Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book II.3 and I.3.

Why in Book II, which is devoted to ethical virtue, is Aristotle so concerned with discussing pleasure and pain?

Aristotle discusses pleasure and pain because they are tied to ethical virtue. He sees them as essential motivators that shape character and align actions with virtue or vice.

How can pleasure and pain assist in being good/virtuous?

Pleasure, when aligned with virtue, reinforces good habits, while pain discourages vice. This alignment between pleasure and virtue leads to ethical actions becoming second nature.

How can pleasure and pain undermine being good/virtuous?

When pleasure is pursued wrongly, it leads to vice, while excessive aversion to pain can cause avoidance of virtuous but challenging actions. Both disrupt the development of moral character.

How is pleasure and pain a sign of one’s good ethical character/state?

Pleasure in virtuous acts and discomfort in vice reflect a well-formed ethical character. The ability to feel the right emotions in response to actions signifies a virtuous state.

What does Aristotle say is right/correct education?

Aristotle emphasizes habituation in virtue through pleasure and pain. Correct education trains individuals to feel pleasure in good actions and pain in bad ones, shaping ethical character.

What is the connection (middle term) between ethical virtue and pleasure and pain in Aristotle’s argument?

The middle term in Aristotle's argument is "passions," which are accompanied by pleasure and pain. Since virtue involves actions related to passions, and these passions are inherently tied to pleasure and pain, virtue must be connected to them.

Are you surprised by how significant Aristotle takes pleasure and pain to be in the development and practice of ethical virtue?

Aristotle’s focus on pleasure and pain is surprising because it emphasizes emotions in moral development, showing that virtue is not only about reasoning but also about managing feelings.

Why does Aristotle think young people are not ready to benefit from political (and ethical) discussions?

Aristotle argues that young people lack the life experience and developed passions necessary for understanding ethical matters. Their impulsivity and tendency toward pleasure make them unfit for serious ethical reasoning.