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Aristotle's Ethics

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About the Book

Main Points of Aristotle's Ethical Philosophy
Subjects Covered in The Nicomachean Ethics

Book I: Summaries

Chapter I: The Aim of All Action is the Good
Chapter II: Politics is the Study of the Good
Chapter III: Limitations on the Study of Politics and Ethics
Chapter IV: Varying Views of Happiness and the Good—More Discussion on Method
Chapter V: Varying Views of the Good Life
Chapter VI: The Platonic View of the Good
Chapter VII: Definitions of the Good and Happiness
Chapter VIII: Confirmation of Our View in Popular Ideas on Happiness
Chapter IX: How Happiness is Acquired
Chapter X: Can a Man be Called Happy Within His Lifetime?
Chapter XI: The Relation Between The Dead and The Living in Regard to Happiness
Chapter XII: The Degree of Praise Accorded to Happiness
Chapter XIII: Psychological Basis of Virtue

Commentary on Book I

Book II Summaries

Chapter I: Moral Virtue as a Result of Habits
Chapter II: Methodology of The Study of Ethics—Discussion of the Nature of Moral Qualities
Chapter III: Pleasure and Pain—The Test of Virtue
Chapter IV: Relation of Virtue and Virtuous Action
Chapter V: Definition of Virtue—Genus
Chapter VI: Definition of Virtue Species
Chapter VII: Particular Examples of the Mean and Extreme
Chapter VIII: Relation of Mean and Extremes
Chapter IX: How to Find the Mean

Commentary on Book II

Book III Summaries

Chapter I: Voluntary and Involuntary Action
Chapter II: Definition of Choice
Chapter III: Definition of Deliberation
Chapter IV: Definition of Wish
Chapter V: Man's Moral Responsibility as an Agent
Chapter VI: Courage (i)
Chapter VII: Courage (ii)
Chapter VIII: Courage (iii)
Chapter IX: Courage (iv)
Chapter X: Self-Control (i)
Chapter XI: Self-Control (ii)
Chapter XII: Self-Control (iii)

Commentary on Book III

Book IV: Summaries

Chapter I: Generosity
Chapter II: Magnificence
Chapter III: High-Mindedness
Chapter IV: Ambition and Lack of Ambition
Chapter V: Gentleness
Chapter VI: Friendliness
Chapter VII: Truthfulness
Chapter VIII: Wittiness and Tact
Chapter IX: Shame and Modesty

Commentary on Book IV

Book V: Summaries

Chapter I: Various Definitions of Justice
Chapter II: Particular Justice—Distributive and Remedial
Chapter III: Distributive Justice
Chapter IV: Remedial Justice
Chapter V: Reciprocal Justice and the Function of Money
Chapter VI: Political and Social Justice, Domestic Justice
Chapter VII: Natural and Conventional Justice
Chapter VIII: Degrees of Personal Responsibility
Chapter IX: Additional Discussion of Relation Between Voluntariness and Just Action
Chapter X: Equity and Justice
Chapter XI: Can a Man be Unjust Toward Himself?
Commentary on Book V

Book VI: Summaries

Chapter I: Psychological Basis of Intellectual Virtue
Chapter II: The Elements of Intellectual Virtue
Chapter III: The Five Modes of Intellectual Expression; Definition of Science
Chapter IV: Art or Applied Science
Chapter V: Practical Wisdom
Chapter VI: Intelligence
Chapter VII: Theoretical Wisdom
Chapter VIII: Practical Wisdom and Politics
Chapter IX: Practical Wisdom and Virtue in Deliberation
Chapter X: Practical Wisdom and Understanding
Chapter XI: Practical Wisdom and Good Sense
Chapter XII: The Utility of Theoretical and Practical Wisdom
Chapter XIII: Practical Wisdom and Moral Virtue

Commentary on Book VI

BOOK VII: Summaries

Chapter I: Continence and Incontinence
Chapter II: Commonly Held Beliefs about Continence and Incontinence
Chapter III: Incontinence and Knowledge
Chapter IV: The Sphere of Incontinence
Chapter V: Incontinence and Pathological Forms of Desire
Chapter VI: Incontinence in Anger
Chapter VII: Continence and Tenacity, Incontinence and Softness
Chapter VIII: Incontinence and Self-Indulgence
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI: Current Views on Pleasure
Chapter XII: Is Pleasure a Good Thing? (1)
Chapter XIII: Is Pleasure the Highest Good? (2)
Chapter XIV: Are Most Pleasures Bad? (3)

Commentary on Book VII

Book VIII: Summaries

Chapter I: Reasons for Studying Friendship
Chapter II: The Three Objects of Affection, Definition of Friendship
Chapter III: The Three Kinds of Friendship
Chapter IV: Comparison of Perfect and Imperfect Friendship
Chapter V: Friendship as a Characteristic and an Activity
Chapter VI: Additional Observations on Friendship
Chapter VII: Friendship Between Unequals
Chapter VIII: Giving and Receiving Affection
Chapter IX: Friendship and Justice in the State
Chapter X: Political Systems
Chapter XI: Friendship and Justice Under Different Constitutions
Chapter XII: Friendship Within the Family
Chapter XIII: The Mutual Obligations of Equal Friends
Chapter XIV: The Mutual Obligations of Unequal Friends
Commentary on Book VIII

Book IX: Summaries

Chapter I: Measuring the Mutual Obligations of Friends
Chapter II: Conflicting Obligations
Chapter III: Dissolution of Friendships
Chapter IV: The Basis of Friendship is Self-Love
Chapter V: Friendship and Goodwill
Chapter VI: Friendship and Concord
Chapter VII: Good Deeds
Chapter VIII: Self-Love
Chapter IX: Friendship and Happiness
Chapter X: Should One Limit the Number of his Friends?
Chapter XI: Friends in Times of Adversity and Prosperity
Chapter XII: The Value and Influence of Friendship

Commentary on Book IX

Book X: Summaries

Chapter I: The Importance of Pleasure
Chapter II: The Doctrine that Pleasure is the Good
Chapter III: The Doctrine that Pleasure is Evil
Chapter IV: The True Nature of Pleasure
Chapter V: The Value and Function of Pleasure
Chapter VI: Happiness
Chapter VII: The Contemplative Life is the Highest Happiness
Chapter VIII: Advantages of the Contemplative Life
Chapter IX: Ethics and Politics

Commentary on Book X

Critical Essays

Aristotle's Works
Aristotle's Method And Place In Intellectual History

Study Help

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Book IV: Summaries

Chapter III: High-Mindedness

Magnanimity (also known as high-mindedness or great-souledness) is the mean between vanity and small-mindedness or pettiness. It presupposes possession of all the other virtues, for high-mindedness is the quality of those who think they deserve great things (e.g., honor, public office, respect) and actually do deserve them. High-mindedness, by definition, implies greatness; it is knowing that to which you are entitled and insisting on it, but it also involves maintaining high standards in all things and setting an example for the community. A man who falsely claims honor and other great things is vain. A man who underestimates his own value is small-minded and petty.

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