Friendship is a worthy outlet for the talents and energies of greatsouled people. In friendships with dissimilar aims, aristotle says, there has to be an equalizer of some sort. Friendship in book 8 and 9 of aristotles nicomachean ethics. Sep 23, 2016 this video focuses on aristotle s work, the nicomachean ethics, and examines his discussion in book 9 of the issue of selflove philautia and how it fits into his advocacy of friendship philia. Friendship essay on aristotles books 89 705 words cram. Chapter summary for aristotles nicomachean ethics, book 8 summary. Within book 8 and 9 of aristotles nicomachean ethics, he concludes that an excellent friendship is the most choiceworthy good an individual can externally attain aristotle 149, 1170a, section 7. Nicomachean ethics book ix classical wisdom weekly part 9. Dec 10, 2018 nicomachean ethics pdf summary the nicomachean ethics is aristotles bestknown work on ethics and, quite possibly, the most influential book on the subject ever written. Jan 01, 1999 in books viii and ix of his masterpiece of moral philosophy, the nicomachean ethics, aristotle gives perhaps the most famous of all philosophical discussions of friendship. Aristotle on friendship book 8 of the nicomachean ethics february 7, 2011 february 20, 2011 neel burton after what we have said, a discussion of friendship would naturally follow, since it is a virtue or implies virtue, and is besides most necessary with a view to living.
The nichomachean ethics is aristotle s comprehensive deductivelogical treatise concerning the ends for which we should live. Ideas central to ethicsthat happiness is the end of human endeavor, that moral virtue is formed through action and habituation, and that good action requires prudencefound their most powerful proponent in the person medieval scholars simply called the philosopher. Parents and children also have a natural friendship with one another, not only among humans, but among animal species as well. This is the book where he indulges in the discussion of happiness, virtue, ethics, politics, and really anything else describing the way in which human beings functioned together in the society of. Independent study on aristotles nicomachean ethics, indiana university, 1989 director. It is said that those who are supremely happy and selfsufficient have no need of friends. In all dissimilar 1 friendships, it is proportion, as has been said, that establishes equality and preserves the friendship. Nicomachean ethics book 9 lesson page disputes and breakups in. In books viii and ix of his masterpiece of moral philosophy, the nicomachean ethics, aristotle gives perhaps the most famous of all philosophical discussions of friendship. The nicomachean ethics aristotle 384 bce 322 bce, translated by thomas taylor 1758 1835 the work consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes said to be from his lectures at the lyceum which were either edited by.
The nicomachean ethics of friendship based on utility. Aristotle on friendship book 8 of the nicomachean ethics. A summary of book viii in aristotle s nicomachean ethics. Summary section 1 this section continues aristotles discussion of friendship. Ross book ix 1 in all friendships between dissimilars it is, as we have said, proportion that equalizes the parties and preserves the friendship. Therefore, when one benefits someone else not because of. This subject is what aristotle calls in one place the philosophy of human affairs. Questions for reflection nicomachean ethics book 6 study with. This video focuses on aristotles work, the nicomachean ethics, and examines his discussion in book 9 of the issue of selflove philautia and how it fits into his advocacy of friendship philia. Aristotle makes the argument that friends can be regarded as second selves. According to aristotle, these are shallow and easily dissolved because individuals are seeking to essentially barter and trade a product, service, connection, or other useful thing. Aristotle also addresses the difficulty of giving people thingsgifts, trust, respectas they deserve, and of what happens when.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. There are three kinds of friendship, as we said at the outset of our inquiry, and in respect of each some are friends on an equality and others by virtue of a superiority for not only can equally good men become friends but a better man can make friends with a worse, and similarly in friendships of pleasure or utility the friends may be equal. For without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods. Nicomachean ethics aristotle mcmaster faculty of social. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The nicomachean ethics is one of the greatest works of aristotle, the famous philosopher who was really much more of a scientist than a philosopher. Aristotle on selflove and love of friends nicomachean. Aristotles observations of society in nicomachean ethics are based on his thoughts about. Nicomachean ethics 5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general.
Book vii of the nicomachean ethics is identical to book vi of the eudemian ethics. The definitions of friendship in aristotles nicomachean ethics within book 8 nof aristotles nicomachean ethics, he proposes friendship is the best external good an individual can possess. In this first level of friendship, people expect to derive some benefit from each other. In the practical syllogism, as aristotle says nicomachean ethics, vii, 3, p. Class may be based on birth and wealth, but happiness which is based on virtue is not, except incidentally. Friendship in aristotles nicomachean ethics supersaturated. Independent study on aristotle s nicomachean ethics, indiana university, 1989 director. Aristotles ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Nicomachean ethics5 good judge of that subject, and the man who has received an allround education is a good judge in general. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by aristotle. However, aristotle in chapter 3 of book 8, he asserts the finest friendships are forged through the similarities of enduring virtues. A summary of book ix in aristotle s nicomachean ethics.
Nicomachean ethics by aristotle book ix summary and analysis. Aristotle also addresses the difficulty of giving people thingsgifts, trust, respectas they deserve, and of what happens when your friend changes for the worse. Plato had discussed similar themes in several dialogues, including the republic and the philebus and gorgias. However, the nicomachean ethics can be read and understood on its own. He begins by discussing friends with different aims, where proportion equalizes and preserves the friendship like proportionate worth in goods and services keeps political friendships or economies of exchange together. It is also disputed whether the happy man will need friends or not. Aristotles nicomachean ethics 2 books 610 virtues, selfcontrol, friendship, and pleasure. Michael pakaluk presents the first systematic study in english of these books, showing how important aristotles treatment of friendship is to his ethics as a whole. Chapter summary for aristotle s nicomachean ethics, book 9 summary. This video focuses on aristotles work, the nicomachean ethics, and examines his discussion in book 9 bearing on the question can a person be friends with him or herself.
Aristotle recognizes a social system that ranges from the noble in terms of virtue and wealth to the corrupt lacking moral virtue, base. Any friendship that cant achieve this sort of proportionalitysuch as a friendship in which one person loves for pleasure and the other. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle, part of the internet classics archive. Nicomachean ethics pdf summary aristotle 12min blog. Its also a necessity for liferich and poor, young and old, all people need friends. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle meet your next favorite book.
It suffices to recall that the nicomachean ethics, the most representative of the ethical works of aristotle, contains two complete books, books viii and ix, dedicated to friendship. Friends are considered to be the greatest of external goods, and if a good man is supposed to be of service to. The ethics of aristotle is one half of a single treatise of which his politics is the other half. It consists of ten books all of them originally written as separate scrolls and is based on aristotles notes from his lectures at the lyceum, the ancient. Nicomachean ethics book ix by aristotle written 350 b. A summary of book viii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. The ten books which comprise it are based on notes from his lectures at the lyceum and were either edited by or dedicated to aristotle s son, nicomachus.
Aristotle addresses the topic of friendship in book 8 and 9 of his nicomachean ethics. Michael morgan, ancient philosophy this piece is the second of a set of three papers written for an independent study undertaken during the authors second year in graduate school. Aristotle discusses pleasure in two separate parts of the nicomachean ethics book 7 chapters 1114 and book 10 chapters 15. With friends men are more able both to think and act. Ethics is thus for him a branch of politics, and his treatise the politics completes and makes whole the philosophy of the nicomachean ethics. Parents and children also have a natural friendship with one another, not. Aristotles politics is a work of political philosophy. The nicomachean ethics oxford worlds classics kindle. Friends are at odds when they are not friends in the way they think they are for instance, if someone pretends to like us for our character but it turns out theyre using us for personal advantage. True friends are content to wish for each other the. Aristotle s observations of society in nicomachean ethics are based on his thoughts about. However, in chapter 3 of book 8, aristotle asserts the finest friendships are enduring insofar the.
The nicomachean ethics is one of aristotles most widely read and influential works. Find a summary of this and each chapter of nicomachean ethics. Nicomachean ethics sometimes spelled nichomachean, is a work by aristotle on virtue and character and plays a prominent role in defining aristotelian ethics. Aristotle s nicomachean ethics 2 books 610 virtues, selfcontrol, friendship, and pleasure. Summary section 1 this section continues aristotle s discussion of friendship. Within, we find encounter stimulating and relevant discussions about everything from pleasure to happiness. Nicomachean ethics study guide contains a biography of aristotle, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
A summary of book ix in aristotles nicomachean ethics. Aristotles nicomachean ethics revision, book eight. Theres more drama to be had in friendships, especially when the people involved expect different things from each otherand neither is satisfied. Michael pakaluk presents the first systematic study in english of these books, showing how important aristotle s treatment of friendship is to his ethics as a whole. The end of aristotles nicomachean ethics declared that the inquiry into ethics necessarily follows into politics, and the two works are frequently considered to be parts of a larger treatise, or perhaps connected lectures, dealing with the philosophy of human affairs.
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