**November 23** \- We are near the end of chapter 9 of *NE* VII, which resolves puzzle #3 about self-control and steadfastness. Self-control (whether having or lacking) and steadfastness (whether holding or losing) have to do with, respectively, pleasure and pain.
.
Take this case: An overweight man resolves on New-Year's Day to be healthy, strong, and looking good with six-pack abs in 18 months. On any day he cannot resist the pleasure of the fattening dessert, he lacks self-control; if he can resist that pleasure, he has self-control. On any day he cannot handle the pain and hassle of the ninety-minute workout at the gym, he is soft-pampered; if he can handle that pain, he is endurant-steadfast.
.
Here is the **puzzle #3** (addendum): On days when he struggles to stick to his goal but also feels on the verge of giving up altogether; and it's only because he does his exercising and his dieting now that he is not giving up. Is that being pig-headed, or is that being strong-willed? But what if he gives up on his goal but still does the exercising and dieting? Is that being pig-headed, or is that being strong-willed? Let's follow Aristotle's train of thought.
.
We will read multiple translations starting at 1151b17.
.
My summary of chapter 8 on solving puzzle #5, about who is or isn't curable, the decider or the one lacking self-control, can be found [here](https://mega.nz/file/O7hjxSya#DadbTGXhIYeYMcFPbmqOlaJy90dDQiAr0NiOqxzNoJU) to help you catch up to us. Bring your own questions about the text if you are interested in joining this Sunday's meeting.
.
\-\-\-\-
.
We are live-reading and discussing Aristotle's \~*Nicomachean Ethics*\~, book VII, which is about troubleshooting the virtues.
.
The prerequisite to this book is our answering for ourselves these questions from the prior books, to which we will briefly review:
.
1\. What is a virtue of character \{*ēthikē aretē*}?
2\. How does one come to acquire it? \(E\.g\. \[Aristotle’s\]\, ambition\, bravery\, gentlemanliness\, generosity\, candor\, …\)
3\. From a first\-person perspective in being virtuous\, how does one feel and what does one see \(differently\, discursively\) in a given situation of everyday living?
4\. From a third\-person perspective\, how is the virtuous person \(of a specific virtue\) to be characterized?
.
.
The project's cloud drive is [here](https://mega.nz/folder/vqJCXIQJ#muxiUXMHhfljvxKnWaOxZA), at which you'll find the reading texts, notes, and slideshows.

Tom Osg

Philadelphia Philosophy Meetup

Science & Education

Philosophy

Intellectual Discussions

Reading

Critical Thinking

Writing

Knowledge Sharing

Critique Group

Every week on Sunday until September 27, 2026

Ethan

Alan Pitts

van woolley

Greg

carmen

kavita

Laya Charlestein

Pig-Headed vs. Strong-Willed -- Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Online event

Share

Philadelphia Philosophy Meetup

Pig-Headed vs. Strong-Willed -- Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Philadelphia Philosophy Meetup

Details

Members are also interested in