Aristotle and Nicomachean Ethics - 1382 Words

Aristotle provides the teleological approach of how to live well in his collection of lectures, Nicomachean Ethics. In Book II of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle presents his definition of virtue in which it is a kind of mean (N.E. 129). According to Aristotle, moral virtue is a means to an end, happiness. By using Sophocless Antigone, I will support Aristotles theory of virtue in which he reasons it to be a state of character between two extremes. A virtue that remains relevant today as it did during Aristotles era is that of courage. By using Aristotles account on what represents the virtue of courage, I will demonstrate how it could be applied to the dilemma the characters of Antigone encounter. Even his definition of justice is†¦show more content†¦143). Did Antigone use what was in her power to flourish and live well? Based on Aristotles theory, her rashness and inability to deliberate led her to an action which deprived her of happiness. Even after she had made her decis ion and sentenced by King Creon to live out the rest of her days in a cave, her lack of experience in deliberating well and habit of making impulsive decisions led her to create the ultimatum of death by her own hands. Again this rashness prevented her from being saved by King Creon when he had realized his rule to be too rigid. On the other hand, Ismene decided to act upon deficit and give in to fear. Ismene did not even contemplate disobeying King Creon in order to pursue the endeavor of restoring her brothers honor which she also held he deserved. Instead she succumbed to the feeling of trepidation, which although it did not directly threaten her life, did hinder her capacity to reach her full potential as a human being. Although there may never be a clear and concise course of action defined for Antigone and Ismene; what is apparent is that they represented the excessiveness and deficit that should be avoided in order to be virtuous. As Aristotle remarks, a master of any art avo ids excess and deficit but seeks the intermediate and chooses this-the intermediate not in the object but relatively to us (N.E 138). This statement demonstrates how Aristotles notion of virtuosity has flexibility, which allows each situationShow MoreRelatedAristotle Of Aristotle : Nicomachean Ethics1487 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle: Nicomachean Ethics Happiness: it’s something we humans search far and wide for, to attain before we are called home at death. We go through our daily lives, making choices, commitments, changes, decisions. We set goals for ourselves, push ourselves, hurt ourselves, inspire ourselves, lose ourselves, find ourselves†¦but why? 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