NICOMACHEAN ETHICS
Sem. Albert Decamos
OUTLINE
The Nicomachean Ethics.
Virtue Theory.
The Moral Virtues.
Conclusion.
Nicomachean Ethics
The Nicomachean Ethics is one of the most important
books in the whole history of Ethics and certainly the
most influential work of Aristotle.
we do not possess a satisfactory explanation of its
current structure.
many traits point to the conclusion that the work is
not a unitary treatise written in one piece, but a later
collection of different lecture notes made either by
Aristotle himself or taken by his students.
These notes were later put together by an
editor who tried to organize them as a
unified treatise.
This circumstance should account for many
repetitions, sketchy remarks, obvious
interpolations, etc.
It deals with almost all notions and concepts people
assume when they talk about virtue and the good life.
this "logic of moral practice" was executed from the
historical viewpoint of the social morality that was
realized in the city-states of Ancient Greece. Within
that specific historical framework Aristotle provides an
account of what constitutes the good life and how
society should be organized to make such a life
possible.
It deals with the ethical issues of good life and
virtuous action.
Aristotle wrote the first treatise on Ethics, The
Nicomachean Ethics, dedicated to his son
Nicomacheon.
The moral principles laid down by Aristotle were in
the main adopted by the great philosopher and
theologian of the thirteenth century, St. Thomas
Aquinas, who corrected some errors of Aristotle and
clarified many of his principles.
Virtue Theory
Virtues: trained behavioral dispositions that result in
habitual acts of moral goodness.
Vices: trained behavioral dispositions that result in
habitual acts of moral wrongness.
Cardinal Virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Temperance,
Justice.
Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, Charity
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
To achieve a state of well being proper social
institutions are necessary.
Ethics is considered a branch of politics.
ARISTOTLE
Humanity has an essence or function.
The function of human is to used their reason in
pursuit of the good life.
Moral virtues are different from the intellectual ones.
By living well, we acquire the right habits.
These habits are the virtues.
MORAL VIRTUES
Honesty- the quality of being fair and truthful.
Ex. He’s known for his honesty in business dealings.
Benevolence- an act of kindness; disposition to do good. Ex. An
actress who was admired for her benevolence as for her beauty.
Fairness- agreeing with what is thought to be right or acceptable. Ex.
We received fair treatment.
Kindness- the quality or state of being kind. Ex. What a kindness to
allow us to use your car for the funeral.
Conscientiousness- concerned with doing something correctly. Ex. A
counselor who serves patients by first being a conscientious listener.
Gratitude- a feeling of appreciation or thanks. Ex. Accept these
flowers as a token of my gratitude.
CONCLUSION
Aristotle’s ethics has been described as “teleological” or goal-
directed because he believes that any discussion of ethics
must at an early point concern itself with what is the ultimate
end of man. This he believes is happiness or eudaimonia,
meaning well-being or flourishing. To achieve this he
believes man must fulfill the function proper to him.
Everything has a purpose. A knife has the purpose of cutting
things, so to perform its function well it must have a sharp
cutting edge. Man, too, has a function: unlike any other
being he is capable of rational thought. So happiness consists
in the rational exercise of the soul’s faculties in conformity
with excellence or virtue.
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