Classic Book Reader
Cover of The Nicomachean ethics of Aristotle

The Nicomachean ethics of Aristotle

by Aristotle (-384–-322)

  • Free to read
  • 8 hours to read
  • 128 chapters
  • Reading level: College-level

"The Ethics of Aristotle" by Aristotle is a foundational philosophical treatise written in the 4th century BC. This work serves as a comprehensive exploration of moral philosophy, addressing the nature of good character, virtue, and ultimately happiness, which Aristotle identifies as the chief aim of human action. The text is a part of Aristotle's broader discussions on human conduct, linked with his other work, "Politics," to form a holistic view of moral and civic life. The opening of this significant text introduces the central themes of ethics as they pertain to individual behavior in a societal context. Aristotle posits that every action is directed towards some good, with happiness defined as the ultimate end that people seek. Through a thorough analysis of various modes of life, including the pursuit of pleasure, honor, and contemplation, Aristotle thoughtfully critiques popular notions of happiness. He emphasizes the importance of virtue, which is achieved through habituation and reasoned action, ultimately weaving together ethics with the practical aspects of living well and functioning within the community. The excerpt illustrates Aristotle's method of philosophical inquiry, laying a groundwork for his extensive examination of moral virtues and their application in life.

Read free now No app, no sign-up. Your place is saved automatically. Or download for your e-reader ↓
  • Ethics

Read the opening

Chapter I

Every art, and every science reduced to a teachable form, and in like manner every action and moral choice, aims, it is thought, at some good: for which reason a common and by no means a bad description of the Chief Good is, “that which all things aim at.”

Now there plainly is a difference in the Ends proposed: for in some cases they are acts of working, and in others certain works or tangible results beyond and beside the acts of working: and where there are certain Ends beyond and beside the actions, the works are in their nature better than the acts of working. Again, since actions and arts and sciences are many, the Ends likewise come to be many: of the healing art, for instance, health; of the ship-building art, a vessel; of the military art, victory; and of domestic management, wealth; are respectively the Ends.

And whatever of such actions, arts, or sciences range under some one faculty (as under that of horsemanship the art of making bridles, and all that are connected with the manufacture of horse-furniture in general; this itself again, and every action connected with war, under the military art; and in the same way others under others), in all such, the Ends of the master-arts are more choice-worthy than those ranging under them, because it is with a view to the former that the latter are pursued.

Keep reading The Nicomachean ethics of Aristotle →

Contents

Show all 128 chapters
  1. Introduction
  2. Book I
  3. Chapter I
  4. Chapter II
  5. Chapter III
  6. Chapter IV
  7. Chapter V
  8. Chapter VI
  9. Chapter VII
  10. Chapter VIII
  11. Chapter IX
  12. Chapter X
  13. Chapter XI
  14. Book II
  15. Chapter I
  16. Chapter II
  17. Chapter III
  18. Chapter IV
  19. Chapter V
  20. Chapter VI
  21. Chapter VII
  22. Chapter VIII
  23. Chapter IX
  24. Book III
  25. Chapter I
  26. Chapter II
  27. Chapter III
  28. Chapter IV
  29. Chapter V
  30. Chapter VI
  31. Chapter VII
  32. Chapter VIII
  33. Chapter IX
  34. Chapter X
  35. Chapter XI
  36. Chapter XII
  37. Chapter XIII
  38. Chapter XIV
  39. Book IV
  40. Chapter I
  41. Chapter II
  42. Chapter III
  43. Chapter IV
  44. Chapter V
  45. Chapter VI
  46. Chapter VII
  47. Chapter VIII
  48. Chapter IX
  49. Chapter X
  50. Chapter XI
  51. Book V
  52. Chapter I
  53. Chapter II
  54. Chapter III
  55. Chapter IV
  56. Chapter V
  57. Chapter VI
  58. Chapter VII
  59. Chapter VIII
  60. Chapter IX
  61. Chapter X
  62. Chapter XI
  63. Chapter XII
  64. Chapter XIII
  65. Chapter XIV
  66. Chapter XV
  67. Chapter XVI
  68. Chapter XVII
  69. Book VI
  70. Chapter I
  71. Chapter II
  72. Chapter III
  73. Chapter IV
  74. Chapter V
  75. Chapter VI
  76. Chapter VII
  77. Chapter VIII
  78. Chapter IX
  79. Chapter X
  80. Chapter XI
  81. Chapter XII
  82. Appendix
  83. Book VII
  84. Chapter I
  85. Chapter II
  86. Chapter III
  87. Chapter IV
  88. Chapter V
  89. Chapter VI
  90. Chapter VII
  91. Chapter VIII
  92. Chapter IX
  93. Book VIII
  94. Chapter I
  95. Chapter II
  96. Chapter III
  97. Chapter IV
  98. Chapter V
  99. Chapter VI
  100. Chapter VII
  101. Chapter VIII
  102. Chapter IX
  103. Chapter X
  104. Chapter XI
  105. Chapter XII
  106. Chapter XIII
  107. Chapter XIV
  108. Book IX
  109. Chapter I
  110. Chapter II
  111. Chapter III
  112. Chapter IV
  113. Chapter V
  114. Chapter VI
  115. Chapter VII
  116. Chapter VIII
  117. Chapter IX
  118. Chapter X
  119. Chapter XI
  120. Chapter XII
  121. Book X
  122. Chapter I
  123. Chapter II
  124. Chapter III
  125. Chapter IV
  126. Chapter V
  127. Chapter VI
  128. Chapter VII
  129. Chapter VIII
  130. Book I
  131. Book II
  132. Book III
  133. Book V
  134. Book VI
  135. Book VII
  136. Book VIII
  137. Book IX
  138. Book X: [1] See note, p. 43

Download for your e-reader

Files are provided by Project Gutenberg. On a Kindle, the simplest route is to send the EPUB with Amazon’s Send to Kindle. Downloaded copies don’t sync with your place on Classic Book Reader.

About this edition

This free edition of The Nicomachean ethics of Aristotle by Aristotle comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #8438, released 2005-07-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Classics of Literature, Philosophy & Ethics.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

More by Aristotle