Call it a CliffsNotes, not Cliff Note or Cliffs Note. If you're looking for the original literature study guide series, then you've come to the right place.
Aristotle's Ethics

Aristotle's Ethics

Aristotle

CliffsNotes on Aristotle's Ethics explores the ancient Greek philosopher and scientist's writings on ethics, particularly his analyses of character, pleasure, courage, friendship, and intelligence as ingredients of a meaningful life. Collectively called Nicomachean Ethics, the Athenian's treatise covers the attainment of true happiness through virtuous action. Plato's pupil and Alexander the Great's tutor, Aristotle set forth concepts that continue to guide understanding of human nature.

About the Author

About the Book

Main Points of Aristotle's Ethical Philosophy

Subjects Covered in The Nicomachean Ethics

Book I: Summaries

Chapter I: The Aim of All Action is the Good

Chapter II: Politics is the Study of the Good

Chapter III: Limitations on the Study of Politics and Ethics

Chapter IV: Varying Views of Happiness and the Good—More Discussion on Method

Chapter V: Varying Views of the Good Life

Chapter VI: The Platonic View of the Good

Chapter VII: Definitions of the Good and Happiness

Chapter VIII: Confirmation of Our View in Popular Ideas on Happiness

Chapter IX: How Happiness is Acquired

Chapter X: Can a Man be Called Happy Within His Lifetime?

Chapter XI: The Relation Between The Dead and The Living in Regard to Happiness

Chapter XII: The Degree of Praise Accorded to Happiness

Chapter XIII: Psychological Basis of Virtue

Commentary on Book I

Book II Summaries

Chapter I: Moral Virtue as a Result of Habits

Chapter II: Methodology of The Study of Ethics—Discussion of the Nature of Moral Qualities

Chapter III: Pleasure and Pain—The Test of Virtue

Chapter IV: Relation of Virtue and Virtuous Action

Chapter V: Definition of Virtue—Genus

Chapter VI: Definition of Virtue Species

Chapter VII: Particular Examples of the Mean and Extreme

Chapter VIII: Relation of Mean and Extremes

Chapter IX: How to Find the Mean

Commentary on Book II

Book III Summaries

Chapter I: Voluntary and Involuntary Action

Chapter II: Definition of Choice

Chapter III: Definition of Deliberation

Chapter IV: Definition of Wish

Chapter V: Man's Moral Responsibility as an Agent

Chapter VI: Courage (i)

Chapter VII: Courage (ii)

Chapter VIII: Courage (iii)

Chapter IX: Courage (iv)

Chapter X: Self-Control (i)

Chapter XI: Self-Control (ii)

Chapter XII: Self-Control (iii)

Commentary on Book III

Book IV: Summaries

Chapter I: Generosity

Chapter II: Magnificence

Chapter III: High-Mindedness

Chapter IV: Ambition and Lack of Ambition

Chapter V: Gentleness

Chapter VI: Friendliness

Chapter VII: Truthfulness

Chapter VIII: Wittiness and Tact

Chapter IX: Shame and Modesty

Commentary on Book IV

Book V: Summaries

Chapter I: Various Definitions of Justice

Chapter II: Particular Justice—Distributive and Remedial

Chapter III: Distributive Justice

Chapter IV: Remedial Justice

Chapter V: Reciprocal Justice and the Function of Money

Chapter VI: Political and Social Justice, Domestic Justice

Chapter VII: Natural and Conventional Justice

Chapter VIII: Degrees of Personal Responsibility

Chapter IX: Additional Discussion of Relation Between Voluntariness and Just Action

Chapter X: Equity and Justice

Chapter XI: Can a Man be Unjust Toward Himself?

Commentary on Book V

Book VI: Summaries

Chapter I: Psychological Basis of Intellectual Virtue

Chapter II: The Elements of Intellectual Virtue

Chapter III: The Five Modes of Intellectual Expression; Definition of Science

Chapter IV: Art or Applied Science

Chapter V: Practical Wisdom

Chapter VI: Intelligence

Chapter VII: Theoretical Wisdom

Chapter VIII: Practical Wisdom and Politics

Chapter IX: Practical Wisdom and Virtue in Deliberation

Chapter X: Practical Wisdom and Understanding

Chapter XI: Practical Wisdom and Good Sense

Chapter XII: The Utility of Theoretical and Practical Wisdom

Chapter XIII: Practical Wisdom and Moral Virtue

Commentary on Book VI

BOOK VII: Summaries

Chapter I: Continence and Incontinence

Chapter II: Commonly Held Beliefs about Continence and Incontinence

Chapter III: Incontinence and Knowledge

Chapter IV: The Sphere of Incontinence

Chapter V: Incontinence and Pathological Forms of Desire

Chapter VI: Incontinence in Anger

Chapter VII: Continence and Tenacity, Incontinence and Softness

Chapter VIII: Incontinence and Self-Indulgence

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI: Current Views on Pleasure

Chapter XII: Is Pleasure a Good Thing? (1)

Chapter XIII: Is Pleasure the Highest Good? (2)

Chapter XIV: Are Most Pleasures Bad? (3)

Commentary on Book VII

Book VIII: Summaries

Chapter I: Reasons for Studying Friendship

Chapter II: The Three Objects of Affection, Definition of Friendship

Chapter III: The Three Kinds of Friendship

Chapter IV: Comparison of Perfect and Imperfect Friendship

Chapter V: Friendship as a Characteristic and an Activity

Chapter VI: Additional Observations on Friendship

Chapter VII: Friendship Between Unequals

Chapter VIII: Giving and Receiving Affection

Chapter IX: Friendship and Justice in the State

Chapter X: Political Systems

Chapter XI: Friendship and Justice Under Different Constitutions

Chapter XII: Friendship Within the Family

Chapter XIII: The Mutual Obligations of Equal Friends

Chapter XIV: The Mutual Obligations of Unequal Friends

Commentary on Book VIII

Book IX: Summaries

Chapter I: Measuring the Mutual Obligations of Friends

Chapter II: Conflicting Obligations

Chapter III: Dissolution of Friendships

Chapter IV: The Basis of Friendship is Self-Love

Chapter V: Friendship and Goodwill

Chapter VI: Friendship and Concord

Chapter VII: Good Deeds

Chapter VIII: Self-Love

Chapter IX: Friendship and Happiness

Chapter X: Should One Limit the Number of his Friends?

Chapter XI: Friends in Times of Adversity and Prosperity

Chapter XII: The Value and Influence of Friendship

Commentary on Book IX

Book X: Summaries

Chapter I: The Importance of Pleasure

Chapter II: The Doctrine that Pleasure is the Good

Chapter III: The Doctrine that Pleasure is Evil

Chapter IV: The True Nature of Pleasure

Chapter V: The Value and Function of Pleasure

Chapter VI: Happiness

Chapter VII: The Contemplative Life is the Highest Happiness

Chapter VIII: Advantages of the Contemplative Life

Chapter IX: Ethics and Politics

Commentary on Book X

Critical Essays

Aristotle's Works

Aristotle's Method And Place In Intellectual History

Study Help

Quiz

Essay Topics And Review Questions

Cite this Literature Note

Take the Quiz Which of the following was one of Plato's nicknames for Aristotle?
  1. The thinker
  2. Master of those that know
  3. The philosopher
  4. The mind
Quiz
Study Guides To-Go!
Get the complete text from CliffsNotes guides on your video iPod®.
Learn more!
cover
Learn the Words You Should Know
Vocabulary Puzzles is the fun way to ace the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT & more!
The Ultimate Learning Experience!
WATCH the film and READ the lit note for a fast way to study!
Learn more!