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Ethics

Ethics

Aristotle

CliffsNotes on Aristotle's Ethics explores the ancient Greek philosopher and scientist's writings on ethics, particularly his analyses of character, pleasure, courage, friendship, and intelligence as ingredients of a meaningful life. Collectively called Nicomachean Ethics, the Athenian's treatise covers the attainment of true happiness through virtuous action. Plato's pupil and Alexander the Great's tutor, Aristotle set forth concepts that continue to guide understanding of human nature.

Aristotle Biography

About Aristotle's Ethics

Introduction

Main Points of Aristotle's Ethical Philosophy

Subjects Covered in The Nicomachean Ethics

Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Chapter

Book I: Chapter I: The Aim of All Action is the Good

Book I: Chapter II: Politics is the Study of the Good

Book I: Chapter III: Limitations on the Study of Politics and Ethics

Book I: Chapter IV: Varying Views of Happiness and the Good — More Discussion on Method

Book I: Chapter V: Varying Views of the Good Life

Book I: Chapter VI: The Platonic View of the Good

Book I: Chapter VII: Definitions of the Good and Happiness

Book I: Chapter VIII: Confirmation of Our View in Popular Ideas on Happiness

Book I: Chapter IX: How Happiness is Acquired

Book I: Chapter X: Can a Man be Called Happy Within His Lifetime?

Book I: Chapter XI: The Relation Between The Dead and The Living in Regard to Happiness

Book I: Chapter XII: The Degree of Praise Accorded to Happiness

Book I: Chapter XIII: Psychological Basis of Virtue

Book I: Analysis for Book I

Book II: Chapter I: Moral Virtue as a Result of Habits

Book II: Chapter II: Methodology of The Study of Ethics — Discussion of the Nature of Moral Qualities

Book II: Chapter III: Pleasure and Pain — The Test of Virtue

Book II: Chapter IV: Relation of Virtue and Virtuous Action

Book II: Chapter V: Definition of Virtue — Genus

Book II: Chapter VI: Definition of Virtue Species

Book II: Chapter VII: Particular Examples of the Mean and Extreme

Book II: Chapter VIII: Relation of Mean and Extremes

Book II: Chapter IX: How to Find the Mean

Book II: Analysis for Book II

Book III: Chapter I: Voluntary and Involuntary Action

Book III: Chapter II: Definition of Choice

Book III: Chapter III: Definition of Deliberation

Book III: Chapter IV: Definition of Wish

Book III: Chapter V: Man's Moral Responsibility as an Agent

Book III: Chapter VI: Courage (i)

Book III: Chapter VII: Courage (ii)

Book III: Chapter VIII: Courage (iii)

Book III: Chapter IX: Courage (iv)

Book III: Chapter X: Self-Control (i)

Book III: Chapter XI: Self-Control (ii)

Book III: Chapter XII: Self-Control (iii)

Book III: Analysis for Book III

Book IV: Chapter I: Generosity

Book IV: Chapter II: Magnificence

Book IV: Chapter III: High-Mindedness

Book IV: Chapter IV: Ambition and Lack of Ambition

Book IV: Chapter V: Gentleness

Book IV: Chapter VI: Friendliness

Book IV: Chapter VII: Truthfulness

Book IV: Chapter VIII: Wittiness and Tact

Book IV: Chapter IX: Shame and Modesty

Book IV: Analysis for Book IV

Book V: Chapter I: Various Definitions of Justice

Book V: Chapter II: Particular Justice — Distributive and Remedial

Book V: Chapter III: Distributive Justice

Book V: Chapter IV: Remedial Justice

Book V: Chapter V: Reciprocal Justice and the Function of Money

Book V: Chapter VI: Political and Social Justice, Domestic Justice

Book V: Chapter VII: Natural and Conventional Justice

Book V: Chapter VIII: Degrees of Personal Responsibility

Book V: Chapter IX: Additional Discussion of Relation Between Voluntariness and Just Action

Book V: Chapter X: Equity and Justice

Book V: Chapter XI: Can a Man be Unjust Toward Himself?

Book V: Analysis for Book V

Book VI: Chapter I: Psychological Basis of Intellectual Virtue

Book VI: Chapter II: The Elements of Intellectual Virtue

Book VI: Chapter III: The Five Modes of Intellectual Expression; Definition of Science

Book VI: Chapter IV: Art or Applied Science

Book VI: Chapter V: Practical Wisdom

Book VI: Chapter VI: Intelligence

Book VI: Chapter VII: Theoretical Wisdom

Book VI: Chapter VIII: Practical Wisdom and Politics

Book VI: Chapter IX: Practical Wisdom and Virtue in Deliberation

Book VI: Chapter X: Practical Wisdom and Understanding

Book VI: Chapter XI: Practical Wisdom and Good Sense

Book VI: Chapter XII: The Utility of Theoretical and Practical Wisdom

Book VI: Chapter XIII: Practical Wisdom and Moral Virtue

Book VI: Analysis for Book VI

Book VII: Chapter I: Continence and Incontinence

Book VII: Chapter II: Commonly Held Beliefs about Continence and Incontinence

Book VII: Chapter III: Incontinence and Knowledge

Book VII: Chapter IV: The Sphere of Incontinence

Book VII: Chapter V: Incontinence and Pathological Forms of Desire

Book VII: Chapter VI: Incontinence in Anger

Book VII: Chapter VII: Continence and Tenacity, Incontinence and Softness

Book VII: Chapter VIII: Incontinence and Self-Indulgence

Book VII: Chapter IX

Book VII: Chapter X

Book VII: Chapter XI: Current Views on Pleasure

Book VII: Chapter XII: Is Pleasure a Good Thing? (1)

Book VII: Chapter XIII: Is Pleasure the Highest Good? (2)

Book VII: Chapter XIV: Are Most Pleasures Bad? (3)

Book VII: Analysis for Book VII

Book VIII: Chapter I: Reasons for Studying Friendship

Book VIII: Chapter II: The Three Objects of Affection, Definition of Friendship

Book VIII: Chapter III: The Three Kinds of Friendship

Book VIII: Chapter IV: Comparison of Perfect and Imperfect Friendship

Book VIII: Chapter V: Friendship as a Characteristic and an Activity

Book VIII: Chapter VI: Additional Observations on Friendship

Book VIII: Chapter VII: Friendship Between Unequals

Book VIII: Chapter VIII: Giving and Receiving Affection

Book VIII: Chapter IX: Friendship and Justice in the State

Book VIII: Chapter X: Political Systems

Book VIII: Chapter XI: Friendship and Justice Under Different Constitutions

Book VIII: Chapter XII: Friendship Within the Family

Book VIII: Chapter XIII: The Mutual Obligations of Equal Friends

Book VIII: Chapter XIV: The Mutual Obligations of Unequal Friends

Book VIII: Analysis for Book VIII

Book IX: Chapter I: Measuring the Mutual Obligations of Friends

Book IX: Chapter II: Conflicting Obligations

Book IX: Chapter III: Dissolution of Friendships

Book IX: Chapter IV: The Basis of Friendship is Self-Love

Book IX: Chapter V: Friendship and Goodwill

Book IX: Chapter VI: Friendship and Concord

Book IX: Chapter VII: Good Deeds

Book IX: Chapter VIII: Self-Love

Book IX: Chapter IX: Friendship and Happiness

Book IX: Chapter X: Should One Limit the Number of his Friends?

Book IX: Chapter XI: Friends in Times of Adversity and Prosperity

Book IX: Chapter XII: The Value and Influence of Friendship

Book IX: Analysis for Book IX

Book X: Chapter I: The Importance of Pleasure

Book X: Chapter II: The Doctrine that Pleasure is the Good

Book X: Chapter III: The Doctrine that Pleasure is Evil

Book X: Chapter IV: The True Nature of Pleasure

Book X: Chapter V: The Value and Function of Pleasure

Book X: Chapter VI: Happiness

Book X: Chapter VII: The Contemplative Life is the Highest Happiness

Book X: Chapter VIII: Advantages of the Contemplative Life

Book X: Chapter IX: Ethics and Politics

Book X: Analysis for Book X

Critical Essays

Aristotle's Works

Aristotle's Method and Place in Intellectual History

Study and Homework Help

Quiz

Essay Topics and Review Questions

Cite this Literature Note

Take the Quiz Which of the following was one of Plato's nicknames for Aristotle?
  1. The thinker
  2. Master of those that know
  3. The philosopher
  4. The mind
Quiz
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