Athenian Constitution/Eudemian Ethics/Virtues and Vices

By Aristotle and H. (translator) Rackham

Government of state and self. Aristotle, great Greek philosopher, researcher, reasoner, and writer, born at Stagirus in 384 BC, was the son of a physician. He studied under Plato at Athens and taught... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B005HYU7SO
• Release Date: January 1961
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.

Customer Reviews

We Reach Our Complete Perfection Through Habit

I read this book for a graduate seminar on Aristotle. Aristotle's further elaboration in the Eudemian Ethics, (EE) from his Nicomachean Ethics, (EN) on friendship is very intuitive when it comes to understanding the human ego in particular and human relationships in general. This is the most important aspect of the EE for serious students of Aristotle and virtue ethics. It is here in the EE that Aristotle further develops the theory of activity, proposing a way of viewing human life that reveals the most fundamental way in which logos ["reason"] enters into human life. Since Aristotle believes that humans by nature are social and political animals, it should come as no surprise that he believes humans need friendship to live a complete and happy life. "However, friendship is not only necessary, but also fine. For we praise lovers of friends, and having many friends seems to be a fine thing." Aristotle notes that there are three types of friendship. First is the friendship of utility. In modern times, this type of friendship is more similar to a friendly acquaintance at work or with people one has a business relationship with--a it is not an emotional relationship between people. Second, is the friendship of pleasure. This is a mutual relationship between people who share pleasures, such as enjoying each other's company, and friends who are fun to be with. The third and highest form of friendship is that of goodness. This is the type of friendship where the ethical welfare of the other person is as important as one's own well being. In modern times, this is friendship that is usually defined as a best friend or even a soul mate. Friendship of goodness, as Aristotle defines it, is that between people "who wish goods to their friend for the friend's own sake are friends most of all; for they have this attitude because of the friend himself, not coincidentally." Aristotle understood that the friendship of goodness depends on love, on likeness, on recognition, on reciprocity, on activity, on quality of characters, and ultimately (and from a different viewpoint) on sharing of life. I recommend Aristotle's works to anyone interested in obtaining a classical education, and those interested in philosophy. Aristotle is one of the most important philosophers and the standard that all others must be judged by.