Test and Midterm Study Guide* — Aristotle, EN 1–7 HSPH 102 – updated 2/25/10

For the handouts, see http://faculty.cua.edu/hoffmann/courses/102_1101/102.htm

The Nicomachean Ethics contains four major topics (cf. EN 10.9.1179a 33): Happiness (EN 1; EN
10.6–8), virtue (EN 2–7.10), pleasure (EN 7.11–14; 10.1–5) and friendship (EN 8–9). A fifth
topic is touched upon: law (EN 5.1; 10.9). It is further developed in Aristotle’s Politics.

General Questions
• What is incontinence? How is incontinence possible? (EN 7.1–3)
• What is happiness (i.e. the highest good)? What elements are required to consider a per-
son happy? What are the different views on happiness? (EN 1)
• What is the definition of virtue? Explain each element of the definition. (EN 2)
• When precisely are actions voluntary? What is choice? What are conditions for responsi-
bility? (EN 3.1–5)
• What is courage? What is temperance? What is justice? What is practical wisdom (pru-
dence)? (EN 3.6–EN 6)

Detailed Questions
Vice—Incontinence—Continence—Virtue:
• Why and how are parts of the soul to be distinguished? How do these three parts relate
to the moral and intellectual virtues? (EN 1.13)
• What is incontinence? (EN 7.1–2) For Aristotle’s description of the incontinent man,
see 7.2.1146b 2–3.
• What is Socrates’ view on incontinence? (EN 7.2)
• How do temperance (self-control), continence (moral strength), incontinence (moral
weakness), and self-indulgence differ? (Handout #1)
• Why is incontinence a puzzling phenomenon? (EN 7.2)
The Good—the Highest Good—Happiness:
• How does Aristotle describe the term “good”? (EN 1.1)
• On what grounds does Aristotle establish that happiness is the highest good? (Three ar-
guments: EN 1.7; handout #4)
• How does he show that happiness consists in “activity of soul in conformity with virtue”?
(EN 1.7; handout #4)
Moral virtue (in General)
• How does Aristotle define moral virtue? (EN 2.6; handout #5)
• Which actions and emotions have no mean of virtue, i.e., are always bad? (EN 2.6)
• How do we attain the virtues? (EN 2.1; 2.4)
• Which features are indispensable for acts of moral virtue? (handout #5)

*
For the Test, only the material which will be covered before the date of the Test will be relevant.
Voluntariness and Choice
• What conditions render emotions and actions involuntary? (EN 3.1; handout #6)
• Are all voluntary actions done by choice (i.e. as a result of deliberation)? (EN 3.2)
• What is the difference between actions done by choice, voluntary actions that are not
done by choice, acts done under compulsion, actions of mixed nature, and actions due to
ignorance? (EN 3.1–2; handout #6)
• What is choice? What is deliberation? (EN 3.2–3)
• Is ignorance always a valid excuse for bad actions? (EN 3.1; 3.5.)
Courage (Bravery)
• What is the definition of a courageous man? (EN 3.6–7)
• How can the virtue of courage be pleasant even though it may deal with the danger of
death? (EN 3.9)
• Is a reckless person “too courageous”? (EN 2.6.1107a22–23) According to Aristotle’s ob-
servation, is the reckless person without fear? (EN 3.7)
Temperance
• What is the definition of the temperate man? (EN 3.11)
• With what pleasures is self-control concerned? (EN 3.10)
• Why is self-indulgence bad? (EN 3.10; 3.12)
Pride (Magnanimity)
• What characterizes the proud (magnanimous) person? (EN 4.3)
• Why is pride (magnanimity) the “crown of virtues”? (EN 4.3)
• Why is undue humility (pusillanimity) bad? (EN 4.3)
Justice
• What is justice? What is its mean? (EN 5.1–2)
• Why can justice be called “complete virtue”? (EN 5.1)
• How do “distributive justice” and “rectificatory justice” differ? (EN 5.3–4; handout #7)
• Which criterion serves for doing justice with regard to (1) distribution, and (2) recti-
fication? (EN 5.3–4; handout #7)
• What is equity? (EN 5.10)
Intellectual Virtues
• How do production and action differ? (EN 6.2; compare the difference between art and
moral virtue, EN 2.4 and handout #5)
• What is practical wisdom? (EN 6.5)
• How do art (i.e., craft knowledge), practical wisdom (prudence), and philosophic wisdom
reason differ? (6.3–7; handout #8)
• Why does practical wisdom require experience? (EN 6.7)