Question

Part A) What is the main idea of Book I of theNicomachean Ethics? (use all three key terms: end, happiness, virtue)

Part B) What does Aristotle mean by “eudaimonia”? (say what it is and what it is not.)

Part C) What is Aristotle’s definition of virtue?

Part D) Describe Aristotelian virtues in terms of its extremes (especially courage, temperance, or generosity).

Part E) What Aristotle says about pleasure (inherently wrong? always good? good in moderatin)

Answer 1

A) The main idea of the book Nicomachean Ethics part-I is

This chapter brings up several noteworthy features of Aristotle's thought in general. First of all, he insists on seeking precision in an inquiry only within the limits set by the nature of the inquiry itself. Therefore while one should expect perfect precision in a subject like mathematics, one should not expect ethics to be so exact, or doubt the validity of conclusions about ethics because their precision is not at the level of mathematical precision.

Second, the idea that a person needs to be virtuous in order to understand ethics is an important feature in Aristotle's argument. Studying ethics requires the use of practical reason and ought to result in actions that accord with ethical principles. If a person does not live virtuously, his reason is not disposed to accept the logic of ethical arguments and is even less disposed to put ethical principles into action, which is an imperative of practical reason. Practical rationality, connected with the virtue of "phronesis," most commonly translated as prudence, is discussed in greater depth in Chapter Six.

Finally, for those with an interest in the differences between Platonic and Aristotelian thought. While Plato considers the only true Good to be the universal form which exists only in the realm of ideas, Aristotle rejects Plato's characterization. Aristotle thinks that the good is the end of human action in general and should therefore have practical ramifications for the way a person should act.

B) eudaimonia- happiness or welfare

According to aristotle eudaimonia involves activity, exhibiting virtue in accordance with reason

C) virtue-The quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong

For Aristotle, virtue is an all-or-nothing affair. We cannot pick and choose our virtues, we cannot decide that we will be courageous and temperate but choose not to be magnificent. Nor can we call people properly virtuous if they fail to exhibit all of the virtues.

A virtuous person is someone who is naturally disposed to exhibit all the virtues, and a naturally virtuous disposition exhibits all the virtues equally. All the virtues spring from a unified character, so no good person can exhibit some virtues without exhibiting them all.

D) Aristotelian virtues in terms of its extremes

courage- rasheness

temperance- self-indulgence

pride- ambition

modesty- shyness

E) Aristotle about pleasure- pleasure is the natural accompaniment of unimpeded activity.

pleasure inherently is nethier good nor bad but is something positive because the effect of pleasure perfects the exercise of that activity.