Philosophy by the Book

What is the nature of happiness? What life will bring us the most happiness? Today we finish the Nichomachean Ethics. 

The nature of friendship continued. What should we do if we become much more virtuous than our friends? What if one of our friends goes down a bad path? How many friends can we reasonably have? Can we be friends with ourselves? Should we care for ourselves more than we care for others?

What is friendship? Are there different sorts of friendship? What sorts of people are attracted to each other? How does friendship relate to civic relationships? Can we be friends with those much better or worse than us?

How can we resist our desires in order to act in accordance with reason? Are different sorts of desires different? Is avoiding a pleasure the same as resisting a pain?

What is wisdom? How does it help us in our day to day lives? 

What is Aristotle's conception of Justice? How should goods be distributed among people? What role does money play in the establishment of just states? How important is Justice? If we commit injustices are we unjust people?

What is pride? What is liberality? Are their virtues associated with just hanging out with friends?

What is courage? Are there things that seem like courage but which aren't courage? How can we determine what actions are truly voluntary?

How does one become excellent? Is one good because he does good things? Or does one do good things because he is good? Can someone do good but not be good?

What is the purpose of life and how can we achieve it? How is our current state of mind affected by our past actions? What is the nature of happiness?