Lovers of Virtue

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Book 1 Chapter 8a

This is a rendition of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics for contemporary readers. Brief, understandable pieces with a short practice to integrate the wisdom into your life. No philosophical background necessary. 

In this piece, Aristotle discusses the relationship between pleasure and virtue.

The excellent man lives a pleasant life. For a life is full of pleasure if one attains what one desires. And the excellent man both delights in actions of virtue and achieves them.

Part of being good is to passionately love the good, not just to act in accordance with good while desiring evil. To be good is to take pleasure in what is naturally most fitting for man. For:

‘Noblest is what is most just, and best is to be healthy;

Most pleasant by nature is for one to attain what he passionately desires’

And the virtuous passionately desire the good.

How good is the life of the passionately virtuous!

Theoretical inquiry is not complete until the abstract ideas have been clothed in concrete reality. If you want this knowledge to truly influence your life, do this practice. Be serious about living well.

Practice:

• Set a timer for 2-5 minutes and list all the virtuous actions you passionately desire.