Im not sure which angle i can take and what would be an effective argument. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 8, chapter 3, section 8. Aristotle sees friendship as part of any livable human life. He started by stating what the three different types of friendship are. 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. While most of our actions are done for the sake of some higher end, there is an ultimate end beyond which we wish nothing more.
The development of character virtues is by habituation i. Get aristotles nicomachean ethics support my work here philosophy tutorials. Aristotle on friendship book 8 of the nicomachean ethics. In this video, professor thorsby discusses aristotles nicomachean ethics book viii. In books viii and ix of his masterpiece of moral philosophy, the. Friendship requires decision, which comes from a state. Book x gives a concluding discussion of pleasure, sets forth the supreme satisfactions of the life of theoretical activity, and finally makes a transition to the politics, the companion text to be read along with the nicomachean ethics. For example, health is the end of medicine, a boat the end of boatbuilding, and. Friendship consists of a mutual feeling of goodwill between. 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. The highest good is the end telos or goal of that activity. In his nicomachean ethics, aristotle aims to answer the questions of what makes a human good, what happiness is, and how we as humans may use our goodness, if we possess it, to achieve the end of happiness in our lives. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of book 8. The nicomachean ethics by aristotle is the most influential book of the moral philosophy.
This is the kind of happiness that comes from living well and justly in relation to other peoplewhich is quite important, and so very human. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Im leaning on the side that it is a good normative theory, as it allows for human beings to be flexible. Im currently working on a paper about if nicomachean ethics is a good normative theory or not.
In the nicomachean ethics what would be an argument against aristotles book 8 friendship. 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. Aristotles work, the nicomachean ethics, consists of numerous books pertaining to aristotles ethicsthe ethics of the good life. Olivia schoen dan brown ethics 101 8 april 2015 nicomachean ethics as one of the greatest philosophers of all time, aristotle was one of the greats. Chapter 8 1168a281169b2 there is also a question whether one should love oneself or someone else most of all. Book beta of the nicomachean ethics by aristotle revolves around the central concept of virtue, in.
In book three of the nicomachean ethics, aristotle explains the difference between voluntary and involuntary action as. Start studying aristotles nicomachean ethics book 3. Get free homework help on aristotles nicomachean ethics. This type of friendship is all about getting a benefit from someone else, and it will change according to circumstances. Aristotle explains that mere arguments about virtue arent enough to make people behave decently. The first book discloses aristotles belief on moral philosophy and the correlation between virtue and happiness. Having said this, aristotle cant end his discussion here, because it isnt enough to study virtue, but to act on what one has learned. This book centers the discussion on the topic of friendship. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. Aristotle on friendship book 8 of the nicomachean ethics february 7, 2011 february 20, 2011 neel burton 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.
Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in nicomachean ethics, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Acting in accordance with virtuous principles is a key to attaining happiness. He altered history and the way our world views philosophy and ethics. Book 8, chapter 10 1160a351161a9 to continue a discussion of community, aristotle moves on to the issue of rule. He believes that being ethical provides an opportunity to be happy. Here aristotle sets out to examine the nature of happiness, and argues that happiness consists in activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, including moral virtues. Nicomachean ethics study guide literature guide litcharts. In this passage, aristotle explains the aim of his inquiry in nicomachean ethics as a whole.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Currently, in my class i am working on a debate against aristotles arguments of friendship. Aristotles nichomachean ethics begins with a simple premise, which is that everyone wants to be happy. 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. According to aristotle, every craft, line of inquiry, action, and decision seeks some end, or good, but these goods differ. Here, aristotle identifies virtue as striking a mean between excess and deficiency too much and too little of some characteristic activity. Aristotle says that a different type of friendship is that which rests on superioritylike, for instance, the relationship between. Besides, it is most necessary for human life, for no one would choose to live without friends, even when having all other goods.
Nicomachean ethics is part of a vast scientific and philosophical system to which a teleological view of the universe is basic. Chapter summary for aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 8 summary. All things are to be understood in terms of their purposes, the ends. Also, the friendship of good people is one of equality. Nicomachean ethics aristotle faculty of social sciences. 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. Aristotle also clarifies that while loving is a feeling, friendship is a state. Nicomachean ethics book eight summary and analysis.
Aristotle nicomachean ethics aristotles best known work on ethics, the nicomachean ethics 350 b. Aristotles nicomachean ethics book 3 flashcards quizlet. Aristotle on friendship based on virtue nicomachean ethics book 8. The nicomachean ethicsalong with an earlier inquiry called the eudemian ethicsare part of a larger conversation about community that culminates in his work politics. But a difference is observable among these aims or ends. Book vii deepens the discussion of pleasure and selfmastery. The best study guide to nicomachean ethics on the planet, from the creators of sparknotes. 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. Nicomachean ethics study guide contains a biography of aristotle, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes. Find a summary of this and each chapter of nicomachean ethics.
Aristotles nicomachean ethics explained with book summaries in just a few minutes. 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. Chapter 1 1155a31155b16 after this it would follow that we explore friendship in detail. Friendship is a form of virtue, or at the very least implies the existence of virtue, and in addition is indispensable for human life since man is a social being. This is all about friendship, which aristotle first defines and then breaks down into three types. Literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summary and analysis of book 8 of aristotles philosophical text nicomachean ethics. The specific statement which forms the focal point of this study comes from aristotle. Nicomachean ethics5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good. A summary of book viii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of aristotles ethics. In his nicomachean ethics, aristotle contemplates at human virtues and their correlation with happiness.
E has been one of the most essential philosophical treatises on ethical issues for the last several centuries. Friendship is clearly necessary and splendid, but people disagree on its precise nature. Book i 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. Book 10, chapter 8 1178a91179a32 by exercising the moral virtues courage, moderation, liberality, etc, we achieve a secondary kind of happiness. Philosophers aim to define our moral responsibility. Therefore, the goal or end of human activity is the highest good for man. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle it is the purpose of the study of ethics to discover the nature of the highest good and to find the appropriate means for its realisation.
An intratextual study of aristotles nicomachean ethics. 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. 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. Aristotles nicomachean ethics revision, book eight. After this, the next step would be a discussion of friendship, since it is a virtue or involves virtue, and is. Nicomachean ethics essays are academic essays for citation. Molly struxness ethics december 10, 2012 the nicomachean ethics book viiiix summary. From kant to john rawls, all philosophers have discussed the issue with aristotle on the good life and on happiness to summarize, aristotle raises the question of virtue.