“Nicomachean Ethics” is one of the most well-known philosophical works by Aristotle. In ten books, Aristotle discusses such notions as justice, friendship, happiness, kindness, and different virtues. The times have passed, though these issues are still important in the society, so it is extremely interesting to investigate Aristotle’s point of view and compare it to modern one.
In the whole work Aristotle states that a person should seek for the golden middle in everything and that the lack or excess of something is negative. The same approach is preserved in the description of ideal state and society. It should be dominated neither by slaves, nor by rulers. The happiest and the most prosperous is the society in which the middle class rules. Today we may see the similar tendency in our world. All peoples are trying to find the balance and eliminate both poverty and oligarchy. Consequently, it is possible to say Aristotle to some respect contributed to the creation of democratic society.
Another point is the role of an individual in that perfect state. Although, a person is mortal and will never reach ideal, the life of dignified person consists of striving to be perfect. According to the ideas in “Nicomachean Ethics” everything we do must be done for good. (“Good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim”(3). A man should do his own thing is a proper way and be proficient in his profession, which means balance, or aforementioned “golden middle”. In addition to this, a person should understand his place in the society and be subordinate to the law (“The ends of the master arts are to be preferred to all the subordinate ends.”(3)
A lot of attention in his work Aristotle paid to the notion of virtue. Virtue is not something inborn, we acquire it in our way to perfectness and self-development. In addition, the law and state are connected with virtue. The philosopher stated that only good constitution forms citizens as moral and teaches them: “but the virtues we get by first exercising them, as also happens in the case of the arts as well. For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them, e.g. men become builders by building and lyreplayers by playing the lyre; so too we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts (21). The same approach can be applied to professional sphere. A good worker is one who obeys the laws created by an employer. On the other side, it makes employers responsible for the development of employees and for them being virtue.
According to Aristotle, obeying virtues is what makes a person happy. The secret of happiness is not in the chase of pleasure, success or money, but in doing your craft and virtue. Happiness is an energy, action, movement that people should achieve through their lives with the help of clear mind (“logos”). Here it is possible to define rationalistic approach: if everybody live according to logic and do their work properly, it will make them happy and will create a “perfect” happy society. The philosopher’s approach can help modern people to understand the way in which society should be formed. It’s not about being slave of your work, it’s about being equal in what you do, because you do it right and because you aim at achieving the virtue.
The notion of justice is discussed in the fifth book of “Nicomachean Ethics”. Aristotle believed that justice combines all virtues, and defined two senses of it: general, connected with law, and particular, connected with interpersonal relationships. The second is a distributive one, which proportionally distributes benefits between the members of society, depending on their “value”. The second type of justice ensures equality. In this question, Aristotle also applies his core approach of happy medium and points out that justice can exist only between the people whose relationships are regulated by the law. I believe, in the sphere of professional life should be applied the first, general type of justice. In every business situation there is some set of established or default rules and laws, which are to be obeyed. The second, distributive type represents the justice that should govern between people in the society: everyone is equal and the benefits are also divided equally. Aristotle stated that inequality is the source of quarrels and conflicts. Consequently, from the work of this philosopher one can learn that a person must obey the general law and the right of other people, because they are the same as you.
The eighth and ninth books are dedicated to the virtue of friendship. Aristotle paid great attention to the role of this type of relationship in life and said that it is crucially important to be happy. It is very difficult to live without friends and have some material benefits, as one should have people for support during hard times, who can give a hand, advice (“For without friends no one would chose to live, though he had all other goods”. (127) Friendship is connected with justice. Where the friendship is, no need to worry about the justice. Nevertheless, real friendship can exist only between dignified wise people with equal moral values; it is intention, not a feeling. Here we again can trace the topic of not only material, but also moral equality. Aristotle states that only a person who loves himself and live in a comfort and harmony can be a true friend.
The philosopher dedicated a lot of attention to the notion of freedom. Aristotle believed that everyone should have this virtue, but not as something granted and given. A person should learn to be free, as it is in our own power to make decisions or not to make them: “We deliberate about things that are in our power and can be done, and these are in fact what is left” (38). This idea supports modern approach to democracy, and means that everything good in our lives depends on us, and so does the bad. Aristotle handed the responsibility for happiness on every separate member of the society. If you obey the law and your friends, work on self-improvement and live honest life, you will be happy.
The philosophical ideas covered in “Nicomachean Ethics” seem to me very wise and to the point. I also believe that a person should be in charge of his own life and subordinate to the state law at the same time. Personal control will help to achieve all the virtues, like courage, liberality, proper temper, wittiness, modesty etc., while obeying the rules, helps to keep the general balance for other people and in your own life. Such approach is applicable in modern society with racism problems, segregation, wars and many other pressing issues. We should not forget that we are equal, and what makes us equal is our moral values and the general law. The fact that the law must also be moral and should not harm is of the utmost importance. The understanding of these ideas and implementing them into life will help to solve many conflicts on personal and interpersonal levels. The philosophy of Aristotle proved to live through the ages, even becoming more up-to-date now.
Works Cited
Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Trans. W. D. Ross. Ontario: Kitchener, 1999. Print.
