Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Book 1 Summary

1 aristotle s nicomachean ethics.

Aristotle nicomachean ethics book 1 summary. Aristotle begins with a hypothesis one which he will proceed to test. Supposing this to be our aim aristotle then proceeds in his nicomachean ethics to figure out how best to achieve this goal. See important quotations explained.

Aristotle returns to the topic of pleasure for a more detailed analysis. Book 1 chapter 7. Arete the greek word for virtue and excellence encompasses both good character and good thought.

Aristotle begins by seeking to identify the best way of life. Every human action aims at some good and the good which is chosen for its own sake rather than as means to an end is the highest good. The highest ends are ends in themselves while subordinate ends may only be means to higher ends.

The best method is to fix a price in advance though some forms of benevolence cannot properly be repaid. The necessary characteristics of the ultimate good are that it is complete final self sufficient and continuous. Pleasure and pain last all our lives and enjoying and hating the right things is key to developing virtue of character.

Nicomachean ethics by aristotle summary 1. To do this it s necessary to identify the best good or end the thing people pursue for its own sake not for the sake of anything else. He digresses to explain that nicomachean ethics will be a work of political science the science which seeks.

Aristotle learned a lot from socrates through plato and he emphasizes virtue s central role in a happy life. Aristotle begins the work by positing that there exists some ultimate good toward which in the final analysis all human actions ultimately aim. Books i iii a very brief and selective summary book i chapter 1.