Fitness and Virtue: How Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Can Shape Your Training
As personal trainers, our ultimate goal is to help our clients improve their physical and mental well-being. In order to do this effectively, it is important to understand not only the mechanics of exercise and nutrition, but also the broader context in which our clients are living their lives. Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics provides valuable insight into these broader issues, specifically in terms of virtue, morality, and the good life. By studying this text, we can gain a deeper understanding of what it means for our clients to lead a flourishing life and how we can best support them in achieving that goal.
The Book and The Author
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who lived from 384-322 BCE. He was born in the city of Stagira, in northern Greece, and later moved to Athens to study under Plato at the Academy. After Plato's death, Aristotle left Athens and traveled to various places, including Asia Minor and Lesbos, before returning to Athens to establish his own school, the Lyceum. He was a researcher and teacher for many years in Athens, and his work was extensive and varied, covering many fields such as logic, metaphysics, biology, politics, and ethics. He was also a tutor to Alexander the Great. Aristotle's works were highly influential in ancient times, and continue to be studied and discussed to this day. He is considered one of the most important figures in Western philosophy, and his ideas and methods have had a significant impact on the development of Western thought.
Summary
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is a comprehensive work that explores the nature of ethics and moral philosophy, and it covers a wide range of topics including the ultimate goal of human life, the nature of virtue and vice, and the role of friendship, pleasure, and happiness in a virtuous life. It continues to be studied and discussed by philosophers to this day for its insights on ethics, human nature, and the good life.
The text is divided into ten books, each covering a different aspect of ethics and virtue:
Book 1: Happiness
Book 2: Moral Virtue
Book 3: The Voluntary, Courage and Temperance
Book 4: Other Moral Virtues
Book 5: Justice
Book 6: Intellectual Virtues
Book 7: Continence and Incontinence
Books 8: Friendship
Book 9: Properties of Friendship
Book 10: Pleasure and Happiness
The first book introduces the topic of ethics and the ultimate end of human life, which Aristotle defines as “eudaimonia”, human flourishing or happiness. All human activities aim at some good, the highest being that which is an end in itself. This highest good is known as happiness. And while happiness means different things to different people, Aristotle defines it as living according to human virtue or human excellence.
The second book examines virtues and vices. Aristotle defines virtue as a state of character, specifically a mean between two extremes of excess and deficiency. He argues that virtues are not innate but acquired through practice.
The third book examines volition, and the virtues of courage and temperance. Voluntary action is defined as any action that originates in the agent, not outside forces, characterized by rational deliberation on how best to achieve a desirable end. Aristotle then defines courage and temperance in terms of mean or middle states between their respective excesses and deficiencies.
The fourth book is focused on other virtues, including liberality, magnanimity, amiability, sincerity, wit and modesty:
Liberality is a virtue concerned with wealth and involves giving and spending money in the right way. It is a mean between two vices: stinginess (deficiency) and wastefulness (excess). The liberal person gives to the right people, in the right amounts, and at the right times.
Magnanimity is a virtue concerned with honour and involves having a great soul or high-mindedness. It is a mean between two vices: pusillanimity (deficiency) and vanity (excess). The magnanimous person has a proper sense of self-worth, accepts honours when they are due, and does not seek excessive praise or flattery.
Amiability is a virtue concerned with social interaction and involves being friendly, pleasant, and agreeable to others. It is a mean between two vices: surliness (deficiency) and obsequiousness (excess). The amiable person is easy to get along with, avoids conflict when possible, but also stands up for themselves when necessary.
Sincerity is a virtue concerned with truthfulness in speech and action. It involves being honest, straightforward, and genuine in one's dealings with others. It is a mean between two vices: insincerity (deficiency) and bluntness (excess). The sincere person speaks the truth in an appropriate manner that takes into account the feelings of others.
Wit is a virtue concerned with humor and involves making clever or amusing remarks that are appropriate to the situation. It is a mean between two vices: boorishness (deficiency) and buffoonery (excess). The witty person uses humor to make others feel at ease or to lighten the mood but does not go too far or become offensive.
Modesty is a virtue concerned with self-regard and involves having an appropriate sense of one's own worth without being boastful or arrogant. It is a mean between two vices: shyness (deficiency) and shamelessness (excess). The modest person recognizes their own abilities but does not overestimate them or seek excessive attention or praise from others.
The fifth book investigates the nature of justice. According to Aristotle, there are two forms of justice: distributive and rectificatory. Distributive justice deals with the distribution of wealth or honours among a group of people and should be given according to merit. Rectificatory justice deals with exchanges between people and should always aim at restoring balance and equality. Justice encompasses all the other virtues, since it consists in exhibiting virtue generally.
The sixth book looks at intellectual virtues. Aristotle lists five intellectual virtues: scientific knowledge, intuition, wisdom, technical skill, and prudence. Three of them (scientific knowledge, intuition, and wisdom) consist of contemplative reasoning, which is detached from human affairs. The other two (technical skill and prudence) consist of practical reasoning, which helps us make our way in the world.
The seventh book discusses continence and incontinence. Aristotle describes incontinence is a peculiar form of badness. Unlike vice, it is not to will bad behaviour but to know the good yet lack the self-control to do good.
The eighth book examines friendship. According to Aristotle, there are three kinds of friendship: those based on utility, those based on pleasure, and those based on goodness of character. The first two kinds of friendship are based on superficial qualities, and hence not long lasting. Friendship based on goodness of character is the best kind of friendship, because these friends appreciate one another for who they are. Friendship generally exists between equals, though there are cases, like the father-son relationship, which rely on unequal exchanges.
The ninth book explores how friendship relates to justice. Political institutions rely on friendly feelings between citizens, so friendship and justice are closely connected. There are three forms of constitution based on different kinds of relationships. Of the three, Aristotle claims monarchy is preferable to aristocracy or timocracy.
In the tenth book, Aristotle argues that the ultimate end of human action is happiness or “flourishing” achieved through the practice of virtue and contemplation of the divine. Pleasure accompanies and perfects our activities, and a good person will feel pleasure in doing good things, the highest good of all being rational contemplation. A life that consists exclusively of contemplation is obviously impossible, but Aristotle claims we should aim to approximate this ideal as closely as possible. The practical sciences, then, help us find the right path toward this highest good and help us deal with the practical matters of everyday life that inevitably occupy a great deal of our time and attention.
Discussion Questions
What is happiness?
What is virtue?
What is free will?
What are examples of virtues and vices?
What is justice?
What is intellectual virtue?
What is continence?
What is friendship?
How does friendship relate to justice?
What is worth contemplating?
Quotes
“Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.”
"Virtue, then, is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean, i.e. the mean relative to us, this being determined by a rational principle, and by that principle by which the man of practical wisdom would determine it."
"Yet it would perhaps be thought to be better, indeed to be our duty, for the sake of maintaining the truth even to destroy what touches us closely, especially as we are philosophers or lovers of wisdom; for, while both are dear, piety requires us to honour truth above our friends.”
Pros and Cons
Pros of Aristotle's work on ethics:
Emphasis on virtue: One of the main strengths of Aristotle's work on ethics is his emphasis on virtue. He argues that virtues, such as courage, self-control, and generosity, are necessary for leading a good life. This emphasis on virtue provides a clear framework for understanding how to lead a morally good life.
Mean and balance: Aristotle's concept of the "mean" is another strength of his work on ethics. He argues that virtues are a mean between excess and deficiency, which encourages balance and moderation in one's actions and behaviour. This concept can be useful for understanding how to make morally good choices.
Emphasis on practical wisdom: Aristotle's work on ethics also emphasizes the importance of practical wisdom in making good decisions and living a virtuous life. This emphasis on practical wisdom can be very valuable for understanding how to navigate difficult ethical dilemmas.
Cons of Aristotle's work on ethics:
Limited view of human nature: Some critics may argue that Aristotle's view of human nature is limited and does not take into account the complexity and diversity of human beings.
Lack of universal principles: Aristotle's work on ethics is based on the idea of the mean and the virtues, which seem relative to the individual and their culture. This can make it difficult to establish universal moral principles.
Limited understanding of moral psychology: Some critics may argue that Aristotle's work on ethics does not provide a detailed understanding of the psychological processes involved in moral behaviour.
Lack of consideration of marginalized groups: It may be argued that Aristotle's work on ethics is focused on the virtues of the ruling class, and does not take into account the perspectives of marginalized groups.
Overall Assessment
It is commonly assumed that happiness is the result of achieving success, acquiring wealth and material possessions, and experiencing pleasure and enjoyment. However, Aristotle's ideas on happiness challenge this assumption. According to Aristotle, happiness is not the result of external factors, but rather it is an internal state of being that is achieved through living a life of virtue or excellence:
Premise 1: All human beings aim at eudaimonia (happiness or flourishing).
Premise 2: Eudaimonia is achieved through virtue, a state of character between excess and deficiency.
Premise 3: Virtue is developed through practice.
Conclusion: Therefore, eudaemonia is achieved through practice.
Aristotle argues that the ultimate goal of human life is eudaimonia, which is often translated as happiness, though not in the sense of a temporary state of pleasure or enjoyment. Rather, it is happiness in the sense of a fully lived life of flourishing. He believed that the key to achieving eudaimonia is to develop and practice virtue or excellence in one's actions and behaviour.
Aristotle's idea of the mean encourages us to strive for balance and moderation, rather than excess or deficiency, in all aspects of life. His emphasis on practical wisdom and the role of friendship in achieving eudaimonia remind us that achieving happiness is not only about achieving success or having material possessions but also about having good relationships and living a virtuous life.
In summary, Aristotle's ideas on happiness challenge the commonly held assumption that happiness is the result of external factors such as success and pleasure, and instead argue that true happiness is achieved through living a virtuous, balanced and complete life. To achieve eudaimonia, one must cultivate virtues such as courage, wisdom, and justice, and engage in activities that promote personal growth and happiness. Aristotle believed that each person has a unique set of talents and abilities that can be used to contribute to society and achieve personal fulfilment. Therefore, he would suggest that we reflect on our own strengths and interests, and seek out opportunities to use them in ways that promote the common good while also bringing us personal satisfaction.
Similar Books
The Republic by Plato
The Enchiridion by Epictetus
Further Information
Humphreys, J. (no date) Aristotle , Internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Available at: https://iep.utm.edu/aristotle/ (Accessed: January 24, 2023).
Shields, Christopher, "Aristotle", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2022 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2022/entries/aristotle/>.
References
Aristotle (2020) The Nicomachean Ethics . Translated by A. Beresford. Penguin.
