Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle

What are the three types of goods?

goods of the mind (e.g. intelligence, courage, etc.), goods of the body (e.g. strength, health, etc.) and 'external' goods (e.g. wealth, food, etc.).

Why is the intemperate (self-indulgent) person incurable?

Because he has no regrets

What is the end of action?

Experience; action. Not knowledge.

What is the greatest danger for virtue?

Pleasure and its sources; we are already biased toward it

Does virtue pertain to the body or the soul?

Virtue pertains to the soul, because happiness is an activity of the soul and happiness is in accord with complete virtue

3 types of virtues, and their excess and deficiency

1. Truth Telling - Excess - Boasting; Deficiency - Self-Deprecating 2. Sources of Pleasure in Amusement - Excess - Buffoonery; Deficiency - Boorish 3. Feelings - Excess - Excessively prone; Deficiency - No sense of disgrace

Why must desire have something it desires as an end in itself? What is that end?

Because otherwise we will forever chase the next best thing

What is the analogy Aristotle uses to explain how we must learn to "hit the right mark?"

An archer hitting a bullseye

Is it better to be happy by being fortunate or by exercising virtue? Why?

By exercising virtue because the prize and goal of virtue is the best good, something divine and blessed. Happiness by virtue is widely shared.

What is the difference between the continent (self-controlled) and incontinent (un-self-controlled) person in their relation to their own process of reasoning?

Continent person abides by rational calculation; the incontinent abandons it. Incontinent knows his actions are base, but does them because of his feelings (he knows better). The continent person knows his actions are base, but doesn't follow them because of reason.

Describe Aristotle's function agreement. What are the 3/4 parts of the human soul he outlines here?

Everything has a function (ergon) Therefore, humans have a function (ergon) What makes us human, is our rational soul So to function as humans we must be rational Something fulfils its function well (i.e. is good) by having the right virtues (arete) Therefore, a good human is one who is virtuous using their rational soul Therefore, we reach eudaimonia by being virtuous through our rational soul

What are the three most favored ways of life, according to Aristotle? What are the problems with two of them?

Gratification: see good as pleasure. Con: this is the life of a grazing animal; completely slavish Political activity: see good as honor Con: depends on those who honor us, so its superficial. We intuitively believe that the good is something of our own.

From what do virtues of character (pertaining to action, not thought) result?

Habit (ethos)

What is Aristotle's account of happiness?

Happiness is complete without qualification, for it is the only thing we choose because of itself.

What is the correct subjective state for exercising virtue?

He first must know that he is doing he virtuous action, he must decide on those actions for themselves, and he must do it in a firm and unchanging state. knowledge, decision, firmness

Is Aristotle's project solely focused on what is good for the individual? What might be greater than the good of the individual?

The greater good, society over an individual.

What is the clearest indication of a persons character?

His reaction to pleasure and pain.

What is the casual relationship between capacity and activity in exercising virtue? In other words, what is the process by which one acquires a virtue?

If something arises in us from nature, we first have the capacity for it, then we perform the activity (for example, senses. We already have them when we exercise them). In contrast, we acquire virtue after first activating it. We become just by doing just actions. A state of character results from the repetition of similar activities.

What is the difference between the incontinent (un-self-controlled) person and the intemperate (self-indulgent) person?

Incontinent isn't incontinent about everything, same range as intemperate person. Intemperate person acts on decision, he thinks he is right in every case. Incontinent person thinks it is wrong to pursue yet still pursues it.

What is the result of a proper education?

Makes us find pleasure or pain in the correct things

Why is virtue not just a mean, but a mean relative to us?

Much like six pounds (mean of 2 and 10) of food would be too little for a weightlifter but too much for a gymnast. Virtue is a mean.

Is each virtue a perfect mean between its extremes?

No, one extreme can be more similar to the mean. For instance, rashness is more similar to bravery than cowardice, so we oppose cowardice more than rashness

Can one be happy without any external goods?

No. happiness needs external goods because we cannot (or cannot easily) do fine actions if we lack the resources. In many our actions we use friends, wealth, and political power as resources, for example.

What is the fuller description of the parts of soul, according to Aristotle?

One part of the soul is non-rational, while the other has reason each has two parts. The non-rational part has a part that is concerned with nutrition and growth (nutritive); it is plantlike and shared with all living things. The virtue of this part is not explicitly human, and can even be fulfilled in sleep. The non-rational part also has a part that shares in reason. It's the part of the soul that struggles, clashes, and counteracts reason. Impulses in contrary directions for the incontinent (uncontrolled) person. For the continent person, it obeys and is persuaded by reason. This part has appetites and general desires. The rational part has a part that has reason within itself, and also has reason by listening to reason

How exactly does Aristotle aim to be? Why? What is the aim of political science?

Roughly, he aims to be an outline, a guideline of how we should act.

Does Socrates' think the incontinent (un-self-controlled) person has knowledge?

Socrates didn't think he had knowledge because he didn't believe that someone could purposefully ignore that knowledge. Socrates believed that our action conflict with what is best only when we are ignorant of the conflict, as in when we don't know any better.

What does every craft, line of inquiry, and likewise, every action and decision seek?

Some sort of good.

What is the definition of virtue

The mean between two vices (excess and deficiency) decided by reason as a prudent person would define it.

How many ways can one go wrong in trying to be virtuous? How many ways can one succeed?

There are many ways to be wrong, but only one way to be correct. This is why error is so easily and correctness so difficult. We are noble in only one way, but bad in all sorts of ways

What is the virtue of eyes?

Virtue of the eyes (like everything that possesses a specific virtue) makes it and its functioning excellent because it makes us see well.

Is being virtuous itself pleasurable for Aristotle?

Yes. Actions in accord with virtue are pleasant in nature, so that they both please lovers of the fine and are pleasant in their own right