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Nicomachean Ethics

In AristotleÆs Nicomachean Ethics, written in 350 BC., the philosopher presents his ideas on a number of concepts from happiness and the good to pleasure and pain. His primary discussion, however, resolves around ôvirtueö and how leading a virtuous life represents the highest good and, in turn, leads to the greatest degree of human happiness. However, Aristotle makes it quite clear that virtue is a ômeanö valuation. In other words, the mean or center value is chosen by those with a ôvirtuousö disposition. Freedom is possible only within the limits and inhibitions imposed by virtue. The ômean,ö however, is not easy to achieve and is arrived at not through reason but perception, according to Aristotle. This essay will discuss the problematic nature of virtue being a ômean.ö Following this discussion, AristotleÆs responses to these problems or flaws of virtue being a ômeanö will be addressed.

AristotleÆs Book I of Nicomachean Ethics is devoted to his three-fold working of the concept of the highest end. The highest or chief good is happiness but living well and doing right are necessary attendants to happiness. We arrive at happiness through selfless choice. As Aristotle (Book 1, Ch. 2) asserts, ôIf, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake, and if we do not choose everything for the sake of something else, clearly this must be the good and the chief good.ö

Happiness is a common and ordinary pleasure. It can be expressed in the form of honor or virtue, or even contemplation. Since ethics equates to political science to Aristotle, he focuses on happiness in Nicomachean Ethics as honor or ôvirtue.ö His concept is directed to action, suggesting that the end of all actions should be happiness derived from virtuous choices. Virtue, then, assists man in obtaining pleasure and being happy in a number of ways. Virtue is also a state of character not a faculty or passion ...

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Nicomachean Ethics. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 01:59, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1710369.html