
Some virtues are ethical, they are of the character, others are of the intellect. In the 19th century the eudemian ethics was often suspected of being the work of aristotles pupil eudemus of rhodes, but there is no good reason to doubt its authenticity. A student of plato and a teacher of alexander the great, aristotle is one of the towering figures in western thought. Book x book x next, it would seem, follows a discussion respecting pleasure, for it is thought to be most closely bound up with our kind. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Its primary focus is on ethics, making it one of the primary sources available for study of aristotelian ethics. The politics, aristotles classic work on the nature of political community, has been a touchstone of western debates about society and government. Nicomachean ethics aristotle faculty of social sciences. Very useful as a cornerstone for our discussion of ethics and the western moral tradition. 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. The first book of the ethics is where aristotle reiterates his longstanding commitment to eudemonistic teleology happiness is humanitys highest end. Youre about to go for a severalthousandyearold rideand aristotle aint going to make it easy for you. Study 15 terms aristotles virtue ethics flashcards quizlet.
Nov 03, 2015 mary louise gills aristotle on substance is right on the topic and relatively recent. It brings out the main philosophical issues, and discusses them in an interesting and illuminating way. Aristotle on pleasure, pain, virtue, and vice nic ethics book 2 philosophy core concepts duration. Interestingly, the nicomachean ethics and the eudemian ethics have three books in common. Aristotles book of problems, with other astronomers, astrologers, physicians, philosophers. Others say that some pleasures are disgraceful or harmful. Jul 01, 2005 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Continue your study of nicomachean ethics with these useful links. Eudemian ethics aristotle 384 bce 322 bce, translated by j. The first sentence of the ethics tells us that every activity aims at a certain telos.
A summary of book v in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Claudia card, university of wisconsin the index is extremely helpful. Together with thereafons ofdivers wonders in the creation. 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. Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. Virtue, courage, the perfect balance of character traits, and the nature of reality are a few topics that are. The ethics in context philosophic readings of the ethics political readings of the ethics aristotles dual audience the useful imprecision of book i. The words eudemian and nicomachean were added later, perhaps because the former was. He describes choice as voluntary, originating within ourselves, and as a product of deliberation. Aristotle was an ethicist who established a fundamental moral theory knows as virtue ethics still widely, applicable today.
The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle. Ethica eudemia, sometimes abbreviated ee in scholarly works, is a work of philosophy by aristotle. B morality is situational criticism of aristotle s theory of the mean. A liberal man gives with a good end in view, in the right way. A ethics moral philosophy is inexact only for the most part true aristotle 1094b14, 2122. Aristotle s nichomachean ethics begins with a simple premise, which is that everyone wants to be happy.
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. Aristotles nicomachean ethics by aristotle, paperback. His ethics had to do with matters of character and virtues, which produce good character traits. The generations ofbirds, beajis, fifhes and infedis. Aristotles goal in nicomachean ethics, book i, is to argue that since there cannot be an infinite number, of merely extrinsic goods, there must be a highest good, to which all human activity ultimately aims aristotle 1. Choice is different from wish, which is a kind of longing or desire. Book 4 prodigality is the excess and illiberality or stinginess is the deficiency. The ethics in context philosophic readings of the ethics political readings of the ethics aristotle s dual audience the useful imprecision of book i. 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. Books for introductory readings by aristotle himself, here is a compilation that might be.
Aristotles nichomachean ethics begins with a simple premise, which is that everyone wants to be happy. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes nicomachean ethics study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. The following texts are the property of their respective authors and we thank them for giving us the opportunity to share for free to students, teachers and users of the web their texts will used only for illustrative educational and scientific purposes only. Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the book by reading these key quotes. When aristotle identifies happiness as the highest goal, he is claiming that happiness is the ultimate telos of any action. According to aristotles book nicomachean ethics, some things are good beca. Aristotle s ethics sparknotes literature guide volume 7 sparknotes literature guide series paperback june, 2003. According to aristotle s book nicomachean ethics, some things are good beca. The nicomachean ethics of aristotle aristotle full view 1871. Ross book i chapter 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. The politics, aristotle s classic work on the nature of political community, has been a touchstone of western debates about society and government. Chapter v cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.
Mary louise gills aristotle on substance is right on the topic and relatively recent. Some say that pleasure is always bad, arguing that temperate and prudent people avoid pleasure, that pleasure clouds sensible thought and distracts us from our proper ends. Wherein is containeddivers questionsand answers touching the state of mans body. B morality is situational criticism of aristotles theory of the mean. For instance, one might go to the gym with the telos of becoming fitter.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The nicomachean ethics, aristotle the nicomachean ethics is the name normally given to aristotle s bestknown work on ethics. Aquila, rochester institute of technology a fine translation of an essential classic in the field of ethics. He does not himself use either of these titles, although in the politics 1295a36 he refers back to one of themprobably the eudemian ethics as ta ethikahis writings about character.
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. Therefore, there must be some chief good toward which every one of our actions tends. As an introduction to aristotles ideas about ethics it could not be bettered. Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. How is practical wisdom related to temperance or lack thereof. The doctrine of ethical virtue ascent to magnanimity the identity of the magnanimous person justice. The authorities finally arrange for the daily collection and cremation of the rats. Aristotles ethics sparknotes literature guide volume 7. Book viii 1 after what we have said, a discussion of friendship would naturally follow, since it is a virtue or implies virtue, and is besides most necessary with a view to living. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
Get ready to write your essay on nicomachean ethics. Though written more than 2,000 years ago, it offers the modern reader many valuable insights into human needs and conduct. 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. A brilliant thinker with wideranging interests, he wrote important works in physics, biology, poetry, politics, morality, metaphysics, and ethics. Aristotle takes the reader on a near endless journey of details and classifications that deal with moral and intellectual virtue, pleasure and pain, the doctrine of the mean, friendship and a whole roost of other elements that, collectively, constitute his ethics. Therefore, there must be some chief good toward which every one of our actions tends that is, an end which it is done for its own sake. Chapter v varying views of the good life summary it is generally assumed that a mans idea of happiness and the good is derived from the kind of life he leads. Aristotle opens with a discussion of voluntaryinvoluntary behavior, which segues into an explication of choice. When a mild hysteria grips the population, the newspapers begin clamoring for action. The business of ethics is to state them clearly, examine their. Here, peter simpson presents a thorough analysis of the logical structure of the entire text and each of its constitutive arguments and conclusions. See a complete list of the characters in the scarlet letter and indepth analyses of hester prynne, roger chillingworth, arthur dimmesdale, pearl, governor bellingham, and mistress hibbins.