Overview
This lecture summarizes Books 1 and 2 of Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics," focusing on his approach to ethics, definitions of happiness, and the nature of virtue.
Aristotle's Approach to Ethics
- "Nicomachean Ethics" consists of 10 books originally written on separate scrolls.
- Aristotle aims for a practical guide to ethical living, not just theory.
- Ethics, for Aristotle, allows for broad generalizations due to the uncertainty of its premises.
- The highest good, or ultimate goal, is central to Aristotle’s ethical inquiry.
Definitions and Types of Happiness
- Aristotle identifies happiness as the ultimate goal of human life.
- He outlines three common definitions of happiness: pleasure (enjoyment), honor and virtue (political life), and contemplation.
- Aristotle rejects the life of pleasure as vulgar and inadequate.
- He doubts that honor and virtue alone guarantee happiness.
- Aristotle considers the life of contemplation the best path, explaining it more fully in later books.
First Principles and Assumptions
- Aristotle assumes readers already understand basic moral principles ("first principles").
- He does not aim to prove that happiness is good, presuming this is already accepted.
- His focus remains on practical application rather than foundational justification.
The Nature of Good and Happiness
- Aristotle distinguishes between goods for their own sake and goods as means to an end.
- The ultimate good is that which is always chosen for its own sake and never as a means—happiness.
- All actions aim at happiness, making it the highest good.
Virtue and Living Well
- Living well means living in accordance with excellence (virtue) in all activities.
- Moral excellence is synonymous with living virtuously.
- Wealth, friends, and material possessions are valuable because they enable virtuous actions.
- Possessing resources can help one perform nobler and more virtuous deeds.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Nicomachean Ethics — Aristotle's landmark work on ethics.
- First Principles — Basic moral assumptions or foundational truths not proved within the work.
- Virtue — Excellence in activity, especially moral conduct.
- Happiness (Eudaimonia) — The highest good; living and acting in accordance with virtue.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Aristotle’s Book 2 discussion on practical virtue and the virtuous life.