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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Aristotle's view, what virtue necessarily accompanies or is within the virtue of magnificence?

2. In Aristotle's thinking, the function of man is an activity of soul which follows upon or implies the soul's possession of what?

3. Aristotle states that the good of one person is also, to a different degree, the good of what according to I.2?

4. What, in the observations of Aristotle, becomes of a man who is given the power to rule and gives himself more of what is good in itself?

5. Living in accordance with virtue can be said to be what, according to Aristotle?

Short Essay Questions

1. With what virtuous dispositions are Book IV, Chapters 6-9 concerned?

2. In what way does Aristotle claim gentleness (or mildness) is related to the virtues concerned with honor and magnanimity?

3. What is the relationship that Aristotle cites as existing between opposites in coming to know what is or is not the right way for a thing to be, such as health?

4. According to Aristotle, in what way is justice reciprocal, and why?

5. What is Aristotle's distinction between the sort of injustice that is unlawful and the sort of injustice that is inequitable?

6. To which of the vicious extremes is the truthful man closer in disposition and why, according to Aristotle?

7. What characterizes Aristotle's notion of the generous person?

8. Explain Aristotle's distinction between the good and the apparent good, and those who pursue each, as given in III.4.

9. What does it mean to say, as Aristotle explains it, that nothing can be habituated to be other than it is by nature?

10. What does Aristotle mean by saying that a virtue is an active condition or state of the soul?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the Ethics, the topic of man's volitional powers frequently becomes relevant to the subject at hand. Compose an analytical essay which considers the relationship of man's will to his virtue, particularly regarding the topics of friendship and justice. Why is man's will important to these topics? What is the role of man's volitional powers in his pursuit of virtue? How does man's will relate to his states of moral character? How does it relate to his friendships? Why is it important to the enacting of justice?

Essay Topic 2

As one of the virtues primarily dealing with the irrational part of the soul, temperance figures centrally in Aristotle's conception of virtue. Compose an essay which analyzes Aristotle's presentation of the virtue of temperance. What part of the soul does temperance restrain? How does it restrain it? With what is temperance concerned? What stands in opposition to temperance? Why is temperance important to being a virtuous person?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a true friend is considered to be, in a certain sense, a second self. Compose an essay which considers this claim in the context of Aristotle's examination of friendship. What would it mean for someone to be a second self? How is true friendship related to others? How is friendship related to the self? In what sort of acts does one treat another as though a second self? What characterizes these acts?

(see the answer keys)

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