aritotle

Question 1

Nicomachean Ethics,

Answer 1

Every craft, investigation, action, and decision seems to aim at some good

• There is some end of the things we pursue which we wish for because of itself; knowledge of this good is of great importance for the conduct of our lives
• [This is the preoccupation of “political science” and moral philosophy. Because youth lacks experience, youth may not may not understand.]
• If we are guided by reason in forming our desires and actions, then knowledge of this subject will be of great benefit.
• What is the highest good, which is the aim of political science? Happiness. [EUDAIMONIA]
• The many, the most vulgar, think that happiness is pleasure (the life of gratification).
• Others, “cultivated people,” think of the good as honor (but this can be taken from us).

Intelligent people think virtue is superior to honor. [Virtue: a disposition to behave in the right manner, which is a mean between two extremes… “the golden mean”]

“Goods” are divided into three types:
External goods: prosperity, good birth, good children, beauty
Goods of the body: pleasure, health
Goods of the soul: virtue, intelligence, wisdom

Deprivation of certain ‘externals’ “mars our blessedness” – what if one
were utterly repulsive, ill-born, solitary, childless, had bad friends, or lost good friends?

Is happiness the result of learning and “habituation” or is it the result of some divine fate?

Happiness needs prosperity and good fortune. One who suffers misfortune and misery is not counted as happy.
But virtue can be cultivated. And this leads to happiness. Through the exercise of reason (an activity of the soul).

Question 2

eudaimonia

Answer 2

the highest good, which is the aim of political science?

Happiness.

Question 3

pleasure, honor, virtue

Answer 3

The many, the most vulgar, think that happiness is pleasure (the life of
gratification).

Others, “cultivated people,” think of the good as honor (but this can be
taken from us).

Intelligent people think virtue is superior to honor. [Virtue: a
disposition to behave in the right manner, which is a mean between
two extremes… “the golden mean”]

“Goods” are divided into three types:

External goods: prosperity, good birth, good children, beauty

Goods of the body: pleasure, health

Goods of the soul: virtue, intelligence, wisdom

Question 4

moral philosophy

Answer 4

Every craft, investigation, action, and decision seems to aim at some
good

There is some end of the things we pursue which we wish for because of
itself; knowledge of this good is of great importance for the conduct of
our lives

[This is the preoccupation of “political science” and moral philosophy.
Because youth lacks experience, youth may not may not understand.]