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Nicomachean Ethics: The Influence Of Aristotle On Virtue

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Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and a student at PLATO’S Academy. After Plato’s death, Aristotle left the academy and traveled the country before returning to Athens in 334 BC where he founded his own school, the Lyceum. (pg xiii) Many of his works were lost over the years. Those that survived, and are completed works, are thought to have come from his lectures at Lyceum. (pg xiv) One of his best, known works, Nicomachean Ethics, examines what Aristotle believes it takes for a human being to be a good person. (pg xvi-xvii) Aristotle states that the human good is an activity of the soul in accord with virtue. This means that something good is the result of what someone rationally aims, through some action. (pg 9) Aristotle suggests that the …show more content…

In order to do this, one must achieve this through some sort of learning. (pg 12) It is through habit and repeated practice that one develops a virtuous character. (pg 19) Aristotle says that human virtue is virtue of the soul and not the body. (pg 16) It is a state of character with choice based on reasoning. (pg 19) The right choices are always those that determine what is good in the long run. In order to have complete happiness, one must have complete virtue. ( pg 15) This requires a person to make choices between lesser goods, which give immediate gratification, and greater goods, which are often painful, but are better in the end. (pg 21) For example, a person might choose to go to a party over studying for a test. While the party would bring them instant gratification, not doing the more painful thing of studying, will harm their grade in the end. Aristotle says that to be truly happy, a person must possess all virtues (pg …show more content…

The person still had a choice whether they were going to lie or not. (pg 30) These types of actions would most likely not be praised for doing something morally wrong, but they would be pardoned because of the circumstance. (pg 31) Aristotle would say that the person didn’t possess the right qualities of virtue in the first place and so they were not able to perform their function well. (pg 23) Since this act was neither divine, or blessed, it cannot lead to happiness. (pg 12) He says that if someone does an immoral act, they will be in error. (pg 25) So, Aristotle insists that a virtuous person will make the right choices in any

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