Abstract
This text is extracted from the beginning of two of the famous Aristotle's book, the Nicomachean Ethics (NE). After having done with the problem of the Good and the purpose of the human in Book one (book I, chapters 1-12), Aristotle aims to define what virtue is (I, 13; II). He has already defined virtue as something chosen "for its own sake" but also for "the sake of happiness" (NE, 1097 b 3-6). Since he had put forth the thought that "happiness" (eudaimonia) is the highest good (NE, 1097 b 22), since it is a virtuous activity, virtue should be considered in the second book (NE, 1103 a 5-6). Further, Aristotle distinguishes two parts of the soul which partake of reason: thought and desire. Virtue should therefore be discussed with respect of each one of them. Ethical (moral) virtue is then concerned with desire while the intellectual one is concerned with thought (NE, I, 13). In our extract, we will deal with the first one of these concepts (1106 b 15).
