Literary Devices in The Nicomachean Ethics
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
Written around 350 BCE, the philosophies in Aristotle's Ethics weren't just for the ancient Greeks. Analyzing setting for Ethics might be a weightless conversation, given he's addressing all o...
Narrator Point of View
As we struggle through Ethics, we have to remember that Ethics is a record of Aristotle's lectures to his students at the Academy in Athens…rather than a work composed only to be read individuall...
Genre
It can't be anything else, y'all. This is Aristotle we're talking about: the guy who was known simply as "The Philosopher." He's kind of a big deal.But what does it mean, exactly, to say that we're...
Tone
Aristotle has some serious work to get done by the end of these lectures, so for the most part, he's all about laying it down and marching on. But every once in a while, he drops a gem like this: F...
Writing Style
Because Aristotle deals in concepts, he's often given to meta-discourse that can make our eyes glaze over. His writing can feel abstract or fuzzy when this happens—what he's talking about becomes...
What's Up With the Title?
We get the "Ethics" part—these lectures are all about being good, happy, and generally pleasant to be around. Easy-peasy.But what in the name of all that is ethical does "Nicomachean" mean?Trick...
What's Up With the Ending?
Aristotle doesn't end Ethics so much as begin Politics. He's an overachiever like that.He moves from a discussion about how awesome the contemplative life is into a rant about the education of thos...
Tough-o-Meter
We're not gonna lie: this is some serious literature. You should not be surprised, of course, since this is a work of head-scratching, mind-melting, tear-your-hair-out philosophy. Let's talk about...
Trivia
Before settling down in Athens to head the Academy, Aristotle had this little job tutoring young Alexander of Macedonia, who would, you know, become Great.(Source) Contrary to popular belief, Arist...
Steaminess Rating
There is absolutely no sex in Aristotle's Ethics—with one exception. He does use the term "erotic love" a couple of times in Book 8, but he doesn't give any graphic examples. The relationship bet...
Allusions
Aeschylus (3.1.1111a10, 12)Anaxandrides (7.10.1152a21)Aphrodite (7.6.1149b16)Cyclops (10.9.1180a29)Empedocles (7.3.1147a21, 1147b13; 8.1.1155b8)Endymion (10.8.1178b20)Epicharmus (9.7.1167b26)Euripi...