Nicomachean Ethics Essays

Aristotle: Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist. He made a significant and lasting contributions to nearly every aspect of human knowledge from logic, ethics and aesthetics. He is considered an important figure in western philosophy. Nicomachean Ethics was a famous book written by Aristotle. Virtue Ethics: Aristotle described virtue as a character trait that manifests itself in habitual action. Honestly, example cannot consist in telling the truth once, it is rather the trait

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle contributes subjects such as art, actions, pursuit, and inquiry to the nature of humans. He categorizes all of these elements as good and argues that goodness is essential and inter-webbed in the nature of humans. Not only does he describe goodness as merely an intricate part of human nature, but also he states that is good that is at the center of the human aim. Thus, it is the nature of humans to seek, establish, create, and exert goodness amongst other human beings

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is a compilation of books, or scrolls, designed to be an all-encompassing work on ethical goals, and how they may be achieved. In the work, Aristotle lays out a position uncommon in ethics, which doesn’t directly take into account the moral standing or concern of others, but places emphasis on one’s own happiness, a position akin to egoism. This position is defended by Aristotle in his stating that happiness is the primary goal in life in the same way that victory is

My aim in this paper will be to present Aristotle’s views on the maximal good from excerpts of his thesis from “Nicomachean Ethics”. Aristotle’ thesis is that there is a chief good and that is happiness. He starts this book on the idea that there is a definitive good that is complete and he concludes that this good is happiness. First, I will present Aristotle’s strongest argument for his claims. I will then present an objection to Aristotle’s argument. Finally, I will show how Aristotle would respond

Nicomachean Ethics and Function Argument In the first book of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle’s informs the reader what Eudaimonia, or living well, is. The purpose of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, is to discover the human good. For Aristotle, the way to figure out a human being’s good, we have to identify what the function of a human being is. Throughout Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle claims that human function is rational activity and reason. Aristotle’s quest to determine what Eudaimonia

The aim of Nicomachean Ethics is to determine what the good is which leads to the discussion of Eudaimonia and virtue. Aristotle’s opening sentence establishes that all actions aim at some good (1999, p. 3) so therefore good must be that which all people aim for. MacIntyre interprets that, “Good is defined at the outset in terms of the goal, purpose, or aim to which something or somebody moves. To call something good is to say that it is under certain conditions sought or aimed at. There are numerous

be good or bad, and the end goal of life should be to do well. But then how can one person argue pleasure as being the final desire, if it may be bad. Aristotle takes a unique approach to describing the nature of pleasure within his text, The Nicomachean Ethics. He believes that the end of human life is eudemonia, not pleasure, but pleasure does play a role. He argues that, “ this is why it is not right to say pleasure is perceptible process, but it should rather be called activity of the natural state

understanding of Aristotle’s Nicomachean; I believe it’s safe to say I’ve come to a decision. Although I respect the importance Aristotle places on virtue; I don’t completely agree with his outlook as a whole. I tend to find myself picking out, golden nuggets of wisdom and then discarding the rest. In the past, I had blindly accepted Aristotle’s truths, but now I can’t see the practicality of Aristotle’s ethics, especially in today’s society. In my opinion, Aristotle’s version of ethics was so narrow, that

In Aristotle, "Nicomachean Ethics", the author conveys that the nature of his universe is place where you aim for happiness and to be a good person. The author explains that the goal of reading "Nicomachean Ethics" is for the reader to determine the best way to achieve their own happiness and to be good person by using their moral virtues that were thought to them. To achieve this, you have to understand your virtues and the kind of person you are. Every human is born goodness in their soul, but

In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle presents his idea that moral excellence and virtue are the focus of reflection on ethics. His stance is that virtue is an essential feature of human happiness and is necessary to live the “good life”. However, an overarching theme found in his text is that ethics is imprecise. Aristotle explains that the degree of certainty for any subject depends on the nature of that subject. In his opinion, someone who studies ethics must accept that it is not an exact science

Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle discusses topics such as good and virtue. This reading was somewhat hard to interpret. I agreed with most of what Aristotle said. There is always a moral good reason for getting a higher education or pursing a goal. To get to a goal, action needs to be taken. I hope to pursue medicine or teaching, but I have to take action though getting my degree and having a good education. I have to put effort into my grades and exams so I can go to medical school, and

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses a variety of subjects in order to find virtue and moral character. One of the virtues that Aristotle defines is friendship. Aristotle believes that there are different types of friendship; that of utility, pleasure, and virtue. Aristotle describes a friendship of utility as easily dissolved. This type of friendship is easily broken and based on something that is brought to the relationship by each person. The young are more likely to pursue this type of

I argue that the good life is achieving happiness, which is supported by Aristotle in “The Nicomachean of Ethics.” Aristotle believes that the greatest happiness of life is being great and living one’s purpose. With this also means striving to be the best person one can be by continuously contemplating and critiquing oneself. Conversely, from Machiavelli’s “The Prince” one can infer that the good life would be simply giving your life meaning by pursuing your goals at all costs because life is purposeless

PHL100-T0401-SUM#2-MOSSMAN-PATRICK In book 1 of The Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that The Good for a human is not a state of being, but instead virtuous activity. Aristotle first states that each field of human accomplishment seeks some sort of end. He continues that ends can be desired as a means to further ends, simply as ends in themselves, or both. Accordingly, the final end, The Good that is being ultimately sought, would be that which is the end to which other ends are directed towards

of the good through the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle wished to share what he believed to be the way in which mankind is meant to live and achieve Eudaimonia. In other words the ethics represent his theory of the good and the virtues, which we must follow in order to live a truly happy, prosperous and successful life. Aristotle also spends a great deal of time (roughly 3 books) discussing the importance and value of friendship, a subject not commonly associated with ethics. However, Aristotle includes

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (Virtue Ethics) In this ethical theory, Aristotle stresses that all activities that humans make, aim to come to an ends that we consider to be good. Most of the activities are the means to an even higher end. The highest human good that we aim for is happiness, which is done for our own personal sake. It is said that one will attain happiness by leading a virtuous life, developing reason, and theoretical wisdom. In this theory, Aristotle also stresses that politics

In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he describes his feeling and thoughts on pleasure; he discusses that pleasure is good and that the feeling of eudaimonia is connected to pleasure. Eudaimonia, also know as the term for happiness in Greek, means “a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous” (dictionary.com). Aristotle describes happiness as the main purpose of all human lives and that it is absolutely the essential goal for all humans. I disagree with Aristotle’s statement that a

Being that most people spend the majority of their life surrounded by other people, it is crucial we understand our place among them. A good part of Aristotle’s, Nicomachean Ethics, is focused on the individual and how your actions affect your ultimate happiness. Books VIII and IX focus on friendship and how the union between you and another can affect your happiness. In this paper I will be discussing how friendship relates to happiness, how we must live with others, and briefly how Aristotle thinks

The Nicomachean Ethics begin with a simple concept-- everyone wants happiness. In Book 1 of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explores what happiness is and how to achieve ultimate happiness and good life. In the passage, 1097b22-1098a18, also known as the “function argument”, he further explores the happiness as the chief good concept by examining human function and the good that comes along. In this passage, Aristotle’s thesis is that the good of humans resides in human function of activity with reason

A13543297 In the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle makes the case that a life cannot be happy without friends. In Book IX.9 he argues that even a person who possesses every virtue cannot be truly happy without philia, for “it seems strange, when one assigns all good things to the happy man, not to assign friends.” (1169b). He specifies that a truly happy man will possess at least one friendship of the good that is based not in unnecessary utility or pleasure, but in a mutual admiration of the other’s