1. What are two fundamental assumptions of Aristotle’s approach to ethics that are typical of most ancient Greek philosophers? 2. According to Aristotle, what is the relationship of politics and ethics, and what is the purpose of studying ethics? What limitations are there on the methodology of such a study? […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsCritical Essays Aristotle’s Method and Place in Intellectual History
Aristotle’s method, in ethics as in all other fields, was critical and empirical. In the study of any subject he began by collecting, analyzing, and grouping all relevant facts in order to determine their meaning and relations with each other, and this gave him a systematic and factually correct basis […]
Read more Critical Essays Aristotle’s Method and Place in Intellectual HistoryCritical Essays Aristotle’s Works
Unlike the dialogues of Plato, none of Aristotle’s surviving works are noted for their literary craftsmanship, and, with the exception of the Constitution of Athens, were never intended for publication in their present form. In ancient times, when his published works were still in existence, however, Aristotle had a solid […]
Read more Critical Essays Aristotle’s WorksAristotle Biography
Aristotle was born in 384 B.C. in Stagira, a small town in Thrace. His father, Nicomachus, was a famous doctor who served as personal physician to King Amyntas II of Macedonia and had many connections at the royal court. It appears likely that Nicomachus played an important part in Aristotle’s […]
Read more Aristotle BiographySummary and Analysis Book X: Analysis for Book X
It seems appropriate that the closing book of the Ethics should be devoted to a discussion of pleasure and its place in the good life. As we have noticed before reference to this topic has been made in some of the earlier books but there were questions which still remained […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book X: Analysis for Book XSummary and Analysis Book X: Chapter IX – Ethics and Politics
Summary As in all subjects, there is a distinction in ethics between theory and practice. To be a virtuous man, it is not enough to know about goodness and ethical conduct; one must also possess and practice goodness and must seek in every way to become a good man himself. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book X: Chapter IX – Ethics and PoliticsSummary and Analysis Book X: Chapter VIII – Advantages of the Contemplative Life
Summary The objects of the contemplative life are the unchangeable and eternal verities that underlie and govern the universe. From contemplation of these truths the soul derives a feeling of purity and stability. Contemplative happiness is not dependent on other men, it can be engaged in almost continuously, and is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book X: Chapter VIII – Advantages of the Contemplative LifeSummary and Analysis Book X: Chapter VII – The Contemplative Life Is the Highest Happiness
Summary The greatest happiness is activity in conformity with the highest virtue, (i.e., with that which is the virtue of the best part of man). Intelligence is man’s highest possession and the objects of intelligence are the highest objects within his grasp, thus it is clear that the life of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book X: Chapter VII – The Contemplative Life Is the Highest HappinessSummary and Analysis Book X: Chapter VI – Happiness
Summary Happiness or well-being is a self-sufficient activity desirable for its own sake. One seeks nothing from happiness beyond the actual experience or performance of it as an activity. As already stated, activities that are desirable in themselves are activities in conformity with virtue and indicates that the greatest happiness […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book X: Chapter VI – HappinessSummary and Analysis Book X: Chapter V – The Value and Function of Pleasure
Summary When a man’s senses or faculties are in a healthy state and perform activity upon their proper objects (i.e., objects which are goods of their kind), we may say that the activity of those senses is complete and pleasant. Pleasure is a distinguishable but inseparable concomitant of activity, the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book X: Chapter V – The Value and Function of Pleasure