Nicomachean Ethics
by Aristotle · first published 1558
40% recommend59% neutral1% critical
Why HN recommends it
Accessible starting point for Western ethics, often paired with Plato's Republic. Valued for its account of happiness as virtuous activity built through habit, and for prompting reflection on why we do our work.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
An detailed examination of what the best life might be for human beings. In order to anwer this question, Aristotle finds he also has to examine what virtue itself is and all of the various virtues that might make up the best life.
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…Books" program in the country, the Torrey Honors College. Here are the strictly philosophy texts they had us start off with the first semester: Plato's Meno, Symposium, and Republic, and Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. You can find the full reading list here: https://www.biola.edu/torrey/academics/reading-list If you want to dig in more, I would encourage you to look into the "Great Books of the Western World" set…
on “Ask HN: Learning about philosophy” ↗…self-defense against Polyphemus. It's pretty obvious Circe was taking advantage of Odysseus' lack of prudence. If you seriously think the ancient Greek world was devoid of morality, you need to read Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.
on “The good guy/bad guy myth” ↗Yes. I thought I had an idea of what Aristotle was about. I had STUDIED several courses on Philosophy. Then I read him. The Nicomachean Ethics. Man, did he blow my mind. Same with Aquinas and Nietzsche. You cannot tik-tok a book. You cannot tik-tok the experience of watching a movie… EDIT: you can maybe transmit the urgency (anxiousness,…
on “TikTok Pedagogy: Teaching Philosophy in 60 Seconds or Less” ↗Aristotle wrote quite a bit on this subject. Check out Nicomachean Ethics for a nice dry read. I think Aristotle would say that since a job is ultimately not in your control and you can be fired for reasons out of your control, you must compartmentalize your attachment, or…
on “What it feels like to be bullied out of a job you love” ↗Not joking: Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is a very interesting read, albeit in an (obviously) old way of writing. But I think this is a must if you want to read about ethics. At least the Western notion.
on “Daniel Dennett: The Normal Well-Tempered Mind” ↗Aristotle is nothing if not astute. If you’d like more, I highly recommend Nicomachean Ethics.
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite motto?” ↗…dilemma, when the creater Mike Schur was asked about which philosophical system was closest to his own beliefs, he replied that it would have to be Aristotle's virtue ethics. I personally found reading Nicomachean Ethics a fascinating experience, because it was written pre-Christianity, so the complete and utter lack of notions of "good and evil" is revelatory. We're so used to thinking in such terms in much of the world,…
on “Nicomachean Ethics” ↗…2. Last Days of Socrates—Plato (Read only if you've time.) It's important in the grand scheme of Greek philosophy and the fact that Plato was affected by the execution of Socrates (his teacher). 3. Nicomachean Ethics—Aristotle (Likely too long now but essential later). Any Aristotle text is worthy of study, he's a giant in the field, his influence is still stamped all over Western culture today. Phil. is incomplete…
on “Philosophy of Science: Suggested Core Readings and Background Texts [pdf]” ↗…and Plato's style has always irritated me for some reason I can't quite put my finger on. I could probably keep tying titles all day, so I'll stop with those that first popped into my head. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics David Chalmers, The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory Gottlob Frege, Die Grundlagen der Arithmetik Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding J.S.…
on “Ask HN: Best Philosophical Books?” ↗Plato's dialogues are way, way easier to read than Aristotle; try some of these (Symposium, the Republic...). From Aristotle, "nicomachean ethics" is quite a good read IMO, I'd start with this.
on “The Amazing Colossal Science Fiction Ketchup” ↗"Nicomachean Ethics" by Aristotle. It's easy sometimes to get caught up in the idea of doing things for technology sake or because it would be cool to implement or to make a lot of money. Reading this book really made me…
on “Ask HN: What book impacted your life the most and how?” ↗…interested in before. I think most of these social issues find their roots in ethics, so if you're interested in that this would be my suggestion: start off with Plato's Republic[1], move on to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics[2] and then Christian philosophers (Aquinas[3], for example) and then (my favorite) John Stewart Mill. I often suggest his On Liberty[4] on HN. It's one of the absolute best primers to modern social ethics…
on “Will.i.am's startup raises $117M, enters enterprise market” ↗Nicomachean Ethics - http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html On Liberty - https://www.utilitarianism.com/ol/one.html Reading those allows a masterful foundation for understanding ethics, which is crucial for…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago?” ↗I thought the "Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 2nd Edition" revision was quite good. Can be found on Amazon.
on “Nicomachean Ethics” ↗This newer one from University of Chicago Press is really nice. https://www.amazon.com/Aristotles-Nicomachean-Ethics-Aristot...
on “Nicomachean Ethics” ↗