Summary Distributive justice always involves two persons and two things. Its aim is to distribute the things in such a way that the relative positions of the two persons prior to the transaction are maintained after the transactions, i.e., the thing is divided proportionally to the merit of the persons […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book V: Chapter III – Distributive JusticeSummary and Analysis Book V: Chapter II – Particular Justice — Distributive and Remedial
Summary Particular justice is justice as it relates to the individual. In this sense justice is a part of virtue, and a concept which must be understood if one is to be virtuous in all areas of action. Particular injustice is best defined as taking more or less than one’s […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book V: Chapter II – Particular Justice — Distributive and RemedialSummary and Analysis Book V: Chapter I – Various Definitions of Justice
Summary The study of justice and injustice has three main elements: (a) determination of the kind of actions that come within the scope of each, (b) determination of what kind of mean justice is, (c) determination of the extremes between which justice is to be found. The word justice has […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book V: Chapter I – Various Definitions of JusticeSummary and Analysis Book IV: Analysis for Book IV
In this book Aristotle continues with an account of the virtues which are exemplified in the good life. It is indeed a remarkable conception of human character which he describes and one that presents the Greek ideal at its very best. The virtues enumerated in this part of the Ethics […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: Analysis for Book IVSummary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter IX – Shame and Modesty
Summary Shame or modesty resembles an emotion more than a characteristic. It can be defined as fear of disrepute or disgrace, and is most appropriate to the young. Shamelessness is unquestionably a vice, but proper shame is not a virtue in the full sense. If a man committed an indecent […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter IX – Shame and ModestySummary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter VIII – Wittiness and Tact
Summary Because relaxation is an important part of life, good taste and propriety in one’s social relations are a virtue of great value. Wittiness, the mean in this area, pertains to what one says and how one says it, as well as to how and when one listens. Its essential […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter VIII – Wittiness and TactSummary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter VII – Truthfulness
Summary In almost the same sphere as that of friendliness, one finds another nameless virtue. Its excessive extreme is boastfulness; its deficient extreme is self-depreciation. This virtue is concerned with truthfulness in speech, action, and pretense, especially in regard to describing one’s own abilities, qualities, and attributes.
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter VII – TruthfulnessSummary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter VI – Friendliness
Summary Friendliness is the mean in human relations, which includes all dealings with our fellow men — recreational, business, political, etc. The excessive extreme is obsequiousness, the deficient extreme is grouchiness. This virtue differs from friendship in that it does not require emotion or affection for those with whom one […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter VI – FriendlinessSummary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter V – Gentleness
Summary Gentleness or good temper is the mean in feelings of anger. Short temper or irascibility is the excess, the deficiency has no name but may be called insufficient anger or apathy. The emotion of anger can be caused by many different factors, but the good-tempered man is always angry […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter V – GentlenessSummary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter IV – Ambition and Lack of Ambition
Summary Ambition and lack of ambition are the extremes of a nameless virtue which is related to high-mindedness in the same way that generosity is related to magnificence. It may be defined as desiring honor in the right amount, in the right manner, for the right reason, and at the […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Book IV: Chapter IV – Ambition and Lack of Ambition