Nicomachean Ethics

High school (ages 12+)
Philosophy & Big Questions

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/nicomachean-ethics

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote Nicomachean Ethics?Aristotle (384–322 BCE), a Greek philosopher and polymath
2. What is the primary focus?The nature of the highest human good, identified as eudaimonia (flourishing/well-being)
3. What is the central tenet?Virtue ethics, emphasizing character development and habitual virtuous action
4. What is the Nicomachean Ethics about?It is a book by Aristotle that explains how to live a happy and good life by practicing good character and using reason.
5. Why does Aristotle say we need to be virtuous to be happy?He says virtue is part of happiness, not just a way to get it, so being good helps us feel well and fulfilled.

Eudaimonia: A state of human flourishing, well-being, and living a life of excellence, often translated as happiness.
Phronesis: Practical wisdom; the intellectual virtue that enables one to discern the right course of action in specific situations.
Arete: Greek term for excellence or virtue, referring to the highest potential of a thing or person.