Nicomachean Ethics

ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, examines this question and theorizes about the concept of friendship in his work Nicomachean Ethics. Friendship is the “cement of society and extends throughout the human race”. It is clear from Aristotle’s writings that he believes that friendship is a necessary part of achieving happiness and should be highly valued. In Book VIII of Nicomachean Ethics, he clearly distinguishes three different kinds of friendships that people encounter in life: friendships…

pieces of literature, and both have had their works translated into many languages. Together, they created important parts of Greek history that are still used centuries later to teach the basis of humanity to people who choose to pick them up. Nicomachean Ethics and The Iliad, written by Aristotle and Homer respectively, both describe understandings of human courage. This paper argues that Homer and Aristotle had quite different views of courage, as Homer 's definition focused more on…

happiness: is it truly necessary? Both Plato and Aristotle argue the importance of love in attaining true contentment. However, the different forms they describe carry different connotations and different levels of influence on life. In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, he states the importance of philia in leading a life of contentment. "For friendship is a certain virtue or is accompanied by virtue; and, further, it is most necessary with a view to life; without friends, no one would choose to…

While in my mind there was no argument whether people should or should not be good, goodness was always a general and vague quality. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle defines virtue and virtuous behavior and how to develop virtue at full length. In particular, however, is his insistence that “[W]e are just, and capable of temperance, and brace, and possessed of the other virtues from the moment…

that in cases where “feelings of fear and confidence the mean is bravery. The excessively fearless person is nameless, and the one who is excessively confident is rash. The one who is excessive in fear and deficient in confidence in cowardly” (Nicomachean Ethics, 1107b1-4). I would be deficient in this situation if I did not act all or attempt to lessen the violent situation. I would be excess if I attempted to try to beat the biker or run him over. I must cultivate my character and know that…

Although Aristotle is well known for the work he has accomplished, his work toward The Principle of Non-contradiction is not correct, and could be proven wrong in many different ways. Aristotle states that the human race would not be able to comprehend studies, such as Science, Mathematics, etcetera if it wasn’t for The Principle of Non-contradiction, and that can be proven wrong. And hopefully after when all is done, it’ll be proven that Aristotle is wrong. In Aristotle 's early life (Age 17)…

Aristotle first addresses the topic of friendship in the first chapter of Book VIII of Nicomachean Ethics by establishing its importance claiming that “it is most necessary for our life. For no one would choose to live without friends” (119). Having discussed virtues in the previous chapter, Aristotle links his definition of friendship to the latter topic claiming that friendship is the act of loving by bonding through mutual respect and virtue. Aristotle proves his argument on the nature and…

what is good for man” (Aristotle Ethics, pg. 154). In other words, practical wisdom is concerned with deciding what a good course of action for man is. On the other hand about theoretical wisdom, Aristotle writes, “a wise man must not only know what follows from fundamental principles, but he must also have true knowledge of the fundamental principles themselves. Accordingly, theoretical wisdom must comprise both intelligence and scientific knowledge”(Aristotle Ethics, pg. 156). These…

Antigone’s Character as describe by Aristotle’s Possession of Virtues In Sophocles’ tragedy, “Antigone,” the title character could be seen as fulfilling Aristotle’s three criteria for a virtuous action as he lays them out in Book II of the Nicomachean Ethics. Antigone does, apparently, know how to perform the correct burial rituals (thereby fulfilling the first criterion), she clearly chooses the action and chooses it for the sake of her brother (which seems to cover the second criterion), and,…

Is εὐδαιμονία, happiness? How does εὐδαιμονία differ from the modern notion of happiness? The Greek word used by Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics for “happiness” is εὐδαιμονία. The translation, “happiness,” can be misleading, because etymologically, it is made up of εὖ and δαίμων, meaning, “well, good” and “divinity, fortune,” respectively. So, εὐδαιμονία literally means, “having a good fortune,” or “having a good divinity.” The latter points to something like having a divine being guiding our…