Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics - Essay Example

Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle’s best known work on ethics, The Nicomachean Ethics (350 B.C.E has been one of the most essential philosophical treatises on ethical issues for the last several centuries. Significantly, the Book VI of The Nicomachean Ethics specifically deals with the intellectual virtue which is the continuation of the discussion on the moral virtues, covering Books II to V. In fact, Aristotle makes an essential distinction between moral virtues and intellectual virtues in Book II and the former refers to virtues learned through habit and practice while the latter refers to virtues learned through instruction.

Therefore, it is essential to realize that the Book VI of The Nicomachean Ethics builds up on the arguments that were put forward in previous discussions and brings out the various aspects of intellectual virtue. “Since we have previously said that one ought to choose that which is intermediate, not the excess nor the defect, and that the intermediate is determined by the dictates of the right rule, let us discuss the nature of these dictates.” (Aristotle) The intellectual virtues discussed in this work are distinguished between those virtues that do not change and those that change.

Intelligence (nous), scientific knowledge (episteme), and wisdom (sophia) are virtues that do not change, while art (techne), prudence (phronesis), understanding (synesis) and good sense (gnome) are things that do change. In the opening section of the Book VI of The Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle maintains that the proper work of a thing determines the virtue of the thing and the three things in the soul which control action and truth are sensation, reason, and desire. The author also divides the soul into two parts: a rational part (which is further divided into a contemplative part and contemplative part) and an irrational part.

Most significantly, the Book VI deals with five intellectual virtues which help the soul in finding the truth of reality and they include scientific knowledge, art or technical skill, prudence or practical wisdom, intuition, and wisdom. It is important to maintain that the author explains scientific knowledge as knowledge of demonstration and conclusion. Whereas technical skill or art is concerned with proper reasoning for finding the truth, practical wisdom or prudence is useful in the pursuit of good life.

The fourth component of the intellectual virtues, i.e. intuition, is essential to grasp scientific truths, while the final component, i.e. wisdom, combines scientific knowledge and intuition. “Therefore wisdom must plainly be the most finished of the forms of knowledge. It follows that the wise man must not only know what follows from the first principles, but must also possess truth about the first principles. Therefore wisdom must be intuitive reason combined with scientific knowledge…” (Aristotle) One of the basic concerns of the discussion in the last chapters of the book is to compare the importance of practical wisdom (phronesis) and wisdom (sophia).

To Aristotle, the latter is a superior virtue in comparison with the former, and he provides examples of phronesis and sophia. Aristotle makes an important statement at the final section of the Book that “it is not possible to be good in the strict sense without practical wisdom, nor practically wise without moral virtue.” (Aristotle) In conclusion, it is fundamental to realize that the Book VI of The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle deals with the various aspects of the intellectual virtues, scientific knowledge, art or technical skill, prudence or practical wisdom, intuition, and wisdom.

Work Cited Aristotle. Book VI: Nicomachean Ethics. Transln. W. D. Ross. 350 B.C.E. Internet Classic Archive. 19 July, 2011. .