Nicomachean Ethics Book 1 Summary

He argues that the human function is rational activity.

Nicomachean ethics book 1 summary. Aristotle returns to the topic of pleasure for a more detailed analysis. Definition of the subject and nature of the problem a. Aristotle begins by seeking to identify the best way of life.

To do this it s necessary to identify the best good or end the thing people pursue for its own sake not for the sake of anything else. The moral of aristotle is an ethics based on actions. First it s necessary to consider the nature of the soul which has both a rational part and a nonrational part.

Pleasure and pain last all our lives and enjoying and hating the right things is key to developing virtue of character. Socrates believed virtue was sufficient for happiness. Pleasure is a crucial topic in his examination of the virtuous life.

Our good is therefore rational activity performed well which. He digresses to explain that nicomachean ethics will be a work of political science the science which seeks. Every activity aims at some good.

This raises the paradoxical suggestion that a person can be considered happy only after death that is once we can examine the person s life as a whole. Nicomachean ethics summary and analysis of book one. The man he said must act according to reason.

Book 1 chapters 12 13. How should we act. To summarize aristotle raises the question of virtue.