Initial Thoughts on the Work
The book, being written by Aristotle who was a philosopher, was always going to focus on the philosophical aspects that govern life such as ethics. Because the book touches on elements governing human behavior, I expected that it will also analyze human actions and how human beings are different from other nonhuman animals. As a book that analyzes ethics and the general consideration of good, my thinking was that it succeeded in depicting the importance of reason and intelligence to human identity. Another important characteristic of human life that the book sheds light about is happiness and the prerequisite of it. I find the part that Aristotle describes happiness to be the area that most interests me because of the glowing reasons he outlines for its causation. He asserts that material benefits such as wealth, fame, honor, glory, and pleasure among others are not just acquired for their sake but are meant to bring happiness. The supreme good that can be acquired by any person is happiness, and it is an important aspect of human life that cannot cause dispute. Therefore, when a person describes good life, basically what they mean is that they are living a life that is filled with happiness.
Historical Context of the Work
The Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics was a piece of work that was done by around 340BC. The book is named after either his father or son both of who possessed the name Nicomachus. The piece of work is the most complete and mature book containing information about ethics. The works contain a series of work that initially had a poor flow but has since been put together and published as a single work. It has been postulated that Aristotle's son was responsible for the piecing together of the book. The book was written in the wake of Aristotle’s migration from Athens following the death of Plato. During that time, there was a growing trend of the Anti-Macedonian sentiments in Athens. Most of the work written in the book was as a result of years of travel, experimentation, and observation of biological sciences. The Greek world at that particular time was made up of small city-states which having an autonomous government. The occupants of the city included children, laborers, aliens, noncitizens, and slaves among others. Aristotle's book on ethics is as a result of his interaction with both sciences and metaphysics. That is why his main analysis in his book is the teleology of nature. His interaction with animals makes him classify human beings as rational animals. Given that he lived in a society that was filled with individuals from different social classes, it was imperative for him to give guidelines on how human beings can adopt a rational life that is immune to various types of temptations.
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Insights into the Work That Can Be Achieved from the Author’s Biography
On close analysis of Aristotle's biography, he was the successor to both Plato and Socrates. He developed a unique nature of investigating mystery by the use of mathematics and nature. Aristotle's work applies what is known as the pre-Socratic thinking which also effectively applied metaphysics and sciences in the development of ethical thinking. In his biography, it is also postulated that Plato greatly influenced most of the works completed by Aristotle. For example, when discussing ethics in his book, it is apparent that he utilizes Plato's definition and perspectives about ‘good.' His extensive association with nature enables him to develop the concept of the teleology of nature while his indulgence in biology makes him come up with the idea that humans are rational animals.
Themes
The first theme that the book attempts to analyze from the setting in which it was written is politics. The ancient Greek periods were marred with politics of conquering hence prompting Aristotle to outline ethical aspects that relate to politics. Aristocratic, in the first section of his book, asserts that ethics is part and parcel of politics and further approves that politics is the most architectonic and authoritative type of science. Also, in the wake of an anti-Macedonian campaign in Athens, people lived a fearful life including Aristotle himself who had to migrate to and from Athens on various occasions for fear of his life. That is why in the second section, he vividly outlines the aspect of happiness which he describes it as the highest good. He describes happiness using many words including wealth, pleasure, honor, health, and knowledge among others. In the first book, the most dominant theme that is highlighted is happiness. He attempts to give the real definition of happiness to the people at that particular time by asserting that it is not found in living for pleasure but instead in depicting a virtue. In defining what happiness is, Aristotle goes ahead to describe what the function of human beings is. Human beings must act in a manner that inspires reason and intelligence to be differentiated from other animals.
In depicting the behavior he seeks his society to adopt, Aristotle describes the doctrine of ‘good.' He further describes the types of goods that he knows including external, those involving the soul and the body. Aristotle further asserts the highest good only comes about once politics has come to an end. Also, politics must also strive to inculcate dispositions to good actions in citizens. In describing the meaning of what is good, he continues by postulating that only human beings that are full of reason can be happy because happiness and reason are dependable on each other. Therefore, happiness is a principle where all good things emanate from.
Relevance of the Work
In the first book of the entire series, Aristotle bases his arguments on ethics while highlighting three important things including happiness, goodness, and reason. All this are important to the contemporary audiences. In describing happiness, Aristotle attempts to give perspective on true happiness. He claims that material possessions and status are not the definition of true happiness but instead it is the possession of virtue that is. When one possesses an important virtue in the contemporary life such as courage and charisma, they can enjoy ultimate happiness because of the impact they have on people's lives. With regards to goodness, he explains that good things are only those that have practical ramifications. His description of the essence of human beings can also resonate well with the audiences of today especially when he asserted that individuals could only be distinguished from animals because of their intelligence and reasoning. In short, this sends a message to people that they need to take responsibility as human beings for various happenings around the world.
Feelings about the Work
From the critical analysis of the book, I have been able to learn various aspects of the society in which Aristocratic lived in and how he attempts to philosophical acquire answers to the various problems they faced. The work attempts to raise the status of human beings and give them the ultimate responsibility that will ensure they relate well with people. It also deeply analyzes simple uses such as happiness and goodness in a context of human relations. In conclusion, Aristotle's definition and description is purely an analytical job that synchronizes morality with observational science to come up with answers to problems affecting human life.
Reference
Aristotle, Book 1 from the Nicomachean Ethics, ca. 35 B.C.E. (philosophical text)
