Essays on Nicomachean Ethics

Philosophy Questions

1. Ross’ s Moral Theory is considered to stand between Kant’s strict deontological theory and theological theory of utilitarianism. According to the philosopher, there existed several prima facie duties that people had to hold in respect if they did not contradict one another. In case they conflicted, human’s intuition would help to make the right choice and find the weightiest and the most important duty. Ross stated that any prima facie obligation could be redefined by more important ones. While Kant saw all obligations absolute and exceptionless, Ross allowed maximization of the good as one of the ...

Virtue Ethics

The essence of Virtue Ethics is based in its antiquity and the fact that almost all ancient civilizations having endorsed some form of this principle. This is one form of Ethics that can directly be applied to professional and managerial situations. The reason for this is the ‘character-based’ nature of Virtue Ethics, wherein one evaluates an action in terms of specific ethical goals. In a sense, Virtue Ethics answers questions for managers better as compared to the Teleological or Deontological Ethical thoughts that are more consequence or duty based respectively. This essay would proceed to describe Virtue Ethics and ...

Aristotle’s virtue ethics has been vividly explained in his book. The objective of this paper is to clearly define what makes the Aristotelian virtue ethics different from the traditional or basic one as known by experts in the field of philosophy. In order to do so, a brief background of both must be provided. Virtue ethics is a theory or a philosophical approach to studying ethics (the study of right and wrong) that focuses on an individual’s character and or his individuality when it comes to determining the key element of ethical thinking. This highlights the concept ...

Introduction

Virtue ethics are the theories that gives importance to our moral values that effect our mind and our character. It not only helps us to decide what is rightness or wrongness in our decision but also provides a guidance to be a good person that we wish to achieve .Virtual ethic was prevalent from the time old civilizations started. The philosophers always guided the rulers and the common people to follow the path of virtue ethics. Among the famous philosophers whose ethics are followed till date are Aristotle, father of Greek philosophy and Confucius, father of Chinese philosophy. Virtue ...

Central to Book V of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is an analysis of the correlation between not only laws and justice but also the one that exists between a combination of the two and virtue. Apparently, no matter how one looks at a given situation, there are high chances that he or she is both right and wrong simply because justice is a complex phenomenon. Notably, the man’s assertion of just people does not stem from small actions or situations that either show or compel an individual to act in a just manner. On the contrary, as Aristotle ...

Introduction

In his writing of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the issue of pleasure and pain. Scholars have not come into agreement the reason why Aristotle used the word Nicomachean Ethics; however, most of them believe that Aristotle’s son and his father were both called Nicomachean. Aristotle’s son must have edited the book after the death of his father hence renaming the book to show that this was his edition. According to Aristotle, happiness is the greatest good, and it is the only reason why we undertake various activities. For example, when a person decides to go for grocery ...

The analysis of friendship as a life concept and universal phenomenon is evident in Aristotle’s The Nicomachean Ethics. According to the philosopher, for one to declare another his or her friend, they have to meet certain conditions. For illustration purposes, one can consider the love of famous musicians that an individual may choose to monitor via different social media platforms. The decision to like them on Facebook or to follow them on Twitter does not mean that the fan and the famous person are friends. On the contrary, in Aristotle’s views, such a situation does not even ...

Compare Aristotle with Kant, Rawls, and the utilitarians. Which theory offers us the most successful theory of justice?

The essence of justice is a massively studied model. With the help of different social sciences, head scholars continue to reflect on the field and outline of what appears to bear a visionary semblance but whose versions in time of history has often taken different perspectives. An equiparation of the versions of justice in main disciplines of psychology, legal studies, philosophy, economic studies, and sociology, for example, show only very insular convergence lines. An analysis of Aristotle’s interpretation of justice in comparison with Victorian principles and later on in the works of Kant, Rawls and utilitarians and other contemporary thoughts ...

For Aristotle, happiness is the highest good that people can comprehend. A man always tends to set goals that he considers good for himself. Aristotle argues that this goal is happiness. Therefore, happiness is what all people seek. The question is what is this happiness? Many people believe that happiness lies in sensual pleasures and luxury; some believe that it is in gaining of power, honors and reputation. However, this cannot be the aim of a man. The life wholly dedicated to pleasure resembles the life of animals (Aristotle). Aristotle argued that honor is something external; people look for honors ...

Page one, Paragraph 1, Sentence 2

You use “Created to” twice really close together. This is repetitive, by using a synonym to replace one of these you will increase both interest and elegance.

Page one, Paragraph 1, Sentence 3,

This starts with a conjunction. Ideally restructure the sentence so that it does not start with “But” or at the very least, set it off with a comma.

Page one, Paragraph 1, sentence 5,

You use the word “Intangible” which means imperceptible or insignificant. I would say “tangible” is a better word choice here.

Page one, Paragraph 1

Early in the paragraph you use “human-to-human” with hyphens, however in the 6th sentence you present the same phrase without hyphens. I think either way is fine, but ...

Assignment #1 – Aristotle

Virtue or Vice: Aristotle’s Ethics of Friendship and the Ethical Problem of Prostitution Aristotle and the Ethics of Prostitution The best way to think about prostitution in an Aristotelian way is to think about whether or not a prostitute is a friend. In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle spends a considerable amount of time on thinking about what constitutes friendship. However, can someone one procures sex for money be a friend? Furthermore, is prostitution a virtue or a vice? These are issues when thinking about these issues in terms of the Aristotelian tradition. In thinking about the issue of prostitution, two concepts ...

Argumentative essay:

In order to understand Aristotle thoughts on live a happy life it is important to examine Nicomachean Ethics as it contains his definition of happiness as well as the requirements one needs in order to be happy. Aristotle’s definition of happiness as quoted in Nicomachean Ethics as stating that a man can only be able to achieve happiness if he performs all the tasks that he is supposed to in a positive manner (Winter, 32). According to Aristotle’s argument, happiness is the main purpose of human life; therefore, he suggests human should strive to achieve happiness in their lives. Hence, ...

TWO PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS OF HUMOR

Aristotle’s Mean and Addison’s Extreme: Two Philosophical Views of Humor Humor is one of the fundamental aspects of human experiences; as such, it has been studied by many great philosophers. The use of language to produce a humorous effect is somewhat of a mystery, and its particularities could be thought of as unique to the human species. Thus, the definition and characterization of humor is not unequivocal, with different thinkers conceptualizing it in different manners. Aristotle and Joseph Addison are only two of the most remarkable philosophers to study this philosophical problem. Through the analysis of the ...

Aristotle’s notion of happiness is quite different from our understanding of happiness. He called happiness an “activity” while the contemporary interpretation of happiness is a placid state of human mind. Thus, happiness now is seen as an emotional state rather than the result of certain action. Greek word eudaimonia can be rendered as “success”. People who are successful according to this notion are not in a particular state, but they live successfully. Aristotle considered happiness as an ongoing state caused by actions, rather than temporary euphoria. He stated that virtuous people can be happy when they exercise their virtues. A ...

In this paperwork I am going to explicate and criticize the following book-Nicomachean ethics (Aristotle’s Ethics).

The Nicomachean ethics work start with a discussion of eudaimonia that means happiness, and turn to an assessment of the scenery of good quality, thus, bringing out clearly the character traits that people need in order to live life at its preeminent. It is important to note that at the end of each task, a brief discussion is included about the correct connection between the people and the divine. Through a literature review, it has been depicted that the Nicomachean Ethics is recognized as the most significant books in the world of ethics and undoubtedly the most prominent work of Aristotle. ...

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most significant learning of personal morality and the culminations of human existence. It has for several periods been a widely-read and persuasive written account. Although written further than 2,000 years since, it proposes the current reader numerous valued comprehensions into human necessities and ways. Amongst its most exceptional sorts are Aristotle's determinations that there are no recognized absolute moral principles and that whichever ethical concept must be based in portion on an consideration of psychology and definitely grounded in the certainties of human nature and everyday existence. Furthermore, the account intensely mirrors Aristotle's attainments ...

Aristotle considers ethical theory as a field different from the theoretical sciences. Friendship is of profound importance for human life as well as of pronounced significance for the moral life. The reason behind why we study ethics is to improve our lives and the principal concern the kind of human well-being. Aristotle follows Plato and Socrates in taking the qualities to be a central of a well-lived life. Aristotle began by introducing the notion that helps to understand the phenomenon of friendship. He begins by defining a friend as a person who likes or loves another individual for the sake of that other person’ ...

Aristotle and Machiavelli have been described as political scientists. The two men have differences in terms of philosophies in relation to the vision they had on the political system. Each man was a product of his own time. Aristotle rose from Greece in the Golden Age while Machiavelli sprouts from Medieval Europe. Their cases gave advice and ideas hold weight in modern political aspects considering their philosophies and outlooks which differ. According to Aristotle, he perceived that the main goal of politics was to deliver a “good life” to the society. Machiavelli’s goal shared the view that the goal ...

Philosophy

“Perhaps we shall find the best “Good” if we first find the function of a human being. For just as the good, for a flutist, a sculptor, and every craftsman, and, in general, for whatever has a function, seems to depend on its function, the same seems to be true for a human being What, then, could this be? For living appears to be something common even to plants. A certain life characterized by sense perception would be next, but it too appears to be common to a horse and cow and in fact to every animal. The remaining possibility, then, is some sort of ...

Plato looks at pleasure as a source of delight and sensual enjoyment. In his work ‘Gorgias’, Plato talks of Socrates, and makes him relay his views. His concept is that things are termed beautiful based on the pleasure derived from them or their use. In the same way, the lack of pleasure from an item determines its lack of beauty. Plato classifies pleasure into two categories. There are those pleasures that lead to good ends, and there are those pleasures that are purposed only for fulfilling desires. Therefore, there are good pleasures and bad pleasures. Plato holds that the methods, ...

Philosophy questions

- St. Anselm in the 11th Century proposed the first ontology on the existence of God. In his argument, St. Anselm proposed that God’s existence is derived from the concept of, “being than which no greater can be conceived,” (“Stanford Encyclopedia of philosophy,” 2011). Therefore, a being that no greater than it can be conceived is God. However, his argument shows that it is necessary to belief in God, but does not, in fact, prove the existence of God.

Work cited

Stanford Encyclopedia of philosophy . “Ontological Arguments”; 2011. Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/ on October 13, 2014. - Luke Tracy (2012) on ...

The central claim of this paper is: the movie Million Dollar Baby is a cinematic argument containing the central thesis of Plato’s Allegory of the Cave from Republic and Aristotle’s moral philosophy from Nicomachean Ethics. First, the allegory of the cave will be explained as well as Aristotle’s theory of virtue. The paper will give examples from Eastwood’s film to back up the thesis, along with possible counterarguments. The story of the cave is Plato’s argument for how knowledge begins in darkness and ascends towards truth (517a). The ascent to knowledge is gradual. Darkness ...

The word eudaimonia is often translated as happiness or welfare. Some experts say

a better translation would be “human flourishing.” As we read the translation of Aristotle’s Ethics, we understand that happiness as used in English does not fit well with Aristotle’s ideas (Eudaimonia). In Book I, Chapter 1, Aristotle talks about goods and that every action taken by people is aimed at gaining some good. The goods vary. Some are activities or actions and some are products that are the results of the activities. These goals or goods vary, but in Chapter 4, he says there is general agreement among men that the highest good is happiness. Since all ...

“The way of does nothing, yet nothing is left undone” (Philip J. Ivanhoe, 2003) is a statement that can be easily misunderstood by anyone. It could be rephrased to “do nothing, and there is nothing left undone”. The statement may create a great deal of controversies in the interpretation. The word “doing” refers to one getting engaged in a certain activity leading to a particular result. The word “nothing: means not getting involved, and hence no progress. The controversy then would be, can one do nothing, and yet everything happens? The verse is implying the Tao teaching of achieving alignment with nature. ...

In Boethius’s work “The Consolation of Philosophy” the term or a variation of the term “wickedness” appears 108 different times. Conversely, the work could even be called “On: Wickedness” since this is the overriding theme of the work. For “Boethius” human beings are moral beings. It is only through wickedness that their natural tendency for good becomes corrupted. While wickedness may lead to material or social gain in the short term, wickedness prevents a person from achieving happiness. It is wickedness itself then, that is its own punishment since it will prevent a person from achieving their happiness. Wickedness for ...

Introduction

This is a layman’s effort to hit the importance of Aristotle’s explanation of the human nature. In his work of sociology and ethics; the Nicomachean Ethics Book 1, he emerge as a good natured and cheerful philosopher. He is an icon in his writing and shows his skilled and a vast experience in writing since he entices many people to look into ethics. From my point of view Nicomachean Ethics is a philosophical that reviews the nature of the good life for a human being. He begins the work by suggesting that there is often an ultimate goodness in every last analysis ...

This paper discusses the arguments by Aristotle, one of the most famous philosophers ever lived, from his book, Nicomachean Ethics. The author dissects through the articles and picks areas of agreement as well as areas of divergence from the contents of the article and makes a conclusion on the relevance of the article in modern society. In summary, Aristotle, in this book believes that every man’s ultimate goal is the pursuit of happiness and therefore all mans efforts in the world are geared towards finding the best and most efficient way of attaining this goal of happiness. In ...

Essay Question # 1:

Aristotle’s work that displays his beliefs on happiness and how one should live is his Nicomachean Ethics, which is a conclusive work that governs what he considers to be both the “ultimate” good and specific “goods” attainable for man. He believed that things were directed towards specific ends, and that a virtuous entity was one that stayed true to it’s objective. These things, because of their universal nature, have not changed in their essence, but the world of today is certainly much different than the one that Aristotle was interacting with. This essay seeks to explain his belief on ...

No one debates the vast influence that Aristotle has had on Western culture. It seems every discipline, from Science, to art, to literature, bears the mark of his influence. His ideas and his succinct ordering of them have incalculable influences in today’s world. He had rigid ideas regarding human relationships, happiness, virtues, deliberation, justice and friendship. His Nicomachean Ethics is a conclusive work that governs what he considers to be both the “ultimate” good and specific “goods” attainable for man. He believed that things were directed towards specific ends, and that a virtuous entity was one that stayed true to ...

I intend to discuss the ethical implications of euthanasia throughout the course of this essay. Firstly I will be touching on the German philosopher Kant regarding his theories on personhood and consciousness in terms of people in vegetative states such as Terri Schiavo. I then will be moving on to broader issues of euthanasia such as the right to die and the legality of assisted suicide refusal of treatment the utilitarian perspective and the Nicomachean ethics of Aristotle. The purpose of which is to determine whether or not euthanasia is an ethical approach to incurable illnesses or disabilities which ...

Ancient Greek History Essays

1. What are the Names and Dates of the 4 Historical Periods of Hellenic Civilization? What are the major events/people that pertain to each?

Hellenistic civilization showed the success of Greek influence in the ancient world. This period also portrayed an era of history is the period which followed the conquests of Alexander the Great and was referred to this by the historian J. G. Droysen. This period highlights four major events which are the Delian League, Wars of the Delian League & Peace of Callias, the Peloponnesian War and the Spartan & Theban Hegemony and the triumph of ...

The evolution of moral values follows the arc of ancient Greek society, from its martial antecedents in the Homeric age through the blossoming of high culture that immortalized the Athenians to the subjective meditations of the Stoics. The series of armed conflicts that archaeologists have identified as the Trojan War (circa 1200 B.C.) were manifestations of ancient Mycenaean culture, an Indo-European civilization characterized by warfare and the virtues of physical courage. From this heroic past came the concepts of arete, or “excellence,” and agathos, roughly translated as “good.” A close reading of Homer reveals that “agathos is used to ...

What Mere Christianity and its arguments owe to our previous authors, Saint Augustine in Confessions and Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics

‘Mere Christianity’ has been explained differently by various authors depending on their experience and what they have gained in terms of knowledge. Most atheist philosophers have reservations when it comes to Christianity because of the validity of the texts. They consider the bible and most Christian texts not to be practical in their approach. This is because of the teachings that are considered difficult and contradictory in nature. Most of the philosophical views are also based on the experiences they ...

Friendship is a very important virtual life since it brings about friendship and honor towards people. Friendship is classified into three categories that include friendship of utility, friendship of pleasure, and friendships of virtue (Aristotle 139-132). In his friendship theories, Aristotle argues that friendship breaks down in to self-love, related to love of utility and love of pleasure (Walker pp. 180-196). Looking at the first kind of friendship, friendships with utility, these individuals come together in certain situations that may relate to work issues; example of employees in work places. Philosophers claim that such friends will only be together during ...

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics book VIII briefly discussed interesting insights about the three different kinds of friendship, and from what I understand, these are as follows: friendship out of utility, friendship out of pleasure and perfect friendship. Now here is how I explain each kind based from Aristotle’s work. Let’s begin with the first kind – friendship out of utility. The author described this as loving someone because you are just after what is good for yourself (p.144) that’s why you don’t care what the other person might think or feel, so long as you are ...