Book and Chapter Summaries
Table of Contents
BOOK I.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
I.1 ACTIONS HAVE ENDS, SOME ARE HIGHER THAN OTHERS............................................................................................3
I.2 THE HIGHEST GOOD AND POLITICAL SCIENCE...........................................................................................................4
I.3 DON’T NEED TO BE EXACT AND NEED EXPERIENCE....................................................................................................4
I.4 COMMON BELIEFS- HAPPINESS IS HIGHEST GOOD.....................................................................................................5
I.5 COMMON BELIEFS- THE THREE LIVES.....................................................................................................................5
I.6 THE PLATONIC FORM OF THE GOOD......................................................................................................................6
I.7 ACCOUNT OF THE HUMAN GOOD (FUNCTION ARGUMENT)........................................................................................6
I.8 DEFENCE OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE GOOD..............................................................................................................8
I.9 HOW IS HAPPINESS ACHIEVED?............................................................................................................................8
I.10 CAN WE BE HAPPY DURING OUR LIFETIME?..........................................................................................................8
I.11 HOW HAPPINESS CAN BE AFFECTED AFTER ONE’S DEATH.........................................................................................9
I.12.................................................................................................................................................................... 9
I.13 INTRODUCTION TO THE VIRTUES.........................................................................................................................9
BOOK II- VIRTUE............................................................................................................................................ 9
II.1- HOW IS VIRTUE ACQUIRED................................................................................................................................9
II.2- HABITUATION AND THE MEAN.........................................................................................................................10
II.3- THE IMPORTANCE OF PLEASURE AND PAIN........................................................................................................10
II.4- VIRTUOUS ACTIONS VERSUS VIRTUOUS CHARACTER..............................................................................................10
II.5- VIRTUE OF CHARACTER IS A STATE....................................................................................................................10
II.6- VIRTUE IS ABOUT PERFORMING FUNCTION WELL AND FOUND IN THE MEAN..............................................................10
II.7- THE PARTICULAR VIRTUES OF CHARACTER...........................................................................................................11
II.8- RELATIONS BETWEEN MEANS AND EXTREME STATES.............................................................................................11
II.9- HOW CAN WE REACH THE MEAN?....................................................................................................................11
BOOK III (1-5 PRECONDITIONS OF VIRTUE, 6-12 TEMPERANCE AND BRAVERY).............................................11
III.1-III.5 PRECONDITIONS OF VIRTUE......................................................................................................................11
III.1- Voluntary Action...................................................................................................................................11
III.2- Decision.................................................................................................................................................12
III.3- Deliberation...........................................................................................................................................12
III.4- Wish......................................................................................................................................................12
III.5- Virtue and Vice are in our power..........................................................................................................12
III.6-III.12 TEMPERANCE AND BRAVERY..................................................................................................................12
III.6- Bravery; its scope..................................................................................................................................12
III.7- Bravery; Its characteristic outlook........................................................................................................12
III.8- Conditions that resemble bravery.........................................................................................................12
III.9- Feelings Proper to bravery....................................................................................................................12
III.10- Temperance; Its scope........................................................................................................................13
III.11 Temperance; Its outlook.......................................................................................................................13
III.12 Intemperance.......................................................................................................................................13
BOOK IV- OTHER VIRTUES OF CHARACTER................................................................................................... 13
IV.1- GENEROSITY............................................................................................................................................... 13
IV.2- MAGNIFICENCE...........................................................................................................................................13
IV.3- MAGNANIMITY............................................................................................................................................13
IV.4- THE VIRTUE CONCERNED WITH SMALL HONORS..................................................................................................13
, IV.5- MILDNESS..................................................................................................................................................13
IV.6- FRIENDLINESS..............................................................................................................................................13
IV.7- HONESTY................................................................................................................................................... 13
IV.8- WIT.......................................................................................................................................................... 13
IV.9- SHAME......................................................................................................................................................13
BOOK V, VI AND VII- THE COMMON BOOK.................................................................................................. 13
BOOK V- JUSTICE......................................................................................................................................... 13
V.1- VARIETIES OF JUSTICE....................................................................................................................................13
V.2- SPECIAL JUSTICE CONTRASTED WITH GENERAL...................................................................................................14
V.3- JUSTICE IN DISTRIBUTION...............................................................................................................................14
V.4- JUSTICE IN RECTIFICATION..............................................................................................................................14
V.5- JUSTICE IN EXCHANGE....................................................................................................................................14
V.6- POLITICAL JUSTICE........................................................................................................................................ 14
V.7- JUSTICE BY NATURE AND BY LAW.....................................................................................................................14
V.8- JUSTICE, INJUSTICE, AND THE VOLUNTARY.........................................................................................................14
V.9- PUZZLES ABOUT JUSTICE AND INJUSTICE............................................................................................................14
V.10- DECENCY...................................................................................................................................................15
V.11- INJUSTICE TO ONESELF.................................................................................................................................15
BOOK VI VIRTUES OF THOUGHT.................................................................................................................. 15
VI.1 THE MEAN AND THE VIRTUES OF THOUGHT........................................................................................................15
VI.2 THOUGHT, DESIRE AND DECISION.....................................................................................................................15
VI.3- SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE................................................................................................................................15
VI.4- CRAFT KNOWLEDGE.....................................................................................................................................16
VI.5- PRUDENCE................................................................................................................................................. 16
VI.6- UNDERSTANDING.........................................................................................................................................16
VI.7- WISDOM VS PRUDENCE................................................................................................................................16
VI.8- TYPES OF PRUDENCE....................................................................................................................................16
VI.9- GOOD DELIBERATION...................................................................................................................................17
VI.10- COMPREHENSION......................................................................................................................................17
VI.11- PRACTICAL THOUGHT AND PARTICULARS.........................................................................................................17
VI.12- PUZZLES ABOUT PRUDENCE AND WISDOM.....................................................................................................17
VI.13- PRUDENCE AND VIRTUE OF CHARACTER.........................................................................................................17
BOOK VII (1-10 INCONTINENCE, 11-14 PLEASURE)........................................................................................ 18
VII.1-VII.10 INCONTINENCE..................................................................................................................................18
VII.1- Vice, Virtue and Incontinence..............................................................................................................18
VII.2 Puzzles about incontinence...................................................................................................................18
VII.3 Incontinence and ignorance..................................................................................................................18
VII.4 Simple incontinence..............................................................................................................................18
VII.5 Bestiality and disease............................................................................................................................18
VII.6 Incontinence and related conditions.....................................................................................................18
VII.7 Incontinence, temperance and softness...............................................................................................18
VII.8 Why intemperance is worse than continence.......................................................................................18
VII.9 Continence.............................................................................................................................................18
VII.10 Answers to further questions about incontinence..............................................................................18
VII.11-VII.14 PLEASURE......................................................................................................................................18
VII.11 Questions about pleasure...................................................................................................................18
VII.12 Pleasure and Good..............................................................................................................................18
VII.13- Pleasure and happiness.....................................................................................................................19
VII.14- Bodily pleasures.................................................................................................................................19
, BOOK VIII- FRIENDSHIP............................................................................................................................... 19
VIII.1................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.2................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.3................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.4................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.5................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.6................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.7................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.8................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.9................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.10.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.11.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.12.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.13.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.14.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
BOOK IX- MORE ON FRIENDSHIP................................................................................................................. 19
IX.1.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.2.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.3.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.4.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.5.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.6.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.7.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.8.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.9.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.10................................................................................................................................................................ 19
IX.11................................................................................................................................................................ 19
IX.12................................................................................................................................................................ 19
BOOK X (1-5 PLEASURE, 6-8 HAPPINESS, 9 MORAL EDUCATION)..................................................................19
X.1-X.5 PLEASURE...............................................................................................................................................19
X.1..................................................................................................................................................................19
X.2..................................................................................................................................................................19
X.3..................................................................................................................................................................19
X.4..................................................................................................................................................................20
X.5..................................................................................................................................................................20
X.6-X.8 HAPPINESS............................................................................................................................................. 20
X.6 Conditions for happiness.........................................................................................................................20
X.7 Happiness and theoretical study.............................................................................................................20
X.8 Theoretical study and the other virtues..................................................................................................20
X.9 MORAL EDUCATION.......................................................................................................................................21
Book I
I.1 Actions have ends, some are higher than others
Every actions has an end
o ‘Every craft and every discipline, and likewise action and decision, seems to seek some
good’ (1094a1-2)
Objection- What about absent-minded action
Table of Contents
BOOK I.......................................................................................................................................................... 3
I.1 ACTIONS HAVE ENDS, SOME ARE HIGHER THAN OTHERS............................................................................................3
I.2 THE HIGHEST GOOD AND POLITICAL SCIENCE...........................................................................................................4
I.3 DON’T NEED TO BE EXACT AND NEED EXPERIENCE....................................................................................................4
I.4 COMMON BELIEFS- HAPPINESS IS HIGHEST GOOD.....................................................................................................5
I.5 COMMON BELIEFS- THE THREE LIVES.....................................................................................................................5
I.6 THE PLATONIC FORM OF THE GOOD......................................................................................................................6
I.7 ACCOUNT OF THE HUMAN GOOD (FUNCTION ARGUMENT)........................................................................................6
I.8 DEFENCE OF THE ACCOUNT OF THE GOOD..............................................................................................................8
I.9 HOW IS HAPPINESS ACHIEVED?............................................................................................................................8
I.10 CAN WE BE HAPPY DURING OUR LIFETIME?..........................................................................................................8
I.11 HOW HAPPINESS CAN BE AFFECTED AFTER ONE’S DEATH.........................................................................................9
I.12.................................................................................................................................................................... 9
I.13 INTRODUCTION TO THE VIRTUES.........................................................................................................................9
BOOK II- VIRTUE............................................................................................................................................ 9
II.1- HOW IS VIRTUE ACQUIRED................................................................................................................................9
II.2- HABITUATION AND THE MEAN.........................................................................................................................10
II.3- THE IMPORTANCE OF PLEASURE AND PAIN........................................................................................................10
II.4- VIRTUOUS ACTIONS VERSUS VIRTUOUS CHARACTER..............................................................................................10
II.5- VIRTUE OF CHARACTER IS A STATE....................................................................................................................10
II.6- VIRTUE IS ABOUT PERFORMING FUNCTION WELL AND FOUND IN THE MEAN..............................................................10
II.7- THE PARTICULAR VIRTUES OF CHARACTER...........................................................................................................11
II.8- RELATIONS BETWEEN MEANS AND EXTREME STATES.............................................................................................11
II.9- HOW CAN WE REACH THE MEAN?....................................................................................................................11
BOOK III (1-5 PRECONDITIONS OF VIRTUE, 6-12 TEMPERANCE AND BRAVERY).............................................11
III.1-III.5 PRECONDITIONS OF VIRTUE......................................................................................................................11
III.1- Voluntary Action...................................................................................................................................11
III.2- Decision.................................................................................................................................................12
III.3- Deliberation...........................................................................................................................................12
III.4- Wish......................................................................................................................................................12
III.5- Virtue and Vice are in our power..........................................................................................................12
III.6-III.12 TEMPERANCE AND BRAVERY..................................................................................................................12
III.6- Bravery; its scope..................................................................................................................................12
III.7- Bravery; Its characteristic outlook........................................................................................................12
III.8- Conditions that resemble bravery.........................................................................................................12
III.9- Feelings Proper to bravery....................................................................................................................12
III.10- Temperance; Its scope........................................................................................................................13
III.11 Temperance; Its outlook.......................................................................................................................13
III.12 Intemperance.......................................................................................................................................13
BOOK IV- OTHER VIRTUES OF CHARACTER................................................................................................... 13
IV.1- GENEROSITY............................................................................................................................................... 13
IV.2- MAGNIFICENCE...........................................................................................................................................13
IV.3- MAGNANIMITY............................................................................................................................................13
IV.4- THE VIRTUE CONCERNED WITH SMALL HONORS..................................................................................................13
, IV.5- MILDNESS..................................................................................................................................................13
IV.6- FRIENDLINESS..............................................................................................................................................13
IV.7- HONESTY................................................................................................................................................... 13
IV.8- WIT.......................................................................................................................................................... 13
IV.9- SHAME......................................................................................................................................................13
BOOK V, VI AND VII- THE COMMON BOOK.................................................................................................. 13
BOOK V- JUSTICE......................................................................................................................................... 13
V.1- VARIETIES OF JUSTICE....................................................................................................................................13
V.2- SPECIAL JUSTICE CONTRASTED WITH GENERAL...................................................................................................14
V.3- JUSTICE IN DISTRIBUTION...............................................................................................................................14
V.4- JUSTICE IN RECTIFICATION..............................................................................................................................14
V.5- JUSTICE IN EXCHANGE....................................................................................................................................14
V.6- POLITICAL JUSTICE........................................................................................................................................ 14
V.7- JUSTICE BY NATURE AND BY LAW.....................................................................................................................14
V.8- JUSTICE, INJUSTICE, AND THE VOLUNTARY.........................................................................................................14
V.9- PUZZLES ABOUT JUSTICE AND INJUSTICE............................................................................................................14
V.10- DECENCY...................................................................................................................................................15
V.11- INJUSTICE TO ONESELF.................................................................................................................................15
BOOK VI VIRTUES OF THOUGHT.................................................................................................................. 15
VI.1 THE MEAN AND THE VIRTUES OF THOUGHT........................................................................................................15
VI.2 THOUGHT, DESIRE AND DECISION.....................................................................................................................15
VI.3- SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE................................................................................................................................15
VI.4- CRAFT KNOWLEDGE.....................................................................................................................................16
VI.5- PRUDENCE................................................................................................................................................. 16
VI.6- UNDERSTANDING.........................................................................................................................................16
VI.7- WISDOM VS PRUDENCE................................................................................................................................16
VI.8- TYPES OF PRUDENCE....................................................................................................................................16
VI.9- GOOD DELIBERATION...................................................................................................................................17
VI.10- COMPREHENSION......................................................................................................................................17
VI.11- PRACTICAL THOUGHT AND PARTICULARS.........................................................................................................17
VI.12- PUZZLES ABOUT PRUDENCE AND WISDOM.....................................................................................................17
VI.13- PRUDENCE AND VIRTUE OF CHARACTER.........................................................................................................17
BOOK VII (1-10 INCONTINENCE, 11-14 PLEASURE)........................................................................................ 18
VII.1-VII.10 INCONTINENCE..................................................................................................................................18
VII.1- Vice, Virtue and Incontinence..............................................................................................................18
VII.2 Puzzles about incontinence...................................................................................................................18
VII.3 Incontinence and ignorance..................................................................................................................18
VII.4 Simple incontinence..............................................................................................................................18
VII.5 Bestiality and disease............................................................................................................................18
VII.6 Incontinence and related conditions.....................................................................................................18
VII.7 Incontinence, temperance and softness...............................................................................................18
VII.8 Why intemperance is worse than continence.......................................................................................18
VII.9 Continence.............................................................................................................................................18
VII.10 Answers to further questions about incontinence..............................................................................18
VII.11-VII.14 PLEASURE......................................................................................................................................18
VII.11 Questions about pleasure...................................................................................................................18
VII.12 Pleasure and Good..............................................................................................................................18
VII.13- Pleasure and happiness.....................................................................................................................19
VII.14- Bodily pleasures.................................................................................................................................19
, BOOK VIII- FRIENDSHIP............................................................................................................................... 19
VIII.1................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.2................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.3................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.4................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.5................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.6................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.7................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.8................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.9................................................................................................................................................................ 19
VIII.10.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.11.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.12.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.13.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
VIII.14.............................................................................................................................................................. 19
BOOK IX- MORE ON FRIENDSHIP................................................................................................................. 19
IX.1.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.2.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.3.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.4.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.5.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.6.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.7.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.8.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.9.................................................................................................................................................................. 19
IX.10................................................................................................................................................................ 19
IX.11................................................................................................................................................................ 19
IX.12................................................................................................................................................................ 19
BOOK X (1-5 PLEASURE, 6-8 HAPPINESS, 9 MORAL EDUCATION)..................................................................19
X.1-X.5 PLEASURE...............................................................................................................................................19
X.1..................................................................................................................................................................19
X.2..................................................................................................................................................................19
X.3..................................................................................................................................................................19
X.4..................................................................................................................................................................20
X.5..................................................................................................................................................................20
X.6-X.8 HAPPINESS............................................................................................................................................. 20
X.6 Conditions for happiness.........................................................................................................................20
X.7 Happiness and theoretical study.............................................................................................................20
X.8 Theoretical study and the other virtues..................................................................................................20
X.9 MORAL EDUCATION.......................................................................................................................................21
Book I
I.1 Actions have ends, some are higher than others
Every actions has an end
o ‘Every craft and every discipline, and likewise action and decision, seems to seek some
good’ (1094a1-2)
Objection- What about absent-minded action
