Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Book 2

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary characteristic of virtue that distinguishes it from art?

Virtue is more focused on avoiding excess and defect than art.
Virtue is more concerned with passions and actions than art.
Virtue is more exact and better than any art, as nature also is. (correct)
Virtue aims at the intermediate, while art seeks perfection.

According to the passage, what is the relationship between virtue and pleasure and pain?

Virtue seeks to avoid pleasure and pain.
Virtue is achieved through the pursuit of pleasure and pain.
Virtue is indifferent to pleasure and pain.
Virtue is concerned with how one manages pleasure and pain. (correct)

What does the text suggest is the result of excess or defect in actions?

A state of heightened awareness and heightened emotional response.
A form of mediocrity and lack of distinction.
A form of failure and unsuccessful actions. (correct)
A state of calmness and equilibrium.

What is the primary focus of moral virtue, according to the text?

Controlling and managing passions and actions to find a balance. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What point is the author making by comparing the acquisition of virtue to the learning of grammar?

Virtue, unlike grammar, is not simply learned through doing, but also through intent. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the text define the intermediate in the context of virtue?

A relative concept that varies depending on the individual and situation. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's main argument in the first paragraph?

The pursuit of virtue is more challenging than the pursuit of pleasure. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the phrase "for even the good is better when it is harder" in the passage?

It implies that the value of good deeds is enhanced by their difficulty. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text as an example of a passion that can be felt too much or too little?

Envy (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between good works of art and the intermediate?

Good works of art are successful when they strike a balance between excess and defect. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does the author connect the idea of fighting against pleasure to the topic of virtue?

He uses the analogy to demonstrate the difficulty of achieving true virtue. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why does the text compare virtue to a kind of mean?

Because virtue, like a mean, strives for balance between opposing extremes. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a point made by the author in the second paragraph?

Virtuous acts are inherently good, regardless of the intent behind them. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What analogy does the author use to explain the difference between doing something ‘grammatically’ and being a ‘grammarian’?

The act of playing music. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the text's assertion that "good artists, as we say, look to this in their work"?

Artists are expected to consider the intermediate when creating their work. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best summarizes the author's argument about the relationship between virtue and action?

Virtue is developed through consistent and intentional performance of virtuous acts. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, which of the following is considered an extreme, rather than a mean, when it comes to virtue?

Rashness (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the passage argue about the possibility of finding a mean in unjust, cowardly, and voluptuous actions?

There is no mean in such actions because they are inherently wrong. (A) Signup and view all the answers

The author suggests that statements about conduct need to be applied to individual facts. What does this suggest about the nature of virtue?

Virtue is situational and requires judgment in specific cases. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an action considered wrong, according to the passage?

It is done in a way that is neither excessive nor deficient. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's main point in comparing courage to the mean in feelings of fear and confidence?

Virtue is a state of balance, where extremes should be avoided. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best represents the author’s view of the relationship between virtue and action?

Virtue and action are inextricably linked, with virtue shaping action and action refining virtue. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, what is the primary distinction between the mean and excess or deficiency in actions?

The mean is always desirable, while excess and deficiency are always undesirable. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a key element discussed in the passage regarding the concept of virtue?

The pursuit of external rewards and recognition. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to Aristotle, how do we become virtuous?

By consistently acting in ways that exemplify virtue. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle mean by 'states of character'?

Observable behaviors reflecting a person's personality. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why does Aristotle emphasize the importance of starting virtuous habits early in life?

Early habits have a lasting influence on the development of character. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the ultimate goal of Aristotle's ethical inquiry?

To provide practical guidance for living a fulfilling life. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between actions and states of character, according to Aristotle?

Actions determine the nature of states of character. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why does Aristotle claim that there would be no need for teachers if everyone were born good or bad at their craft?

Because skills are acquired through practice and instruction, not innate talent. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Aristotle's statement that 'states of character arise out of like activities'?

It emphasizes the importance of repetition in developing virtuous habits. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is Aristotle's main point in the excerpt from the Nicomachean Ethics?

The role of habituation in shaping our moral character. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to Aristotle, which of the following is NOT considered a passion?

Virtue (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why does Aristotle argue that passions are not the basis for judging someone's goodness or badness?

We are judged based on how we manage and respond to our passions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a faculty as described by Aristotle?

The ability to act virtuously (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to Aristotle, what is the difference between a passion and a state of character?

Passions are involuntary while states of character involve choice. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is Aristotle's main point in this passage?

To define the relationship between passions, faculties, and states of character. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why does Aristotle mention that we are neither praised nor blamed for feeling a passion in a certain way but are praised or blamed for our virtues?

To distinguish between the involuntary nature of passions and the volitional nature of virtue. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the passage, what is the relationship between passions and virtues?

Virtues are the result of controlling and managing our passions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle mean when he says we are not 'moved' in respect of the virtues and vices but 'disposed' in a particular way?

We are not compelled by our virtues and vices but rather inclined to act in certain ways. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest is the reason it is easier to "miss the mark" than to "hit it"?

Evil belongs to the unlimited, which is easier to access than the limited. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a vice according to the text?

Justice (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the text imply about excess and defect?

They are both characteristics of vice. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How can virtue be achieved?

By choosing the mean between excess and defect. (B), By following the principles of practical wisdom. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea of the text?

It is easier to be bad than good. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why are actions like adultery, theft, and murder considered wrong?

They are inherently evil, regardless of the context or circumstances. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by "the mean relative to us"?

The mean is determined by the rational principle of practical wisdom. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of virtue, according to the text?

It is a state of character concerned with choice. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Virtue and Pleasure

Virtue is concerned with how we manage pleasures and pains, determining moral character.

Heraclitus' saying

It's harder to fight with pleasure than with anger, emphasizing the power of emotions.

Moral acts

Just and temperate acts define a person's moral character; doing them leads to being just or temperate.