Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle

Question: Discuss about the Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle. Answer: Introduction: Aristotle is one of the towering figures, when it comes to ancient Greek philosophy. He made contributions to logics, mathematics, logics, physics, botany, politics, ethics, metaphysics, agriculture, theater, dance and even medicine. He was the man of his era. There is no study in the higher level, in which his contribution was not found. Aristotle studied under another great philosopher, Socrates, while being the student of Plato. He was much more empirical than Plato or even Socrates and as per the findings, is renowned for rejecting theory of forms by Plato. As a writer and a polymath, he fundamentally transformed most areas of knowledge which he came in touch with. It is no surprise thatAquinascalled to him- "The Philosopher." In his life span, Aristotle created 200 treatises, out of which just 31 survive at present. In this report we would be discussing of the theory of Golden Mean by Aristotle. This concept means that the moral behavior is nothing but a mean of two extreme behaviors of humans. One extreme is the excess and the other one is deficiency. All a person needs to find a position in between these two extremes and they will find the right morality act. Inprimordial Greek philosophy, particularly that ofAristotles age,golden middleway orgolden meanor also known as theGoldilocks Theoryis the enviable center between the two extreme ends, one known as the excess and other one as deficiency. For example we can take, the Aristotelian viewpoint,courageis an asset, but if found in excess would be marked aswildness, and, in deficit, same is manifested ascowardice. The idea of Aristotle's hypothesis of golden mean is presented in work well known as the Nicomachean Ethics, where Aristotle discusses the source, nature and growth of intrinsic worth which is necessary for achieving and reaching to the ultimate goal of life i.e., happiness (eudaimonia),that should be preferred for itself. It cannot be confused with carnal or materialistic pleasures, although the case has been opposite with many people who believe this to be their final and real happiness, so according to Aristotle, they are mainly attaining basic level of pleasures. Its a system of life which enlightens us to exist in unity with ones personality, to develop our character and to deal with small and foreseeable problems of life for striving for the superior of the whole and not just focus for the individual. Aristotle's principles are strongly, practical and teleological, which means, it must be the act which leads to the awareness of the superior in the human being and the whole as well. This can be only thought throughpermanent performing in unity with virtues, like happiness. It must be preferred for the selves and not just for the short term happiness or pleasures that are derived from them. It doesnt mean that pleasures are not connected with happiness or happiness in part from pleasures, but pleasures are not the purpose, they are a natural effect. If a person wants to act virtuously, he must firstly acquire or learn virtues. And this can only come through, upbringing, reasons and experience. Developing certain principles at an early will always show their effect in the later life of humans. Most of the Aristotles ethics are focused on character of a person because he believes that a person can improve his virtues by his character. A person should support awareness, to choose intrinsic worth for the sake of them and his actions must derive from a rigid and unbreakable character, which shows the circumstances for keeping and showing virtues. Our happiness and goodwill will always create an optimistic authority on others as well, and will also develop their character. The theory of golden mean remarks stability between the extremes, also known as the vices. For example if, courage is the center between deficiency i.e. (forwardness in extreme) and the other of excess i.e. (recklessness in extreme). A coward is a fighter who runs away from the battleground and a hasty warrior would accuse fifty opponent armed forces. This does not mean that this golden mean is an exact numerical middle between the extremes, but it would come like, middle is dependent on the circumstances. There is, as such no general or universally accepted middle that can be applied to every condition. Aristotle claimed that its simple to be annoyed, but being annoyed at the correct time and a correct reasons well as at the correct person and in the exact amount is truly considered to be a brilliant act. As balancing of power in some situations can symbolize, invariable moral development of the person is critical for recognition. This doesn't involve that Aristotle upholds moral re lativism, just because he gave a list of certain sentiments and actions (envy, hate, jealousy, murder, theft) as for all time wrong, not considering of the conditions at hand in the place of action. The golden mean can be applied only for intrinsic worth, not for vices. In certain ethical beliefs, however, murder can become a defensible act in certain situations, for example, in case of self-defense. Hence, we reviewed the theory of golden mean given by Aristotle through various examples and variables. The significance of the theory of golden mean is reviled as; it affirms the equilibrium desirable in life. It is puzzling how the ancient astuteness can change a thought and gives a precious way of attaining moral order for todays world. Today's contemporary man mostly succumbs in excessiveness of excess, which can be easily noticed in the unmanageable accretion of materialistic life, food, drugs, alcohol, but he can tumble down into deficit as well, as in derisory attention to health, education and other activities, logical pursuits, etc. Aristotle was involved in the study of nature, he, quickly got to know the significance of stability in nature and about the remarkable consequence it has. While keeping up the various sides of life let going. Human beings are a part of nature, it gifts them life, so isn't it sensible to wind up that they must also support this equilibrium, just like the nature? The trouble is that a huge mass of people are unenthusiastic about admitting that nobody is at the top of the nature, and are just a part of this whole nature. The basis for this is the restrictions of human awareness; it cannot take hold of the compound ways that nature always immensely intricate and the superior system work. Humans fear it as are unable to fully comprehend it. Conclusion The public in contemporary society needs to conquer their smugness and arrogance to look into the nature for real guidance of moral, because lastly all of us depend on it. Just the Staring into sky without any practice, imagining us in the sky wont let us achieve any good; else, it is always better to admit our role in this world and always try to value the beauty of nature, death and life. It is not needed to have fresh" and "progressive" rules of life and happiness when there are old wisdom words and rules by the world's supreme philosophers just in front of our eyes, elapsed in the dirty shelves in a crumbling store or a library. The stability, the theory of golden mean, which was talked by must be taken as important and beneficial in all walks of life, as it is not by humans but taught by the nature itself. References Aristotle., (2016). The Nicomachean Ethics of Aristotle. Lanham: Dancing Unicorn Books. Aristotle., and Rackham, H. (1999). The Nichomachean ethics. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Univ. Press. Aristotle., Bartlett, R. and Collins, S. (n.d.). Aristotle's Nicomachean ethics. Cunningham, S. (1999). Getting It Right: Aristotle's "Golden Mean" as Theory Deterioration. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, [online] 14(1), pp.5-15. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327728jm140101 [Accessed 29 Mar. 2017]. GROTH, B. (1914). 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