Nicomachean Ethics

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

I've read another book of Aristotle's, Politika, but did not know Nicomachean Ethics was the predecessor of Politika. I was much more patient with Nicomachean Ethics than I was with Politika. Aristotle's preferred method of developing his theories always makes use of his contemporaries and the mythological events that modern readers cannot really connect with.

Anyways, it is amazing that a political theorist's book on Ethics can still be read by readers nowadays to teach them great lessons on how to live, and ultimately, be happy.

Yes, the book's grand theme is "how to be happy," a simple question to which hardly anybody can ever dare to produce an answer. Aristotle breezes through by being ever so precise, and exhaustive.

Aristotle's first assumption is this: Humans are social beings who spend their lives to achieve greatness.

So he starts from this simple assumption. Humans are the ultimate beings encompassing the qualities of both plants and animals; we can grow like plants, and act and move like animals. But the quality that makes humans surpass these other beings is our spiritual power - Our willingness to live analytically, with our rationalism. So the greatness we strive to achieve must be something spiritual.

Then, what is greatness? Rather, how do we achieve it?

Aristotle says it's being the mean between the extremes. Extremes are by nature easily corrupted, and thereby morally weak. Keeping the Golden Mean between, for example, Anger and listlessness, or decadence and miserliness. Keeping this fine line of Golden Mean can help us not to be swayed by animalistic wants and transient desires. It's not only being in accordance with greatest human virtues, but is also being the closest to gods.

But, why is keeping the Golden Mean so important and imperative?

It is because keeping this middle ground can provide humans with the best opportunities to live with highest moral virtues. One acts in such a way only because it is appropriate and the best possible action.

Aristotle also talks about the best life we can possibly lead. That is life of intellectual pleasure. This goes back to the human's greatness that plants and animals do not posses.