What Is Good? Aristotle Knows—and the SAT Might Ask You About It

What Is Good? Aristotle Knows—and the SAT Might Ask You About It

Philosophical passages on the SAT can be intimidating—especially when they come from thinkers like Aristotle. But don’t let the ancient language throw you off! These questions are about logical structure, vocabulary, and interpretation. In this post, we’ll walk through a classic SAT-style passage from Nicomachean Ethics, breaking down Aristotle’s reflections on goodness and happiness. Get ready to sharpen your critical thinking skills with these questions that blend philosophy and test prep.

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In this excerpt from Book One of his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle expands

his definitions of “good” and “happiness.”

Good things are commonly divided into three classes: (1) external

goods, (2) goods of the soul, and (3) goods of the body. Of these, we

call the goods pertaining to the soul goods in the highest and fullest

sense. But in speaking of “soul,” we refer to our soul’s actions and

activities. Thus, our definition [of good] tallies with this opinion which

has been current for a long time and to which philosophers subscribe.

We are also right in defining the end as consisting of actions and activ-

ities; for in this way the end is included among the goods of the soul

and not among external goods.

Also the view that a happy man lives well and fares well fits in with

our definition: for we have all but defined happiness as a kind of good

life and well-being.

Moreover, the characteristics which one looks for in happiness are

all included in our definition. For some people think that happiness is

a virtue, others that it is practical wisdom, others that it is some kind of theoretical wisdom; others again believe it to be all or some of these

accompanied by, or not devoid of, pleasure; and some people also

include external prosperity in its definition.

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According to the passage, the greatest goods are those that

a. are theoretical.

b. are spiritual.

c. are intellectual.

d. create happiness.

e. create prosperity.

The word tallies in line 5 means

a. keeps count.

b. records.

c. labels.

d. corresponds.

e. scores.

The author’s definition of happiness in lines 11–12 is related to the

definition of good in that

a. living a good life will bring you happiness.

b. happiness is the same as goodness.

c. happiness is often sacrificed to attain the good.

d. all things that create happiness are good things.

e. happiness is a virtue.

In lines 13–18, the author’s main purpose is to

a. show that different people have different definitions of happiness.

b. define virtue.

c. prove that his definition of happiness is valid.

d. explain the relationship between happiness and goodness.

e. provide guidelines for good behavior.

Click your answer choice below to reveal the correct response—along with a clear explanation to boost your SAT skills and strategy!

Question 1 Answer

Question 2 Answer

Question 3 Answer

Question 4 Answer

Too easy? Check our other posts for more examples.