Ethics of Aristotle: summary and analysis of the Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle exhibited in his work Nicomachean Ethics or Nicomachean ethicsthe most relevant ethical reflections of him.
This work is one of the most important surviving treatises of Western philosophy. It consists of 10 books, in which the philosopher reflects, among other things, on happiness and how it is possible to reach it.
But, according to Aristotle, what makes man happy? How can the individual achieve a full life?
Let us know, next, the fundamental ideas of the aristotelian ethics through an analysis.
Summary of Nicomachean Ethics
The work is divided into 10 books, each one deals with a different topic. In them he exposes his reflections on good, happiness, virtue, temperance or intellectual virtues, among other topics.
Book I: Good and Happiness
In this book, the philosopher attends to what is the end of human actions. Likewise, he investigates the nature of happiness and the difference between ethical and dianoetic virtues.
Book II: Theory of Virtue
This volume deals more extensively with the theory of virtues and their nature. Likewise, Aristotle compares virtue with other types of knowledge.
Book III: Courage and Temperance
This book consists of three parts. In the first, Aristotle analyzes the voluntary and involuntary acts of man.
In the second part, the philosopher analyzes the virtue of strength, which claims to be in the middle, between fear and trust.
Finally, in the third part, he talks about temperance, a virtue that lies between pleasure and pain.
Book IV: The different virtues
Here Aristotle analyzes virtues other than temperance and fortitude. Among them are generosity, magnificence, magnanimity or equanimity.
Book V: Justice
In this book Aristotle refers to one of the great virtues, justice. Here he differentiates between the types of justice. On the one hand, universal justice and, on the other hand, private justice. For Aristotle justice is the greatest virtue.
Book VI: The Intellectual Virtues
Here he inquires about the intellectual virtues and their nature. It is one of the most important books for understanding Aristotelian ethics. It refers in it to virtues such as art, science, wisdom, understanding and prudence.
Book VII: Intemperance and Pleasure
In this book the philosopher refers to continence and incontinence.
Book VIII: Friendship
He supposes an exhaustive study on friendship and the different types of it, also on the relationship between friendship and politics.
Book IX: Friendship (continued)
In this volume the philosopher continues to reflect on friendship. This time he emphasizes its characteristics and the reciprocity of it. It also exposes the differences between friendship and kindness. Also, it refers to the relationship between friendship and happiness.
Book X: Pleasure and true happiness
It is the last part of the play Nicomachean ethics. In it, Aristotle takes up the theme of happiness and pleasure. Here, he exposes what true happiness means, in his judgment.
Analysis of Aristotelian Ethics
One of the main characteristics of Aristotelian ethics is that it is teleological, that is, the actions are analyzed based on an end. An act will be good or bad depending on the consequences it has.
Thus, for the philosopher, the end to which man aspires is happiness. Therefore, an action is good if it can make the individual happier.
On the other hand, Aristotelian ethics is of practicalityIt is not enough to study it, but you have to make use of it through experience.
The end of human activities
Aristotelian ethics reflects on human behavior. For Aristotle all behavior pursues an end, that is, it moves for an object or motive, it is not in vain.
However, Aristotle differentiated between two types of ends. On the one hand, useful ends as means and, on the other hand, the ultimate end. What do each of them consist of?
Useful ends as means
These ends, according to Aristotle, serve man as a way to achieve others. However, the philosopher thought that there could be another end, an ultimate one to which all others are subject.
The ultimate goal: happiness or eudaimonia
In this sense, Aristotelian ethics maintains what is known as eudaemonism, that is, it affirms that human behavior is directed towards happiness. This end is not conditioned by others, but is an ultimate good.
Thus, for the philosopher, the ultimate goal that man tries to achieve is happiness. This is the highest good of human life.
But what is happiness? How do you achieve a blissful life? Aristotle claims that the answer depends on who you ask. Well, while for some a happy life could be reduced to riches, for others, it could be pleasure.
In this sense, Aristotle maintains the importance of understanding what is proper to man to discover what makes him happy.
What defines man?
Aristotle affirms that what characterizes man is precisely his ability to reason.
However, apart from the rational soul, man also has desires, which are part of his condition. In order not to get carried away by these desires and passions, the individual must direct his behavior, for this, he has to submit said passions to reason.
Consequently, for the philosopher the best way to achieve this ultimate goal lies in having the ability to direct the desires or passions along the path of prudence.
Aristotelian ethics holds that man should seek happiness in the "task" that he masters best, that is, reason. Aristotle proposes a "model" by which man practices, through reasoning, a series of "habits" that lead him to "good and justice" and, consequently, to happiness. Here, the virtues come into play.
Virtue: the balance between excesses
What is virtue? We can generally understand virtue as the "inclination to act based on ideals", it can also be associated with "having certain abilities or skills". But what is virtue for Aristotle?
For the philosopher the virtues are the aptitudes or capacities that lead man to be full. So, how do you achieve that state of fulfillment or happiness?
The only path that the philosopher proposes is that of "balance", this is achieved by exercising reason and redirecting desires and passions, placing them between the "excess" and the "defect", that is, at a point intermediate. Thus, two types of virtues appear:
Intellectual or dianoetic virtues
They are related to the five types of knowledge. Intellectual virtues increase our capacity for understanding and are not innate, but are acquired through education. These correspond to each of the degrees of knowledge and are:
- The art
- Prudence
- The science
- The intelligence
- The wisdom
Ethical virtues
In the virtues that Aristotle defined as "ethical" prudence takes on special importance. Let us understand prudence as the "way" of deliberation. Prudence will allow you to guide your emotions and passions along a “middle way” that will result in a better character and rational control.
In this sense, for the philosopher there is a virtue for each passion. That is, a middle ground that will be balanced and modest. For example, between recklessness (defect) and cowardice (excess) would be the virtue of courage.
Justice: the greatest virtue
Another important concept in Aristotelian ethics is that of justice. For the philosopher there are two types of justice.
Universal justice
It is the virtue that incorporates all other virtues and is directly related to compliance with the law. Thus, according to the philosopher, the just man would be one who complies with the laws.
Private justice
Aristotle distinguishes other types of justice related to interpersonal relationships, so that everyone receives what is due. These are:
Commutative: it is based on a balance between the exchange of goods. That is to say, that the same thing that is received is given.
Distributive: It consists in not being given to all equally, that the distribution of benefits is made in proportion to the merits.
Aristotle
Aristotle is one of the most influential philosophers of all time. He was born in the city of Estagira in 384 BC. from. C. His knowledge spanned different branches of knowledge, from scientific to philosophical.
He was part of the Academy of Athens for 20 years and was a disciple of Plato. Likewise, he was the teacher of such relevant figures as Alexander the Great.
The philosopher lived during the golden age of Greece and left an extensive work, which includes around 200 publications, which deal with different areas of knowledge such as logic, ethics, political philosophy, physics, astronomy or biology, among others. However, only 31 works have survived to this day.
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