Notes on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics

The Nicomachean Ethics is a challenging text on any translation, but there are some features of Chase’s
that may make it a bit harder. Thus, in 1.7 (pp. 9-13 below) we get Aristotle’s famous “function
argument” for his conception of happiness. But a student might have an especially difficult time
locating this argument on Chase’s translation. Consider this passage:

So then Happiness is manifestly something final and self-sufficient, being the end
of all things which are and may be done.
But, it may be, to call Happiness the Chief Good is a mere truism, and what is
wanted is some clearer account of its real nature. Now this object may be easily
attained, when we have discovered what is the work of man ... (p. 11, below; my
emphasis).

Now compare Terence Irwin’s newer translation:

Happiness, then, is apparently something complete and self-sufficient, since it is

the end of the things achievable in action.
But presumably the remark that the best good is happiness is apparently something
[generally] agreed, and we still need a clearer statement of what the best good is.
Perhaps, then, we shall find this if we first grasp the function of a human being
(1097b21-25; my emphasis).1,2

Or consider Irwin’s translation of Aristotle’s initial account of human happiness: “… the human good
proves to be activity of the soul in accord with virtue ...” (1098a16-18). Now Chase’s: “… the Good
of Man comes to be ‘a working of the Soul in the way of Excellence’ …” (p. 12).3

A question to ask yourself as you proceed: What does Aristotle mean by the word “Happiness”? This
is a very standard translation (even Irwin uses it). When we (at least, North Americans) use this word,
we seem to use it to indicate a good feeling, a sense of contentment, or something like that. This does
not seem far from saying that happiness just is pleasure, broadly conceived. But Aristotle indicates that
this is the wrong account of happiness (p. 5). Perhaps, then, Aristotle isn’t using the word
“Happiness” in quite the same way that we do? What do you think he means? Try to come up with
some synonyms.

1 2nd ed. Trans. Terence Irwin. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1999.
2 “ergon” can be translated as “work” but also as “function.” This is also a good place to note that the standardized
pagination for Aristotle’s works is the Bekker pagination (e.g., 1097b21-25). You will see references to the Bekker pages
in the margins of Chase’s translation.
3 “aretē” can be translated as “excellence” but also as “virtue.”
The Greek here is
sometimes translated
“political science.”
[AR]
See editorial note
above. [AR]
See editorial note
above. [AR]