Summary To differentiate virtue from the other members of its class, the following proposition is relevant — that every virtue influences or affects that of which it is the virtue in two ways; (a) it produces a good state in it, (b) it enables it to perform its function well […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: Chapter VI – Definition of Virtue SpeciesSummary and Analysis Book II: Chapter V – Definition of Virtue — Genus
Summary It is now necessary to make a formal definition of virtue or excellence, starting with the determination of its genus (the class of things to which it belongs), and following with a determination of its differentia or species (the point or points which distinguish it from other members of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: Chapter V – Definition of Virtue — GenusSummary and Analysis Book II: Chapter IV – Relation of Virtue and Virtuous Action
Summary A difficulty arises at this point, in that we have said that men become virtuous by performing virtuous actions. A critic of this view might say that men are already virtuous if they perform virtuous actions, just as a man is already literate if he reads and writes correctly […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: Chapter IV – Relation of Virtue and Virtuous ActionSummary and Analysis Book II: Chapter III – Pleasure and Pain — The Test of Virtue
Summary To determine whether or not one is in full possession of a particular virtue or excellence, the pleasure or pain that accompanies the exercise of that quality can be used as an index. This is because moral excellence is primarily a matter of concern with pleasure and pain. The […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: Chapter III – Pleasure and Pain — The Test of VirtueSummary and Analysis Book II: Chapter II – Methodology of The Study of Ethics – Discussion of the Nature of Moral Qualities
Summary Ethics is a subject of great practical importance as well as theoretical interest because we are interested not merely in determining the nature of goodness, but also in how we may become good men. For this reason it is necessary to investigate the problems of right and wrong actions […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: Chapter II – Methodology of The Study of Ethics – Discussion of the Nature of Moral QualitiesSummary and Analysis Book II: Chapter I – Moral Virtue as a Result of Habits
Summary It has been shown that there are two kinds of virtue — intellectual and moral. Intellectual virtue is the result of learning. Moral virtue, on the other hand, comes about as the result of habit and practice. This shows that the moral virtues are not implanted in man by […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book II: Chapter I – Moral Virtue as a Result of HabitsSummary and Analysis Book I: Analysis for Book I
Aristotle’s conception of goodness is set forth in the opening sentence of this book. “Every art and every kind of inquiry, and likewise every act and purpose, seems to aim at some good; and so it has been well said that the good is that at which all things aim.” […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: Analysis for Book ISummary and Analysis Book I: Chapter XIII – Psychological Basis of Virtue
Summary Since happiness is an activity of the soul in conformity with perfect virtue, it is now necessary to determine the nature of this virtue or excellence. This will make it possible for us to determine more clearly the nature of goodness in regard to both ethics and politics, a […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: Chapter XIII – Psychological Basis of VirtueSummary and Analysis Book I: Chapter XII – The Degree of Praise Accorded to Happiness
Summary Having settled these questions, it would be worthwhile to decide whether happiness is something to be praised or something to be honored and valued. Observation shows that there are many different kinds of praise, and that praise is bestowed on something in regard to the quality of that thing […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: Chapter XII – The Degree of Praise Accorded to HappinessSummary and Analysis Book I: Chapter XI – The Relation between the Dead and the Living in Regard to Happiness
Summary The question also arises, are the dead affected by the fortunes of their descendants or friends? We know two things to be true in this connection; (a) that the misfortunes of our friends can sometimes affect or influence us or sometimes appear trifling, (b) that it makes a great […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book I: Chapter XI – The Relation between the Dead and the Living in Regard to Happiness