What are the key works by Aristotle on ethics?

Magna Moralia, Ethics to Nicomachus, Nicomachean Ethics

How does Aristotle view the pursuit of happiness?

Through contemplation and knowledge, beyond physical gratification

Determine goals leading to a good life and necessary conditions

Valuable insights compared to majority opinions

Not esteemed highly unless accompanied by contemplation and knowledge

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics delves into the pursuit of a good and pleasant life through setting and achieving meaningful goals, stressing the importance of discerning which objectives truly lead to a fulfilling existence.
Contrary to modern monotheistic beliefs, Greek philosophy, as exemplified by Aristotle, challenges the intrinsic value of human life, with a historical context that includes a cultural acceptance of ritual suicide for those not meeting certain standards, highlighting a unique perspective on the nature of existence.

What are the key works by Aristotle on ethics?
Magna Moralia, Ethics to Nicomachus, Nicomachean Ethics
How does Aristotle view the pursuit of happiness?
Through contemplation and knowledge, beyond physical gratification
What does Aristotle advise regarding setting life goals?
Determine goals leading to a good life and necessary conditions
How does Aristotle view the opinions of wise individuals?
Valuable insights compared to majority opinions
What is Aristotle's perspective on the pursuit of pleasure?
Not esteemed highly unless accompanied by contemplation and knowledge

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Aristotle dedicated three fundamental treatises to ethics: Magna Moralia, Ethics to Nicomachus, and Nicomachean Ethics.
The Nicomachean Ethics is highly regarded for its reflection on leading a good and pleasant life.
Aristotle emphasizes the importance of freedom in ethics, as individuals set goals for their lives.
Individuals pursue goals such as honor, fame, wealth, or knowledge, shaping their actions.
Aristotle stresses the need to determine which goals lead to a good life and the conditions necessary for it.
Aristotle advises examining the opinions of wise individuals rather than the majority, as not all opinions hold value.
He dismisses the opinions of children, the sick, and the mad, focusing on the insights of the wise.
Aristotle questions whether the good life is achievable through human action or dependent on luck.
He explores the concept of happiness and challenges common beliefs about fame, power, and money as paths to a good life.
Aristotle introduces a Greek perspective where human life lacks intrinsic value, contrasting with modern beliefs influenced by monotheistic religions.

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In classical and archaic Greece, individuals who did not meet high standards of health, well-being, and autonomy would commit ritual suicide, which was considered honorable and valuable in Greek culture.
This perspective on life, prevalent in Greek mentality, can be traced back to various Greek figures like Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus, and Sophocles, who emphasized the idea that it is better not to be born or to die soon if life is filled with suffering.
Aristotle, in his ethical conception, argues that a life solely focused on pleasure, particularly food and sex, is not esteemed highly unless one is entirely servile, suggesting that a good life requires more than just basic pleasures.
Pleasures of the flesh, according to Aristotle, may seem attractive initially but ultimately lead to a sense of emptiness and lack, indicating that true fulfillment goes beyond mere physical gratification and may involve contemplation of the universe and knowledge.