Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, book 1 - Ethics and Moral Theory

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In this lecture from my Fall 2011 Ethics class at Marist College, we start Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and discuss the range of answers to the question: What is Happiness? We also discuss means, ends, and disciplines.
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#philosophy #Aristotle #ethics
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[@simpleman951]

This was a great lecture Mr. Penn.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, no need for you to watch it then, if that bothers you, I suppose. If you've got your own ideas about how to do it better, feel free to shoot your own philosophy videos, and send them my way.

[@cutelovegigi]

the way you give you class is beautiful. thank you very much Dr. Gregory for sharing your class

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Giyibiti Vam You're very welcome!

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Giyibiti Vam You're very welcome

[@kylelane630]

Dr. Sadler Thank you for sharing your lectures, which work in harmony with my preferred visual and aural learning styles. I really enjoyed your warm style to the students and it triggered my brain into jotting notes for my exam. All the best Kyle

[@heatherwardrop9847]

Dr. Sadler, I am so glad that I have come across your video lectures. I am taking an intro to philosophy course, and you have helped me to decipher so many of the readings I have needed to do. Thank you!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad they were helpful for you!

[@tommygunnbenjaminz2292]

I'm 5 minutes in and I can't help but think your awesome man. Keep living life to the fullest!!!

[@alexwise41]

Thank you Dr. Sadler, you really changed my perspective in this class, I am very thankful I came across this video. Cheers!!

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Alex Wise Glad the video was useful for you

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome. Glad they are a good resource for you

[@DysmasTheGoodThief]

Well done, sir. Don't know what I'd do without great videos like this.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you found it useful!

[@ellaxoxo15]

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad the videos are helpful for you

[@FiftyShadesOfAndrewGray]

I have always been interested in philosophy and am finally doubling down and reading texts. Found you from your No Exit video and was really happy when I saw you had this on Aristotle because, whew! Way more dense and it's helpful to have this to supplement my reading

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad the videos are helpful for you

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad the videos were helpful!

[@dariodimarziasalvatore971]

This lecture gets better and better if you watch it long enough. I respect your virtue. Bad luck noone here makes videos like this. Greetings from Czech Republic and sorry for my bad english

[@makenziek7829]

Dear Dr. Sandler, your lectures have saved my philosophy grade at an ivy league school.You are the best

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad they've been helpful.

[@Kristofferan]

Thank you!! :) Cant wait to se more! This is really educating!! :D

[@GregoryBSadler]

@doctordoctordocism Congratulations! So, what next for you? I will keep on with the videos, but I'm not sure what I'm going to tackle next. Most of these can be used for my Ethics classes next semester, and I'll probably make some more closely focused, perhaps shorter, videos to supplement them. Maybe it's time to start back with more Dr. Sadler's Chalk and Talk vids

[@angiemisbehaving5441]

This has been very helpful to me. I was lucky to find your channel. I look forward to watching all your videos. :)

[@GregoryBSadler]

Angie Misbehaving Glad the video was useful for you! All of the videos? -- that might take quite some time. . . .

[@angiemisbehaving5441]

Gregory B. Sadler Well if they are easy for me understand like this one, I am sure I can make time to view them in my free time. Thanks again. You have no idea the struggle I was having. I only have one class on ethics but this really did help.

[@user-kb8vg3sm7g]

Sir, this lecture made me reflect about life. Thanks for sharing this! :D

[@GregoryBSadler]

+0000 000 Glad you found it useful!

[@citisolo1]

A ward of the court ?! Wow it's quite inspiring to see how you've changed your life around !

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad to read it! You're welcome

[@GregoryBSadler]

I'm glad you liked the lecture

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you like the course videos. Is LAPC Los Angeles Pierce College? Or the Liberal Arts in Practice Center? Or somewhere else?

[@carlosrangel3986]

Amazing, thank you for share to us your knowledge!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You’re very welcome

[@electriciandallastx9182]

Thanks for the thoughts you have contributed here.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome

[@GregoryBSadler]

@piper5018 hahaha! I expect I'm also on the "older side," but fortunately still appear younger than I am. Thanks for the compliment -- which is a pretty weighty one for me -- I've started to get clear, after more than a decade of teaching undergraduates, what my role really is -- to communicate what is vital in these classic texts and authors to people who haven't yet glimpsed it, so that we can all share in the life of the mind -- and for students, that they'll continue that life after college

[@Nestorpx90]

Thanks so much for the videos, i cant wait to take ethics and philosophy at school.

[@GregoryBSadler]

I do indeed -- though I've not been writing on the blogs over the summer. My main blog is Orexis Dianoetike, and I've also got Virtue Ethics Digest and Sadler's Existentialism Updates. I'll be resuming writing for them shortly, and bringing a new blog out fairly soon (a bit of a surprise, so I'll not say much about it right yet) If you go to my KZbin channel, you'll see links to my Facebook page, my Twitter site, LinkedIn site, and Pinterest. I've got a few other "web presence" sites

[@Mongoosemcqueen]

You're the best, Dr Sadler

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoy the videos!

[@hollygoldmane5099]

Watching in Riga, Latvia. The day before my philosophy exam. Thank you so much!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome

[@shaunwebb3729]

great upload. i've set a goal for myself to read the great thinkers of the west, and Plato was just fine but Aristotle's writing style is a bit more tedious and i've been struggling a bit getting through his ethics. this helps a lot, thanks!

[@zacharyschabel7822]

wow. What a good guy. He knows what is good, he's like Aristotle!!!

[@jupitersstring2823]

Moving lecture. Thank you

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, first off, I've had playlists about Ethics for several years now. Second, it's actually "Sadler"

[@suhailansari3593]

Great lecture !

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@GregoryBSadler]

@piper5018 I'm sorry to hear that. It seems to me that Aristotle (and many other philosophers) -- and students -- deserve professors who genuinely desire to study, teach, and communicate a passion for the class-material. Some students will,on their own, perhaps even despite their professors, discover something worthwhile in these texts -- because it's there. But so many others need as a guide someone who is themselves deeply interested in the texts. I'm glad these videos could be of use

[@GregoryBSadler]

I don't have one at present -- maybe an idea to kick around once the semester's done

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, that would be a long way to travel! But, I do give talks (if you like, check out the playlist of Talks on my channel), so you could always suggest to the people who handle that sort of thing out there that they bring me in to do a talk, if you like

[@BobHuddleston1967]

Are you planning on doing anything on Rawls?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, an Aristotelian response to that kind of lens of suspicion would be to point out that something like what Freud describes is one way matters go wrong in moral development and life (and so, perhaps in the environment Freud was observing, things had gone wrong for quite some time. . . . ) Any person acting in accordance with virtue, but doing so because of the pressure of the super-ego (warring against the id) would be at best self-controlled (enkrates), not virtuous

[@massacreee3028]

Great lecture! Only Heidegger can make me reread plato and Aristotle, he writes extensively about them it’s eye opening to see that such a great philosopher sees such value in extensively analyzing their books !

[@GregoryBSadler]

That's too bad, that it takes Heidegger's say-so to get you to reread great philosophers. You'd expect that you would have realized they're worth reading from your first reading of them

[@massacreee3028]

@@GregoryBSadler I mean you’re right. I wasn’t interested in politics/ethics at all at that time which made me want to not engage with Plato who dabbles in all fields, then read only Aristotle’s metaphysics with a keen eye which I really liked. Completely skipped Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas( bad idea), mainly because I was so intimated by the amount of reading I have to do( I wanted dive into German idealism asap at that time) I was a Spinoza Stan for a good 3 months lmao.

[@hyeness2]

Two questions, perhaps I wasn't paying attention (most probably) but are these virtues the means to the end(happiness)? 2nd: is this not the same as Bentham's approach to happiness (utilitarianism)? Great video, really helped!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Sure, if that's how you like to see it. Or. . . you could see it as responding to a more or less irrelevant comment, which has nothing to do with the Aristotle we're discussing, on a video I've provided for free.

[@TheTheode]

I find Aristotle incredibly dry after reading Plato, so thanks for these lectures, I use them as a through-line to consolidate what I'm reading as I drift.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad they're helpful for you

[@b.alyssaacklin2274]

Is there any way we can access the handouts that you gave your class? Thank you for posting this lecture!

[@GregoryBSadler]

Some are available on my academia.edu page

[@federicatumolo1379]

very helpful :)

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad to read it

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks. . . I think. . .

[@GregoryBSadler]

Let's start with the last question: Aristotle is examining the question of happiness (rather than just making an argument about it) dialectically, because Ethicsis concerned with how we ought to live, the good life, etc -- and we are creatures that reason to ends (as he said at at the start). Aristotle doesn't think it actually needs to be established that humans all strive for happiness -- the issue is distinguishing better and worse views on what happiness is or comprises

[@GregoryBSadler]

That's very nice praise! So, nobody in the Czech Republic is shooting these kinds of lecture videos? Unfortunate -- the technology is relatively easy to get and to use. . . .

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, there's nothing special we do -- just a flip cam, no extra mike. So, it just happened to work out well

[@manupl5960]

Hi Sadlor, Can you please create a playlist for ethics, it will be very useful if you create playlist so that we can view your videos in the order, right now all videos are jumbled, Appreciate if you consider my request , by the way your videos are so good , dont know what books you refer , that is leading to best lectures.... do more videos for us

[@EYEsp33kh8]

I thought this was Penn Gillette at first! Nice lecture.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@soju69jinro]

i can't wait to start nicomachean ethics as my senior thesis paper :D

[@GregoryBSadler]

That's really great to hear!

[@soju69jinro]

your videos truly help me especially when i have to understand philosophical texts with my reading disorder! Haha...

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks. It's hallowed usage. I'm going to stick with calling it "Theologica", as I've done in several decades of studying and teaching it.

[@GregoryBSadler]

@doctordoctordocism Well, I'm glad you're tossing me softball suggestions! It would be very fun to revisit Hegel, who I used to work on, but who is also difficult to teach. Yep, the job market is tough at present -- I'm only part-time myself now. Law school is a good idea -- a debt, sure, but one that can be paid off by the return on investment in the degree. You'll also find a lot of interesting connections between philosophy and law

[@gbrownie69]

Some would say this man is too slow. Some would also say, "quality over quantity". This man delivers both of the latter through the former. :) If you like fast search 3 minute philosophy lol Liked&subed :)

[@GregoryBSadler]

garry brown Yes, a few complain from time to time that my presentations are too slow. I point them towards the glitzy, high-production shorts and tell them Good Luck with their studies. . .

[@miladnikkhesal552]

thank you dear sir , from a medical student in iran

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Milad Nikkhesal You're very welcome!

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Milad Nikkhesal You're welcome

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, you're in luck -- there's a whole playlist of Aristotle videos

[@GregoryBSadler]

So, question 1: in a sense, yes. But, if you take the view that they're merely means, you won't become virtuous, or attain happiness -- you see, happiness consists in virtuous activity, along with some other conditions. And, to be virtuous will require that a person not see virtue merely as a means. Question 2: Bentham would like you to think so, but in reality, No

[@GregoryBSadler]

So, 2 questions really: 1) Can I learn to be virtuous by reading/study with application? 2) What will I get from being virtuous? Good questions To 1 -- yes, but it is a continuous process, where you have to check and correct course every so often. Aristotle did intend the N.E.-- along with some of his other works -- to map out the good, virtuous life. To 2 -- no necessary connection, but if you are virtuous, people do tend to want you around, and things generally turn out well

[@adweinstein10]

thanks for putting this on the internet. do you have a blog?

[@GregoryBSadler]

I have several, but I'm not writing on them at present

[@adweinstein10]

alright, well I hope you keep the youtube community posted.

[@tammytam6617]

It just looks long and boring, but if you watch this, you will definitely learn a lot!! I wish my teachers in my college is like him >.<

[@GregoryBSadler]

Perhaps down the line.

[@MrShylock56]

You're dudeness, nice!

[@GregoryBSadler]

+liam o conlacha Thanks!

[@topshotta1977]

Speaking of the gray area, I feel as we are publicly gray & personally black & white. Personally, the means to an end is a compilation of desired means drawn from the public.

[@GregoryBSadler]

who's the "we" you're speaking of? I'd have a hard time saying that universally about many people I know

[@topshotta1977]

We as in a collection of individuals. The point I was trying to make was that by using the term "universal", that automatically qualifies ethics as a gray area. An Individual's ethics are derived from this gray area but are fluidly(perceived to be the most beneficial at a given time), black & white.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, I'm not sure I entirely understand what you're saying, but I think what I do understand I would disagree with. Using the term "universal" doesn't turn ethics into a "grey area" by any means.

[@chicobianco5589]

thats why your a good teacher because your Canadian

[@tanvysharma1232]

It would be helpful if you add captions too. It is difficult to understand the accent sometimes. Thank you.

[@TamNguyen-tu4lc]

In Book 1 of the Nicomachean, what is the purpose when Aristotle wrote about the student sitting in a Political Science?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Sounds like you're looking for tutoring. I do that sort of work through Google Helpouts, not KZbin comments. Here's my listings: helpouts.google.com/115610514266074572098

[@yarlanzey7598]

Professor Sadler, Aquinas never wrote anything called "Summa Theologica." He wrote "Summa Theologiae." I don't know how the widely repeated error gained such traction, but it's something to know.

[@sheiguan2202]

I will keep that in mind. Hugely important.

[@GregoryBSadler]

but I'm not -- I'm from a family that's French-Canadian, but we've been in the states for generations

[@alexandernikolaenko3377]

I have several questions regarding virtue ethics: 1) Let us imagine a person who says something like "money, not virtue makes me happy", and this conclusion is based on one's experience or even rational thought. From Aristotle's point of view, this conclusion is certainly wrong. Does it mean that happiness is objective and it is not up to a person to decide? Then it is completely unclear how to become happy because you can not trust your own feelings anymore. 2) Aristotle claims that all people strive to be happy because it is a natural end of human beings. But If a person says "I don't want to be happy". Is this person mistaken again? From a religious point of view, these two questions can be easily answered. We can say that God gave humans a certain purpose(which is not up to a human to decide). Fulfilling this purpose(being virtuous) is the only way to become happy. It is more obvious now that first and second individuals are mistaken. I am curious how would Aristotle answer these questions, without using any religious arguments?

[@GregoryBSadler]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpjJY52wqc-UfJY

[@elrancho95]

has anyone ever told you that you look like penn from penn and teller?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Many, many, many times. That, and the Dude.

[@TerryPullen]

(15:00) What kind of person cheats on his philosophy test? Answer: future politician.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Some of them, to be sure

[@TerryPullen]

I have been watching House of cards so that's where my mind went. It was just a smart-ass remark on my part, sorry. I really liked your lecture and plan to watch more. Thanks for posting.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Not a problem. You're welcome!

[@ThugLivin703]

how can you buy a degree? i'm very interested in this

[@GregoryBSadler]

Sounds like a great topic for you to research then

[@ThugLivin703]

Thanks for posting your lectures. My professor's not worth a goddamn shit

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're quite welcome. That's quite an indictment!

[@dianamills5243]

you really need to fix the audio quality and have a mic on you, and not recorded from a distance.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Read the date in the video description. Then, if you'd like to help out by supporting the channel, here;s my Patreon page - www.patreon.com/sadler

[@RebelwithaCause777]

I just want to focus on Aristotle and Aquinas .

[@natedehe6862]

31000

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yeah. . . in way that makes this video a bit dated!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You really want me to be a Canadian, don't you?

[@luanrafael6846]

Penn Jillette

[@chicobianco5589]

still have the Mapleleaf in your blood

[@rjtheripper931]

this dude is using the socratic method

[@GregoryBSadler]

Sometimes

[@lloplop]

pretty heavy on the life story here