Nichomachean Ethics
(Aristotle)
This book was written by the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322BC) and named after his son, who edited it. Aristotle was a disciple of Plato for 20 years but differed from him in the application of logic. He felt that all philosophy and theorising should proceed from the observation of the particular, whereas Plato was more of an idealist. Aristotle also differed from the other philosophers of the period who tried to unite all the virtues in one. He preferred to treat each virtue separately and regard them as a mean between two extremes. For example he saw bravery as a middle path between cowardice and rashness. In The Nichomachean Ethics Aristotle describes the virtuous life. He sees the main aim in life is to achieve happiness by exercising the virtues and achieving ends that will lead to the practical good.
His definition of happiness is a fairly austere. He sees the intellectual life as being the ideal. The ability to reason is the highest faculty in man and therefore leads to the kind of happiness that thinking men should strive for.
Resumos Relacionados
- De Anima [on The Soul]
- De Anima [on The Soul]
- Ethics For The New Millennium; ?the Aim Of Man?
- Nicomachean Ethics
- Poetics
|
|
