Mastering Decision-Making with Aristotle's Virtue Ethics (and The Golden Mean)
IS THIS BOOK FOR YOU?
1. Gist of the Nicomacheann Ethics
2. Quotes from Nicomacheann Ethics
3. Key Concepts discussed in Nicomacheann Ethics
4. Pro's and Con's of Nicomacheann Ethics
5. Audio Summary Times
6. How to Grow Your Professional Network By One
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1.??Gist of 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle
Nicomachean Ethics is a philosophical work written by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, in which he explores the nature of human happiness and how it can be attained through the cultivation of moral virtues. The book is named after Aristotle's son, Nicomachus, and is considered one of the most important works of Western philosophy. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle lays out his ethical theory, which emphasizes the importance of developing habits of character that enable us to lead a good life, both individually and as members of society.
2. Quotes from 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle
Some quotes that resonated with me:
?? "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence."
??"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
??"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit."
??"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
3.??Key Concepts Covered in 'Nicomachean Ethics' by Aristotle
"Nicomachean Ethics" covers various key concepts related to ethics and living a fulfilling life. Some of the major ideas discussed in the book include:
??? Eudaimonia: Aristotle's ultimate goal for human life, often translated as happiness, well-being, or flourishing.
???Virtue Ethics: Aristotle's ethical framework that emphasizes the development of virtues, or good character traits, as the key to living a morally good life.
???Moral Virtues: Character traits that involve finding the right balance in one's actions and behavior, such as courage, temperance, and justice.
???Intellectual Virtues: Character traits related to wisdom, understanding, and the development of the mind, such as practical wisdom (phronesis) and theoretical wisdom (sophia).
???Voluntary and Involuntary Actions: Aristotle discusses the importance of understanding the difference between voluntary and involuntary actions when evaluating moral responsibility and the development of virtues.
???Friendship: Aristotle identifies different types of friendships and emphasizes the importance of strong relationships and social connections in achieving eudaimonia.
???The Role of Pleasure: Aristotle explores the role of pleasure in human life, its relationship to happiness, and how it should be incorporated into the pursuit of eudaimonia.
???The Function Argument: Aristotle argues that the function of a human being is to live a life of rational activity in accordance with virtue, which leads to eudaimonia.
???Moral Education: Aristotle emphasizes the importance of habituation and learning from experience in the development of virtues and the achievement of eudaimonia.
???Golden Mean:
This is the concept I stumbled across that lead me to Nicomachean Ethics. According to Aristotle, the golden mean is the virtuous way of acting that lies between two extremes of excess and deficiency. For example, courage is a virtue that lies between the extremes of cowardice (deficiency) and recklessness (excess), while honesty is a virtue that lies between the extremes of dishonesty (deficiency) and bluntness (excess).
Aristotle believed that the golden mean was the key to achieving happiness and living a good life. By finding the right balance between extremes, one could avoid the pitfalls of both excess and deficiency and achieve a state of harmony and equilibrium.
BONUS: Learn more about the golden mean
In addition to Nicomachean Ethics, the following seven (7) books will provide you with a solid understanding of Aristotle's Golden Mean concept and its broader implications in ethics, philosophy, and various aspects of human life. If it helps, I've added one reason you may like ??, and not like ??, each book.
"Aristotle's Ethics: Critical Essays" edited by Nancy Sherman
??A collection of essays that provide in-depth analysis and discussion of Aristotle's ethics, including the Golden Mean.
??One reason you may like "Aristotle's Ethics: Critical Essays" is that it highlights the continuing relevance of Aristotle's ethical theory to contemporary moral philosophy. This makes it a useful resource for those interested in understanding how Aristotelian ethics can inform and contribute to contemporary debates in moral philosophy.
??On the other hand, you may not like this book as it can be dense and challenging to read.
"The Virtues: Contemporary Essays on Moral Character" edited by Robert B. Kruschwitz and Robert C. Roberts
?? The book explores the concept of moral character and the virtues necessary for a good life, covering topics such as integrity, moral education, and the relationship between moral character and religious faith.
??One reason you may like "The Virtues: Contemporary Essays on Moral Character" is the essays in the book are written by different philosophers and draw on various philosophical traditions, providing a diverse range of perspectives on moral character and the virtues. This allows you to engage with the material from different angles and gain a more nuanced understanding of the topic.
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??On the other hand, you may not like this book because, while it offers diverse perspectives from a range of authors, there is a lack of diversity in terms of race and gender. This may limit the scope of the book and make it less relevant to you if you're interested in exploring moral character from a more diverse perspective.
"After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory" by Alasdair MacIntyre
?? Philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre argues that modern moral philosophy is in crisis and that we need to return to Aristotelian virtue ethics to understand how to live a good life. He critiques modern moral philosophy, explores the historical development of ethical theories, and offers a new framework based on virtue ethics. The book is highly influential in contemporary moral philosophy.
??One reason you may like "After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory" is it provides a historical perspective on the development of ethical theories, tracing the roots of modern moral philosophy back to the ancient Greeks. This makes it a valuable resource for those interested in the history of ideas.
??On the other hand, its controversial arguments and challenging style are not be suitable for everyone, and some may find its narrow focus and lack of diversity problematic.
"The Moral Virtues and Theological Ethics" by Romanus Cessario
?? This book explores the intersection of moral virtues, including the Golden Mean, with theological ethics.
??One reason you may like "The Moral Virtues and Theological Ethics" is it offers an integration of theological and philosophical perspectives on moral virtues, providing a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the topic.
??On the other hand, the book's focus on theological ethics may make it less appealing to you if you prefer a secular or non-religious perspectives on moral philosophy.
"The Fragility of Goodness: Luck and Ethics in Greek Tragedy and Philosophy" by Martha C. Nussbaum
??An examination of the role of luck and ethics in ancient Greek thought, including Aristotle's ethics and the Golden Mean.
??One reason you may like "The Fragility of Goodness" is its interdisciplinary approach: The book draws on insights from literature, philosophy, psychology, and other fields, making it a rich and interdisciplinary work.
??On the other hand, while Nussbaum's writing is accessible, it can also be dense and difficult to read at times.?
"Aristotle and the Virtues" by Howard J. Curzer
?? This book offers a comprehensive examination of Aristotle's account of virtues, including the role of the Golden Mean.
??One reason you may like "Aristotle and the Virtues"? is the way it presents a balanced and nuanced interpretation of Aristotle's thought, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses
??On the other hand, while the book does address some criticisms and objections to Aristotle's theory, you may feel it could have gone into more depth in responding to alternative viewpoints and objections
"Virtue Ethics: A Pluralistic View" edited by Daniel Statman
??A collection of essays that explore different perspectives on virtue ethics, including discussions of Aristotle's Golden Mean.
??One reason you may like "Virtue Ethics: A Pluralistic View" is its pluralistic approach which allows for a wide range of perspectives to be presented and considered. This approach recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to ethics, and that different perspectives may be valuable in different contexts.
??On the other hand, while the book does discuss the practical applications of virtue ethics, you may feel that it does not provide enough guidance on how to apply these principles in real-life situations.
4. Pro's and Con's of 'Nicomachean Ethics'
Reasons?I liked the book:
?? Focuses on the importance of personal virtues and character development.
??Provides insights into the complexities of human nature and ethical decision-making.
??Encourages self-reflection and personal growth.
Reasons?you?may NOT?like?the book:
??Can be challenging to read due to its dense, philosophical language.
??Focuses primarily on virtue ethics, which might not align with everyone's ethical beliefs.
??Aristotle's views on certain topics, like gender roles and slavery, are considered problematic by contemporary standards.
5. AUDIO SUMMARY TIMES FOR 'NICOMACHEAN ETHICS'
? Audiobook on Amazon | At the time of publishing this article, only a CD is available on Amazon
? Audio Summary |?37 minutes| on Shortform (at the time of publishing this article it was not available on getAbstract or Blinkist)
6. HOW TO GROW YOUR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK BY ONE
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