The Nicomachean Ethics
The Nicomachean Ethics (NE) is one of Aristotle's ethical treatises, and is regarded as the definitive statement of Aristotle's ethical views. The Nicomachean Ethics is divided into ten books, each of which deals with a different aspect of morality.
Book I: Defining Good
Book I discusses how good is to be defined; Books II-V discuss the moral virtues; Book VI discusses intellectual virtue; Book VII deals with moral continence and incontinence; Books VIII-IX deal with friendship, and Book X deals with pleasure and happiness.
The Concept of "Good"
Aristotle defines the term 'good' as 'that which is aimed for by any action, and which has the highest value to the person doing it'. This is an important concept to understand because it helps us think about what we want out of life.
Virtues and Vices
According to Aristotle, there are two types of 'good': virtuous actions and vices. Virtues are acts of kindness, courage, temperance, self-discipline, and moderation, while vices are those that bring dishonor to an individual such as cowardice, pride, vanity, and envy.
"Mean Conditions"
There are also "mean conditions" involving feelings: there is the sense of shame, which is sometimes praised, and there is righteous indignation, which is an expression of regret over the misfortunes of others. The sense of shame is discussed in Book I of the Nicomachean Ethics, while righteous indignation is not; but there are also "non willing" actions which are bad by choice, and these cases must be treated separately.
The Importance of Nicomachean Ethics
The Nicomachean Ethics is a comprehensive discussion of ethics, and is one of Aristotle's best-known works. It is a work which has been used by scholars for centuries to explain ethical issues and to help people make decisions about what is good or not.
Moral Virtue
In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explains that moral virtue is an act of reason which brings honor to an individual, and vices are those acts of disobedience which bring dishonor to an individual. The moral virtues include: courage, temperance, moderation, self-discipline, generosity, friendliness, honesty, justice.
"Mean Conditions"
The Nicomachean Ethics also explains that there are 'mean conditions', which can occur when an individual is not able to resist the countervailing influence of their own emotions. These can include anger, or greed, or lust, or desire for pleasure. These are not necessarily bad, but they can cause problems for a person's ability to choose good things in the long run.
