Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in his "Nicomachean Ethics", Aristotle distinguishes between excellence and virtue and recognizes the crucial role of wisdom; his idea that every situation should be considered in isolation according to its circumstances has served as a model for the U.S. court system. The author points out that the crux of his argument is the belief that an individual cannot be good if he or she does not possess practical reason and the same individual may not truthfully be called wise without moral excellence. The paper relates that Aristotle makes explicit the relationship between practical wisdom and excellence by stating that practical wisdom visualizes a worthy goal; whereas, excellence enables the goal to be reached.

From the Paper:

"Aristotle buffers his premise with an example gleaned from government. He states the common fallacy that a state in accordance with right reason is implied excellence. However, Aristotle believes that only a state which "implies the presence of right reason" can be excellence. Adherence to or agreement with right reason is not enough; the state must be the embodiment of right reason, or practical wisdom. Furthermore, Aristotle then reminds the reader that Socrates was incorrect when he theorized that excellencies were all forms of knowledge, when, in fact, according to Aristotle they make use of reason."

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