A review by ayla_derammelaere
Ethica Nicomachea by Aristotle

challenging informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.0



The Ethica Nicomachea is Aristotle's book in which he writes about what the definition is of a good man. 
One of the biggest statements he takes, is saying that facts are more important than beautiful words and theories.

The book is parted in 10 chapters, each one covers a subject that is part of having a successful life. He warns us about the extremities and says we need to focus on the middle : don't feel or do too much or too little of something.

Aristotle lets us know that you can feel short moments of happiness during life, but you can only tell if someone was happy at the end of their life, when you can see all he has done and all he has become. 
I write 'he' since in Aristotle's time, women couldn't become 'happy' in the way Aristotle meant since women couldn't become part of the social/political life and that is one of the necessities to become happy (meaning that children and slaves and other non-free men were also not able to become happy or succeeded in life).
For Aristotle a man can only be named happy when he's succeeded in every part of life : he is married, has children and friends, he has enough money to be comfortable, he has an amazing character and does good to others, people look up to him and he stays humble,.. needless to say that not many people become truly happy but it's something we all need to try and achieve to the best of our possibilities.