Study Guide

The Nicomachean Ethics Book 3, Chapter 10 (1117b24-1118b8)

By Aristotle

Book 3, Chapter 10 (1117b24-1118b8)

Next in the discussion of virtues: moderation. He calls it the mean when we're talking about pleasure.
And we're talking about pleasures of the body, since a person really can't go overboard with pleasures of the soul.
Even all bodily or sensual pleasures aren't subject to abuse. Can we really be faulted, say, for liking the color pink too much?
The excess of bodily pleasures is "licentiousness" and concerns sensual things that become objects of desire. This is anything that would seduce non-rational animals, too.
Think sex and food—pleasures of touch. Because this fault isn't particularly human, Aristotle finds licentiousness to be particularly hateful.

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