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. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book i summary and analysis. Though written more than 2,000 years ago, it offers the modern reader many valuable insights into human needs and conduct. Throughout nicomachean ethics, aristotle describes ideal leadership. Study questions 3 aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 2 questions question numbers correspond to book chapters. Mar 31, 2011 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 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. In book iii, aristotle stated that feeling fear for ones death is particularly pronounced when one has. He justifies this belief by arguing that if the community is in disharmony, so will the person be. The nicomachean ethi cs is very often abbreviated ne, or en, and bo oks and chapters are generally referred to by roman and ara bic nume rals, respectively, along with corresponding bekker numbers. The highest good is the end telos or goal of that activity.
In this lecture from my fall 2011 ethics class at marist college, we discuss aristotles nichomachean ethics book 2, specifically. The nicomachean ethics is the name normally given to aristotles bestknown work on ethics. Chapter 2 if, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake everything else being desired for the sake of this, and if we do not choose everything for the sake of something else for at that rate the process would go on to. In the nicomachean ethics, aristotle sets out to examine the nature of happiness. In the nicomachean ethics so called after their first editor, aristotles son nicomachus aristotle sets out to discover the good life for man. In the nicomachean as in the eudemian ethics the limit above moral virtue is right reason, or prudence, which is right reason on such matters. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. To summarize, aristotle raises the question of virtue. For this alone aristotles book is still worth reading. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 1 ethics and moral theory. From wikisource nicomachean ethics chase, annotated jump to navigation jump to search.
Aristotle feels individuals and communities are inseparable, whether the community is a family, a tribe, or a city. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Both topics discuss the good for the individual and the community. Aristotle is dependent upon a naturalistic view of. 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. 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. Among its most outstanding features are aristotles. Now it is a mean between two vices, that which depends on excess and that which depends on defect. Feb 06, 2019 nicomachean ethics chase, annotated book 2.
Librivox recording of the nicomachean ethics, by aristotle. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 2 study questions 3. The complication is most conspicuous in book x, the final. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Can we think of anything else that is found in the soul but does not fit into one of these categories. Nicomachean ethics kindle edition by aristotle, ross, w.
Accordingly, we are unsure if the book was dedicated to or inspired by either aristotles father or son. Book 7 should be divided into evil, then pleasure which aristotle inconveniently put into 2 separate areas of the ethics. A summary of book ii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. From kant to john rawls, all philosophers have discussed the issue with aristotle on the good life and on happiness. Nicomachean ethics chase, annotatedbook 2 wikisource. Aristotle concludes book ii by saying that, in light of whats been discussed, its hard work to be excellent. In many ways this work parallels the similar eudemian ethics, which has only eight books, and the two works can be fruitfully compared. The nicomachean ethics audiobook by aristotle, david ross. A student of plato and a teacher of alexander the great, aristotle is one of the towering figures in western thought.
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. It states that there are only three kinds of things found in the soul. About aristotles ethics cliffsnotes study guides book. And above prudence wisdom, for which prudence gives its orders. Objections to aristotle argument, nicomachean ethics, book ii, ch. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle. My issue is that the kindle transfer is lazy on the part of the publisher. Since one extreme is generally worse than the other, its best to aim for the lesser of the evils. Nov, 2016 for the love of physics walter lewin may 16, 2011 duration.
Nicomachean ethics chase, annotatedbook 2 wikisource, the. Book 10 should be divided into pleasure, then politics. He outlines the character traits good leaders should possess and what those traits look like in a person. Aristotle views ethics as a necessary part of political science. 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. Aristotle argues that virtue is a median between two extremes, and the virtuous person will identify and act in accordance with the mean. 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. Let us next begin a fresh part of the subject by laying down that the states of moral character to be avoided are of three kindsvice, unrestraint, and bestiality. But a difference is observable among these aims or ends. In the book nicomachean ethics, aristotle uses his collection of lecture notes in order to establish the best way to live and acquire happiness. Now the virtues and vices are not emotions because we are not pronounced good or bad. Definition of the subject and nature of the problem a. Aristotle says, virtue, then, is a state that decides consisting in a mean, the mean relative to us. Happiness for aristotle is the activity of the soul in accordance with v.
Embed embed for hosted blogs and item tags want more. Nicomachean ethics aristotle faculty of social sciences. While wisdom is the intelligence and science of the most venerable objects, of the most divin. Youre about to go for a severalthousandyearold rideand aristotle aint going to make it easy for you. And thank you for all the hard work youve put into this page. In this lesson, youll get aristotles insight into ethics and, in particular, his approach to moral responsibility and the best way to live. Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 ethics and moral theory.
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. Books v, vi, and vii of the nicomachean ethics are identical to books iv, v, and vi of the eudemian ethics. A brilliant thinker with wideranging interests, he wrote important works in physics, biology, poetry, politics, morality, metaphysics, and ethics. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading nicomachean ethics. Therefore, the goal or end of human activity is the highest good for man. The highest good and the end toward which all human activity is. I read books 1 and 2 in the hardcover edition and the remainder in the kindle. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by.
Get aristotles nicomachean ethics support my work here philosophy tutorials. The nicomachean ethics by aristotle is the most influential book of the moral philosophy. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 2 ethics and moral theory duration. D download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Ruchi ahuja ids 385w professor jeremy bell 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. Audio and video pronunciation of nicomachean brought to you by pronounce names, a website dedicated to helping people pronoun. Book v the several moral virtues and vicesconcluded.