In a couple of places i have revised the headings slightly. According to aristotle, every craft, line of inquiry, action, and decision seeks some end, or good, but these goods differ. Like all natural bodies, there is not only one way we can say they are, there are ten. A summary of book iv in aristotles nicomachean ethics. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle.
Cambridge texts in the history of philosophy includes index. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. I wish gratefully to acknowledge the debt which, in common with all lovers of aristotle, i owe to mr. Ross book ii 1 virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes both its birth and its growth to teaching for which reason it requires experience and time, while moral virtue c. All human actions and choices aim at some good, which may be defined as the end or object of that action or choice. 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. 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. Aristotle now discusses what virtue or excellence must be. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in nicomachean ethics, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by.
Nicomachean ethics aristotle faculty of social sciences. The very first sentence of book ii 1103a1418 is already instructive. Find a summary of this and each chapter of nicomachean ethics. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book ii summary and analysis. 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. The translation of this passage is that of rackham in the loeb classical library edition of the nicomachean ethics. Rowe, philosophical introduction and commentary by s. Though written more than 2,000 years ago, it offers the modern reader many valuable insights into human needs and conduct. The actions that produce moral virtue are not good in the same sense as those that flow from it. About aristotles ethics cliffsnotes study guides book. Nicomachean ethics book ii classical wisdom weekly. Chapter 1good and bad states, including moral and intellectual excellences and their opposites, come about through. Intellectual virtue owes its origin and development mainly to teaching, for which reason its attainment requires experience and time.
Nicomachean ethics, book iimoral virtue in general note. Aristotle admits that his comparison between crafts and virtues doesnt hold in every way. Sep 09, 2017 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 aristotle. A summary of book ii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. According to aristotle, how does one acquire moral virtue. Nicomachean ethics book ii classical wisdom weekly part 6. 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 or dedicated to aristotles son, nicomachus. We all want to know the answer to that one and aristotle pondered this. Division of the faculties, and resultant division of virtue into intellectual and moral book ii. What has aristotle established previously about the relation between correct reason, excess, deficiency, and the mean.
Ross book i chapter 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. 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. Magnificence is spending a lot of money on a large and noble thingcause. Hence a young man is not a proper hearer of lectures on political science. Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. Liberality is the right disposition with regard to spending money, while prodigality and illiberality represent excess and deficiency respectively. The good is that at which all things aimall activities, choices, actions, investigations seekings, arts or crafts or skills or trades, etc. Chapter summary for aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 4 summary. In our translation hexis one of the four basic kinds of quality is rendered by state and ethos by habit.
Having discussed courage and temperance in book iii, aristotle now moves through the rest of the virtues, discussing them one by one. The generous person gives correctly, in the right amounts, and to the right people. Moral virtue, like the arts, is acquired by repetition of the corresponding acts chapter 2. Numerals styled like this are bekker numbers deriving from the 19th century bekker edition of aristotles surviving works corpus aristotelicum, still standard for references i indicate where my commentary ends by using our writers avatar where the. Book 4, chapter 2 1122a181123a34 now aristotle will kick it up a notch to discuss magnificence. According to aristotle, how does one acquire intellectual virtue. This virtue seems to be the observance of the mean in relation to wealth. The present edition in particular has been revised throughout, and brought into accordance with bywaters text oxford, 1890, which is coming to be recognized, not in oxford only, as the received text of the nicomachean ethics. Virtue is praiseworthy, but happiness is above praise chapter. There are as many kinds of ends as there are kinds of activity and the ends may vary, depending on the particular activity being studied e. Nicomachean ethics book vi the virtues of thought study questions by dr. Aristotle defines many virtues in his book, nicomachean ethics.
Notes on aristotles nicomachean ethics books i, ii, and x. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Book beta of the nicomachean ethics by aristotle revolves around the central concept of. Notes on aristotles nicomachean ethics books i, ii, and x book one. For example, its not enough that action in accordance with the virtues be done. Nicomachean ethics5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. Also, in book ii, i have added to aristotles list of ethical virtues and vices with a modern list of my own.
Aristotle explains that the virtue of generosity has to do with the giving and taking of wealth. Among its most outstanding features are aristotles. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. This section of our text is selected from books iii of aristotles nicomachean ethics. Book ii 1 virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes both its birth and its growth to teaching for which reason it requires experience and time, while moral virtue comes about as a result of habit, whence also its name ethike is one that is formed by a slight variation from the word ethos. The moral virtues are the subject of the nicomachean ethics, and as aristotle notes, the name ethics in greek reflects the fact that virtues seem to be developed by means of habit ethos in greek. Book 2, chapter 4 1105a181105b18 but you might say that if youre acting in good and just ways that youre a good and just person already. 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. Study questions on aristotles nicomachean ethics, book ii 1. Aristotle nichomachean ethics books iii, viiix there. Of all the things that aristotle spoke and wrote aboutand there are a lot, from politics to the arts and scienceshes best known by modern audiences for his answer to a basic human question. A virtue, as defined by book ii chapter 6 of the nicomachean ethics, is a state of being where one acts in the mean, acting in moderation, relative to two vices, two extremes, and within reason according to the prudent person aristotle 1107a1. Note that the chapter headings are supplied by the translator. That is, virtues are not inborn, to aristotle, though the capacity to develop virtues is inborn in all of us.
Chapter 6 of the nicomachean ethics 827 words cram. How does ones state of character get shaped and formed. Nicomachean ethics of aristotle, william david ross, tr. Numerals styled like this are bekker numbers deriving from the 19th century bekker edition of aristotles surviving works corpus aristotelicum, still standard for references. The good is that at which all things including people aim or what they all seek. Happiness is the good, but many views are held about it. After providing, in my own voice, an account of the setting ne i provides for books iiiv, an overview of the.
He gives in accordance with wealth rightly acquired, and always gives within his means. 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 aristotle. Among its most outstanding features are aristotles insistence that there. Book beta of the nicomachean ethics by aristotle revolves around the central. In this latest addition to oups famous and valuable clarendon aristotle series, christopher taylor provides, for students and professionals alike, a helpfully close translation of, and much useful commentary on, the second, third, and fourth books of the nicomachean ethics. Youre about to go for a severalthousandyearold rideand aristotle aint going to make it easy for you. 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.