1. Aristotle The Ethics

3. A “final cause” – the good for which a thing is done or the good for an object

4. Shipbuilding – Ship

5. Economics – Wealth

7. Preface: The exactness of knowledge Various disciplines admit different degrees of certainty. We should not expect from ethics and politics the exactitude of physics. But we should not therefore think it is only a matter of convention.

8. Happiness as the greatest human good There is wide agreement that happiness is the greatest human good. But there is little agreement about what happiness (or a well-lived life) consists in.

11. Contingent goods, which can come and go, are still goods. It is better to have them, than not to have them.

13. Human nature Humans have three parts constituting their nature: Vegetative soul Appetite He says these listen to reason Reason Reason plays a role in controlling appetites: If we do this, then we develop character virtues

14. Two kinds of virtue Intellectual virtue This consists in developing intellectual abilities (including the ability to judge how a virtuous person should act—i.e., phronesis, or practical wisdom/prudence. Character virtue These are moral excellencies—habits of character cultivated in those who live excellently

16. They must be acquired by training.

17. Just as we become pianists by playing piano, we become just by acting justly, courageous by acting courageously, etc.

19. Taking pleasure in the right things Humans are malleable. We can take pleasure and find pain in very different things The virtuous person learns to take pleasure in good things and to find pain in bad things. We also want to avoid finding pleasure at the wrong times or in the wrong manner

21. In the right things

22. At the right time

23. Toward the right persons

24. In the right manner

25. To the right degree

28. We want to avoid both a deficiency and an excess of a certain characteristic.

29. The mean, however, is relative

30. The right amount of food for Milo, the wrestler, is different than the right amount of food for me.

32. One can’t commit too little adultery, or just enough – only too much.

33. One can’t commit adultery with the right person, in the right way, at the right time, etc.

35. Mean = courage

36. Deficiency of confidence = cowardliness.

37. Excess of confidence = foolhardiness

38. In taking money (small and large sums)

39. Mean = Liberality, magnificence

40. Excess in spending = prodigality, bad taste

41. Deficiency in giving = Illiberality, meanness

42. With regard to honor and disgrace

43. Mean = high mindedness

44. Excess = vanity

46. Mean= gentleness

47. Excess = wrathfulness

48. Deficiency = wrathlessness

49. Pleasantness in amusement

50. Mean = wittiness

51. Excess = buffoonery

52. Deficiency = boorishness

53. Pleasantness in other affairs

54. Mean = friendliness

55. Excess = obsequious or flattery

57. In living in accord with virtue, we do develop the intellectual virtue of prudence

58. The development of this virtue stands in a feedback relationship with the development of virtues of character.

60. They are also necessary for the exercise of character virtues.

61. Strength is necessary to express bravery.

62. Some money is needed to be liberal.

64. It requires speculation or contemplation, since that is how we most fully express reason.

65. The life of contemplation is the only life pursued completely for itself.

66. It alone is the life of leisure.

67. All toil is done in the hope that we can find peace/leisure – even the toil of the statesman.

68. But the life of contemplation surpasses what is possible for us – it is more of a divine life.

69. We ought, however, to exercise our reason in contemplation as much as possible.

71. Development of Virtue as Human Goal. Development of Virtue as Political Goal. Humans are rational animals. Humans are political animals (zoon politikon). Human Telos: Happiness (Eudaimonia) is the goal of action. It requires a certain material basis, but mainly a rational life in combination with the cultivation of the virtues. The goal of the polity is (among other things) to support this natural goal. That means the polity must create the basis favorable for the individual development of reasons, education, virtue.

72. Ethics and Politics Humans are social animals. One living outside of the state is “either an animal or a God.“ Aim of a good polity to enable citizens a complete human life. The Polis exists naturally. Each person shares the aim of pursuing Eudaimonia. The state is necessary for achieving this goal.

73. A virtuous character is an individual and social product Humans are social beings. Although reason is essential to humans, it is developed better in some societies than in others. A rational society creates rational citizens.

74. Legislation Law is to secure the conditions needed for individuals to maintain a well-lived life. A well-lived life is an exemplary one. The measure of an exemplary life is passed on in the polity. The polity thus also assumes the right to help decide what good life of the citizens consists in. Education is an essential governmental duty. A well-educated (virtuous) citizenry is needed to maintain a just state.