Friendship, virtue and happiness essay examples 933 words 4 pages in the writings of aristotle, seen in nicomachean ethics, it is evident that aristotle believes that friendship is necessary for a virtuous and therefore happy life. Professor thorsby offers an overview of aristotles nicomachean ethics book ix. In the writings of aristotle, seen in nicomachean ethics, it is evident that aristotle believes that friendship is necessary for a virtuous and therefore happy life. Aristotle 385 bce 322 bce was an ancient greek philosopher and scientist. This core concept video focuses on aristotles nicomachean ethics bk 8 and 9 discussions of the nature of friendship. A good person can exhibit the characteristic traits of friendship towards. Text remarks jt in general the owners of a commodity do not set the same price upon it as those who wish to. Some of aristotles bestknown works on ethics can be found in his book nicomachean ethics, which was published in approximately 340 bce. This study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of nicomachean ethics. This is a handout developed for my students as they study aristotle s nicomachean ethics books 8 9, focused specifically on the nature of friendship. Three kinds of friendship aristotle, nicomachean ethics bk 8. Nicomachean ethics aristotle faculty of social sciences. Nicomachean ethics study guide contains a biography of aristotle, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. In book iii, the translator ostwald renders sophrosyne as selfcontrol, but this is not the way most translators translate this word.
For this reason, friendship is what many natural law theorists call a genuine human good, something in human life which it. Friendship in book 8 and 9 of aristotles nicomachean ethics 1512 words 7 pages. Nichomachean ethics is one of aristotle s widely read and most influential books. Aristotle was born in stagira in macedon now part of northern greece. This is the feeling of mothers towards their children, and of former friends who have quarrelled. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics book 9 philosophy core concepts. For all friendship is for the sake of good or of pleasuregood or pleasure either in the abstract or such as will be enjoyed by him who has the friendly feelingand is based on a certain resemblance. The contemplative life, on the other hand, even if it requires a community to nurture and train the wise before they have.
The nichomachean ethics books 8 and 9 friendship is a big word, but what exactly is the definition of it. Aristotle points out that there is also the question of dissolving friendships when a friend proves to have changed. Nicomachean ethics summary and analysis of book nine. Within book 8 and 9 of aristotles nicomachean ethics, he concludes that an excellent friendship is the most choiceworthy good an individual can externally attain aristotle 149, 1170a, section 7. Aristotle on selflove and love of friends nicomachean ethics. Aristotle, nicomachean ethics book 9 philosophy core.
Questions for reflection nicomachean ethics book 6. It is right that in the typical collections of the lectures of aristotle that nichomachean ethics follows immediately after his first philosophy metaphysics. People say that the supremely happy are selfsufficing, and so have no need of friends. Aristotle and the nicomachean ethics understanding aristotle s dialectical approach. In friendships or exchanges where each person receives a different benefit, it is important that both. All terms end good political science happiness virtue habituation state mean fine prudence continence incontinence friendship. Jan 01, 1999 in books viii and ix of his masterpiece of moral philosophy, the nicomachean ethics, aristotle gives perhaps the most famous of all philosophical discussions of friendship. Understanding aristotles dialectical approach study. Friendship also helps a man to develop his own moral character by his relationship with other good men, for a good man can be truly good only in the company of other good men. Unless you have another assignment within this text, heres what to do. The end of aristotle s nicomachean ethics declared that the inquiry into ethics necessarily follows into politics, and the two works are frequently considered to be parts of a larger treatise, or perhaps connected lectures, dealing with the philosophy of human affairs.
In cases of dispute, the recipient of a service should determine its value. Our next business after this will be to discuss friendship. Nicomachean ethics aristotle mcmaster faculty of social. For no one would choose to live without friends, but possessing all other good things. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle. The best method is to fix a price in advance, though some forms of benevolence cannot properly be repaid. Three central ideas or arguments constitute the scope of the book. Arguments begin when someone does not get what they want or expect in a friendship. It will serve newcomers as an informative, accessible introduction to the nicomachean ethics and to many issues in aristotles philosophy, but also has much to offer advanced scholars. Nicomachean ethics essays are academic essays for citation. The work, which plays a preeminent role in defining aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the lyceum. Reading questions for aristotle s nicomachean ethics. In books viii and ix of his masterpiece of moral philosophy, the nicomachean ethics, aristotle gives perhaps the most famous of all philosophical discussions of friendship. A summary of book ix in aristotles nicomachean ethics.
Aristotle addresses these questions on friendship in books 8 and 9 of his nicomachean ethics. Walker the nicomachean ethics, as is well known, distinguishes three types of friendship the friendship of goodness, the friendship of pleasure, and the friendship of utility. Friendship is a permanent disposition expressed or realized in friendly activities. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle the internet classics archive.
Aristotle is generally regarded as one of the most influential. Youre about to go for a severalthousandyearold rideand aristotle aint going to make it easy for you. A summary of book viii in aristotle s nicomachean ethics. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Aristotle divides friendship into three categories. Aristotle s nichomachean ethics begins with a simple premise, which is that everyone wants to be happy. The nicomachean ethics is an actionoriented work meant to give the reader practical advice for living a good life, similar to a modern selfhelp book. Questions for reflection nicomachean ethics book 9 discussion forum nicomachean ethics book 9. Within book 8 and 9 of aristotle s nicomachean ethics, he concludes that an excellent friendship is the most choiceworthy good an individual can externally attain aristotle 149, 1170a, section 7. This section continues aristotles discussion of friendship. According to aristotle, there are three types of friendships.
In this essay i will discuss what aristotle had to say about the subject of friendship in this work, and why it was so critical to his concept of the good life. In this section aristotle discusses the role of friendship. Any friendship that cant achieve this sort of proportionalitysuch as a friendship in which one person loves for pleasure and the other. One of the original works of virtue ethics, this book on living a good life by aristotle has some great advice on being a good, thriving person, through moderating your excesses and deficiencies and striving to improve yourself. Bryn mawr commentaries provide clear, concise, accurate, and consistent support for students making the transition from introductory and intermediate texts to the direct experience of ancient greek and latin literature. A summary of book x in aristotle s nicomachean ethics. Overview nicomachean ethics book 9 lesson page disputes and breakups in friendships. Though written more than 2,000 years ago, it offers the modern reader many valuable insights into human needs and conduct. Aristotles nicomachean ethics essay example 1128 words. Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in virtue. The nicomachean ethics quotes happiness for it seems possible for someone to possess virtue even while asleep or while being inactive throughout life and, in addition to these, while suffering badly and undergoing the greatest misfortunes. Michael pakaluk presents the first systematic study in english of these books, showing how important aristotle s treatment of friendship is to his ethics as a whole. Aristotle s nicomachean ethics is perhaps one of the most influential treatise on moral philosophy. The nicomachean ethics, frequently referred to as the ethics or aristotles ethics, is aristotles bestknown work on ethics and is one of the most influential works in western moral theory.
Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. In this first level of friendship, people expect to derive some benefit from each other. Should a friendship end when one of the friends changes in character or thought. A summary of book ix in aristotle s nicomachean ethics. I could only read the book piecemeal and in combination with some great online lectures and podcasts summarising aristotle s thinking in a clear way. Nicomachean ethics focuses on the importance of habitually behaving virtuously and developing a virtuous character. In this excerpt from his book, aristotle defines three types of friendship. Aristotle on friendship in nicomachean ethics 860 words.
Can we think of anything else that is found in the soul but does not fit into one of these categories. Some of aristotle s bestknown works on ethics can be found in his book nicomachean ethics, which was published in approximately 340 bce. Objections to aristotle argument, nicomachean ethics, book ii, ch. Aristotle reverences study, but he thinks the student needs to use what they have learned and apply it. Friendship nicomachean ethics, books 8 and 9 chapter 9. Need help with book 5 in aristotle s nicomachean ethics.
Now here a common measure has been provided in the form of money, and therefore everything is. My view is that, in aristotles thought, when it comes to good communities, political friendship is a kind of advantagefriendship sui generis, where the search for. Find a summary of this and each chapter of nicomachean ethics. In friendships or exchanges where each person receives a different benefit, it is important that both parties feel they are being justly treated. So, friendship can not flourish in the republic, and conversely, only the republic can give rise to true friendship.
I believe that this is accurate due to the similar conditions necessary for a complete friendship and a happy life. Jt between friends there is no need for justice, but people who are just still need the quality of friendship. Others say that a friend is c one who frequents anothers. It states that there are only three kinds of things found in the soul. Aristotle also addresses the difficulty of giving people thingsgifts, trust, respectas they deserve, and of what happens when your friend. Michael pakaluk offers a thorough and lucid examination of the entire work, uncovering aristotle s motivations and basic views while paying careful attention to his arguments. Get free homework help on aristotles nicomachean ethics. Friendship is essential for happiness and the good life because friends give a good man the opportunity to do generous and virtuous deeds. According to aristotle, these are shallow and easily dissolved because individuals are seeking to essentially barter and trade a product, service, connection, or other useful thing. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Aristotle s nicomachean ethics 2 books 610 virtues, selfcontrol, friendship, and pleasure. Aristotle believes that your friends reveal your character. Commonlit three types of friendship excerpt from the.
Theres more drama to be had in friendships, especially when the people involved expect different things from each otherand neither is satisfied. Aristotle on selflove and love of friends nicomachean. According to aristotle, these are shallow and easily dissolved because individuals are seeking to essentially barter and trade a. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. Chapter summary for aristotle s nicomachean ethics, book 9 summary. Now those who wish well to their friends for their sake are most truly friends. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle, part of the internet classics archive. Aristotle emphasized the importance of context to ethical behavior, and the ability of the virtuous person to recognize the best course of action. Aristotle s politics is a work of political philosophy.
If these be the objects of the friendship it is dissolved when they do not get the things that formed the motives of. Book i 1 every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is. The best way to become happy takes up much of the rest of the work, as aristotle examines the nature of happiness what sort of actions lead to it. The nicomachean ethics, aristotle s most important study of personal morality and the ends of human life, has for many centuries been a widelyread and influential book. May 25, 2012 in this lecturediscussion video from my spring 2012 ethics classes at marist college, we finish our study of aristotle s virtue ethics by examining his views on friendship. Feb 26, 2014 an excellent new translation and commentary. Text remarks dr with friends men are more able both to think and act. In this book aristotle discusses the fundamental importance of friendship to human beings as social beings. Reading questions for aristotles nicomachean ethics. In aristotle s nicomachean ethics he explains his ideas of how there are three different types of. Friendship in aristotles nicomachean ethics supersaturated. Aristotle on friendship in books viii and ix of the nicomachean ethics aristotle discusses the nature of friendship.
The translation of this passage is that of rackham in the loeb classical library edition of the nicomachean ethics. Conflicts often arise in friendship because on of the parties does not get what he desires out of the friendship, usually when one person thinks that what he is receiving is. They and the standard ancient greek dictionary give it as moderation or temperance. Friendship in book 8 and 9 of aristotles nicomachean ethics. This and the other two pieces, egoism in aristotle s nicomachean ethics, and eudaimonia in aristotle s nicomachean ethics, work together to present the case that altruism is utterly foreign to aristotle s ethics and that egoism is his implicit doctrine, despite typical mainstream commentators interpretations.
This course is taught at the university of north carolina greensboro. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Aristotle says that just as virtuous behavior improves an individual, friends have the potential to generate improvements upon each others lives. Aristotle s nicomachean ethics revision, book eight. Though this is a bleak definition of friendship, aristotle is setting us up to understand what a strong friendship or complete friendship looks like. How are these three types of friendship supposed to be related to one another. In friendships with dissimilar aims, aristotle says, there has to be an equalizer of some sort. Aristotle gives the example of a musician who expected his. What is indubitable, however, is that aristotle is a very different writer than plato. In the first type, friendship based on utility, people associate for their mutual usefulness. Oct 31, 2017 this is a video lecture from phi 251, history of ancient philosophy. In friendship according to usefulness or pleasure, it. It is a central text in greek ethics, a primary source of medieval ethics, and a.
Cliffsnotes on aristotles ethics explores the ancient greek philosopher and scientists writings on ethics, particularly his analyses of character, pleasure, courage, friendship, and intelligence as. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book ix summary and analysis. Another debated question is whether friends are necessary or not for happiness. Affection can be felt even for inanimate objects, but the reciprocal affection which is the basis of friendship involves deliberate choice, and such choice involves the action of a disposition. The nicomachean ethics of aristotle is a great book, evryone one should read it because aristotle manages to think of individual happiness in connection with the happiness of the city. The work had a very significant impact on the western political thought in general and the ethical studies in particular. He begins by discussing friends with different aims, where proportion equalizes and preserves the. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of aristotle s ethics. Happiness is the end of all human actions and it determines the ethical behaviour. Aristotle considers the nature of friendship and its role in making life good. Whether or not aristotle is difficult to read, or more difficult or easier to read than plato, is a matter of personal preference and judgment. However, in chapter 3 of book 8, aristotle asserts the finest friendships are enduring insofar the.
This is an engaging and accessible introduction to the nicomachean ethics, aristotle s great masterpiece of moral philosophy. In summary, aristotle s the nicomachean ethics is one of the most influential books in western development, but a very hard read. This video focuses on aristotles work, the nicomachean ethics, and examines his discussion in book 9 of the issue of selflove philautia and. Aristotle addresses the topic of friendship in book 8 and 9 of his nicomachean ethics. In all friendships between dissimilars it is, as we have said, proportion that equalizes the parties and preserves the friendship. The nicomachean ethics of friendship based on utility.
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