Aristotle

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics - outline

I. Aristotle: Background and philosophical method

Ethics

II. Ethics I: Aristotle's aim - The goal of moral action: happiness (I, 1-5; 7-9; 12)

A. What does A. mean by "goal", "purpose" or "end"?

B. Does everything act for an end?

C. What are the goals or purposes humans seek? How are they ranked?

D. Is there an ultimate goal/good?

1. if so, is it the same for all?
2. if so, what is it? and what must one do to reach this goal?

E. Happiness

1. Different notions of happiness
2. Happiness: some general comments
3. What it is specifically and what it requires
4. The relation of pleasure to happiness (VII 11-14; X 1-5)
5. How does one find out what "happiness" is?

F. Summary

III. Ethics II: The nature of moral virtue (How moral virtue is produced and how it is shown)

A. The psyche and moral and intellectual virtue
B. Why/on what basis do we call someone "morally virtuous"?

1. What is moral virtue?

a. a disposition

(1) involving deliberation and choice
(2) to observe the mean
(3) relative to us

2. Summary: How does one find out what is the morally virtuous thing to do? What must one do to become morally virtuous?

C. What sort of qualities are associated with being moral?

1. practical wisdom & specific moral virtues (e.g., courage, self-control)

IV. Ethics III: What conditions must one fill to be a moral agent?

A. choice
B. voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary action

1. distinction between "due to" and "in" ignorance
2. intention (V, 8)

C. Are all voluntary actions chosen?
D. deliberation
E. summary

V. Morality and self-love (IX, 4-8)

A. two views of self-love
B. virtue and self-love
C. Why should I be moral?

VI. The moral life, happiness and contemplation (X, 6-9)

A. recapitulation: the nature of happiness
B. what happiness is "in the highest sense"
C. moral virtue and happiness
D. human happiness
E. summary: happiness and other goods
F. Can a person be happy in this life?

VII. SUMMARY:

A. Aristotle and human nature
B. Summary of criticisms