Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle
Nicomachean Ethics
Nicomachean Ethics, Book I, circa 350 BCE
Building Context: Aristotle was among the most famous Greek philosophers, writing on a vast assortment of topics ranging from forms of government to ethics to zoology. In his famous writing Nicomachean Ethics, he explored the issue of politics and human interactions.
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| Since happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue, we must consider the nature of virtue; for perhaps we shall thus see better the nature of happiness. The true student of politics, too, is thought to have studied virtue above all things; for he wishes to make his fellow citizens good and obedient to the laws… | |
| By human virtue we mean not that of the body but that of the soul; and happiness also we call an activity of soul. But if this is so, clearly the student of politics must know somehow the facts about soul, as the man who is to heal the eyes or the body as a whole must know about the eyes or the body… | |
| [F]or no one would choose the whole world on condition of being alone, since man is a political creature and one whose nature is to live with others. Therefore even the happy man lives with others; for he has the things that are by nature good. |
Primary Source by (Circa 350 BCE)