I 1155a next would seem properly to follow a dissertation on friendship. Aristotle says that whereas virtue of thinking needs teaching. In this video, professor thorsby offers a lecture on the fourth book of aristotles nicomachean ethics. Aristotles nicomachean ethics explained with book summaries in just a few minutes. Aristotles high regard for friendship can be seen in the way he guards against that type of relationship which is based on selfish and ignoble motives. Nicomachean ethics book eight summary and analysis. Analysis of the book nicomachean ethics by aristotle. Aristotle sees friendship as part of any livable human life. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle summary slideshare.
A summary of part x section8 in aristotle s nicomachean ethics. This friendship encompasses the other two, as good friends are useful. It is necessary to life, since no one would choose to live without friends even if he had all other material goods. Feb 07, 2011 aristotle on friendship book 8 of the nicomachean ethics by neel burton february 7, 2011 february 20, 2011 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. Mar 24, 2011 aristotle s nichomachean ethics begins with a simple premise, which is that everyone wants to be happy.
Aristotle on friendship book 8 of the nicomachean ethics. Over two millennia later, his thorough exploration of virtue, reason, and the ultimate human good still forms the basis of the values at the heart of western civilization. Bonds of friendship seem to be holding communities together and are linked closely with justice. Aristotle was a macedonian who lived between 384 b. 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.
Thomson 1953, later revised by hugh tredennick 1976 and introduced by jonathan barnes 1976. Friendship requires decision, which comes from a state. He is not solely interested in happiness for the individual, but also for the community. He argues that virtues like justice, restraint, and practical wisdom cannot simply be taught but must be developed over time by cultivating virtuous habits, which can. An analysis of aristotles nicomachean ethics 1st edition giovanni. The cambridge companion to aristotles nicomachean ethics. Ethics cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. We censure those who put themselves first, and lover of self is used as a term of reproach. To do this, its necessary to identify the best good, or endthe thing people pursue for its own sake, not for the sake of anything else.
He describes virtue as a disposition, rather than an activity. This new edition of the nicomachean ethics for penguin classics replaces the longinprint translation by j. It remains to this day a compelling reflection on the best sort of human life and continues to inspire contemporary thought and debate. After this, the next step would be a discussion of friendship, since it is a virtue or involves virtue, and is an absolute necessity in life. About aristotles ethics cliffsnotes study guides book. In this video, professor thorsby discusses aristotles nicomachean ethics bo ok viii. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth anal. It is here that ones activities are characterized not by mere obedience to the laws of duty but by a certain spontaneity which is the expression of ones desires and which finds fulfillment in a mutual sharing with others of the best things in life. Find out what happens in our book 8, chapter 3 1156a61156b32 summary for the nicomachean ethics by aristotle. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides an indepth summ.
The question is also raised whether one ought to love oneself or someone else most. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Aristotle begins by seeking to identify the best way of life. He notes that friendship seems to be a naturally desirable thing among humans as well as among other animals of the same species. All citizens share the same goals and values, so the pursuit of happiness is a cooperative enterprise. In aristotles world, citystates are tightly knit communities where no strong distinction exists between public and private life. According to aristotles analysis, three kinds of things come to be present. The meaning of justice constitutes the subject matter of this book. Liking seems to be an emotion, friendship a fixed disposition, for liking can be felt even for inanimate things, but reciprocal liking involves deliberate choice, and. Quite a few comments have been posted about nicomachean ethics. He studied under plato in his youth, then built a career as a philosophical teacher himself, culminating in the founding of athens lyceum, where the material in nichomachean ethics would have. Start studying aristotles nicomachean ethics, book viii questions.
Aug 05, 2019 supposing this to be our aim, aristotle then proceeds in his nicomachean ethics to figure out how best to achieve this goal. Aristotle states that, without a goal or ultimate end happiness, life does not have a purpose. But unlike the licentious person, the person lacking selfrestraint lets call this lsr chooses pleasure even though he thinks. It will be recalled that in platos republic the theme of the entire book was an attempt to find a satisfactory answer to the question what is. In mccarthys book, he discussed the theory of social ethics of aristotle. Chapter viii confirmation of our view in popular ideas on happiness summary the first principle we have arrived at the definition of happiness given above must be tested logically, as a conclusion drawn from premises, and also in the light of generally held opinions on the nature of happiness, for something that. After his death, the school endured for several centuries, drawing students mainly young athenian males from all over the mediterranean. Nicomachean ethics study guide literature guide litcharts. Oct 24, 2010 nicomachean ethics by aristotle summary 1. Justice and friendship are closely connected, as both tie communities together. Aristotle begins a lengthy discussion of friendship that will take up the next two major sections of the work. All human activities aim at some end that we consider good.
Aristotle begins with a hypothesis, one which he will proceed to test. Course hero literature instructor russell jaffe provides. He concluded that in book 1 of politics of aristotle. 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. This book centers the discussion on the topic of friendship. The nicomachean ethics quotes below are all either spoken by aristotle or refer to aristotle. Its also a necessity for liferich and poor, young and old, all people need friends. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle. Now, our predecessors left us with a legislative subject unexamined. In section 2, aristotle gives a general definition of friendship. Study questions for aristotles nicomachean ethics book viiiix part. One of the original works of virtue ethics, this book on living a good life by aristotle has some great advice on being a good, thriving person, through moderating. May 15, 2000 for a variety of reasons, some of them historical, some of them philosophical, aristotle s treatment of friendship in books viii and ix of the nicomachean ethics has generated less scholarly commentary in english than it might have. In section 8 aristotle examines the currencies of friendship, which are love and honor.
Analysis of the book nicomachean ethics by aristotle bartleby. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle the internet classics archive. Analysis of aristotle s book ii of nicomachean ethics 91 words 6 pages. The nicomachean ethics book 8, chapter 1 1154b351155b15. In the driving argument for the whole of his ethical treatise, nicomachean ethics, aristotle argues that the highest good is happiness, and. Edited and translated by roger crisp, st annes college, oxford. In the driving argument for the whole of his ethical treatise, nicomachean ethics, aristotle argues that the highest good is happiness, and read analysis of the nature. This free study guide is stuffed with the juicy details and important facts you need to know. 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. Before aristotle introduces his political analysis and the political.
The good life as it has been described in the earlier books of the ethics finds its culmination in the virtue of friendship. He digresses to explain that nicomachean ethics will be a work of political science, the science which seeks the good of the city. Summary of book 10 chapter 7 of aristotle s nicomachean ethics 1177a1178a9, pages 192194 of the crisp. Though written more than 2,000 years ago, it offers the modern reader many valuable insights into human needs and conduct. Aristotle says that a person lacking selfrestraint generally meddles in the same things that a licentious person does i. The nicomachean ethics book 7, chapter 3 1146b81148b14. Aristotle character analysis in nicomachean ethics litcharts. Aristotle aimed to hone the personal dispositions and societal foundations for happiness and just society. An analysis of aristotles nicomachean ethics 1st edition.
Aristotle also clarifies that while loving is a feeling, friendship is a state. Parents and children also have a natural friendship with one another, not only among humans, but among animal species as well. Nicomachean ethics is based on aristotle s lecture notes for the lyceum, the philosophy school he founded in athens around 334 b. The highest human good, then, is that activity that is an end in itself. In aristotle s book ii of nicomachean ethics, he states that virtue of character is how someone gets to the ultimate end, which is happiness. It is one of the most important topics discussed in the nicomachean ethics for justice was often used by the greeks in a manner that was practically synonymous with goodness. Aristotle starts with the claim that happiness is dependent on virtue. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Moral virtue is acquired by the repetition of the corre. Find out what happens in our book 9, chapter 8 1168a281169b1 summary for the nicomachean ethics by aristotle. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. The seventh book of aristotles nicomachean ethics discusses weakness of will.
Friendships necessary even for the wealthy and young, who need protection and saving from. The nicomachean ethics book 9, chapter 8 1168a281169b1. He also points out that this work will indicate the truth roughly and in outline, not. The nicomachean ethics book 8, chapter 1 1154b351155b15 aristotle wants to discuss friendship as a virtue in this section. Although a flatterer can get insincere honor, it is hard to find insincere love. Aristotle was born in stagira in macedon now part of northern greece in 384 b. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. Aristotle nicomachean ethics book 1 chapter free ebooks in the. The questions he raises in book 8 apply to a wide range of human interactions, from daily civility in social settings to family loyalty and political participation. Goodness is an enduring quality, so friendships based on goodness tend to be long lasting. The good is that at which all things including people aim or what they all seek.
Aristotles nicomachean ethics, book viii questions flashcards. The said theory revolves around the relation between morality and politics as well as between virtue and structures. Aristotle, a student of plato, wrote nicomachean ethics in 350 bce, in a time of extraordinary intellectual development. Find out what happens in our book 8, chapter 1 1154b351155b15 summary for the nicomachean ethics by aristotle. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics, book 9, chapter 8 8. The nicomachean ethics book 5, chapter 8 15a1716a9. 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. Aristotle s nicomachean ethics explained with book summaries in just a few minutes. The likely speaker throughout the work, since nicomachean ethics is believed to have been derived from aristotle s lecture notes. Aristotles worldview is significantly different because he thinks of human life as having a telos, or end goal, toward which it is heading. Parents and children also have a natural friendship with one another, not. The nicomachean ethics book 8, chapter 3 1156a61156b32.
Aristotle turns to a discussion of friendship, which is itself a virtue, or at least involves virtue. Aristotle lectured, wrote, and compiled a library here. Since justice, friendship, and community are closely related, it is far worse to abuse a close friend or family member than it is to abuse a stranger. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle plot summary litcharts. Find out what happens in our book 5, chapter 8 15a1716a9 summary for the nicomachean ethics by aristotle. Jun 25, 2020 the highest human good is contemplation, the highest activity of the human person. He also points out that this work will indicate the truth roughly and in outline, not comprehensively. In nicomachean ethics, aristotle goes on to discuss in much more detail what conditions make an action worthy of praise or blame. For not everything seems to be loved but only the lovable, and this is good, pleasant, or useful.
But unlike the licentious person, the person lacking selfrestraint lets call this lsr chooses pleasure even though he thinks he shouldnt be chasing it. Among its most outstanding features are aristotle s insistence that there are no known. Download this free pdf summary here book 150 pdf summaries course youtube coaching spotify instagram facebook newsletter book club website nicomachean ethics by aristotle introduction aristotle was born in stagira in macedon now part of northern greece in 384 b. Apr 24, 2012 the nicomachean ethics of aristotle is a great book, evryone one should read it because aristotle manages to think of individual happiness in connection with the happiness of the city.
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