Book 3 / Chapter 3
Paragraph 4 - The Nature of Choice and Deliberation
Explanation - Part By Part
"The same thing is deliberated upon and is chosen, except that the object of choice is already determinate, since it is that which has been decided upon as a result of deliberation that is the object of choice."
This part is saying that when we deliberate (think through a decision), we're focusing on how to act or what steps to take toward a goal. Once we've finished deliberating and made up our minds, the outcome of that process becomes our choice. The "object of choice"—the action or thing we decide on—is already clear and defined because it’s the result of our careful deliberation. In short, deliberation leads to a firm decision, and that decision becomes what we choose to pursue or enact.
"For every one ceases to inquire how he is to act when he has brought the moving principle back to himself and to the ruling part of himself; for this is what chooses."
This part is exploring the idea that a person stops questioning or deliberating how to act once they've traced the decision-making process back to their own internal "moving principle" — essentially, the part of themselves that initiates and drives action. Aristotle refers to the "ruling part" of the self, which can be understood as the rational, decision-making aspect of a person — the part that governs thoughtful and deliberate action. It is this rational or ruling faculty within us that ultimately makes the choice. In other words, once we've carefully thought through and deliberated about the best way to proceed, the final decision to act originates from within us, from this central guiding part of ourselves.
This highlights Aristotle's belief in human agency — that our ability to choose is rooted in our reason and internal deliberation. The "ruling part" is what exercises control and directs our actions according to the conclusions of our deliberation.
"This is plain also from the ancient constitutions, which Homer represented; for the kings announced their choices to the people."
In this part, Aristotle refers to ancient practices, specifically drawing on examples from Homeric times, to illustrate how choices are made and communicated. In those ancient societies, kings, as the key decision-makers, would announce their decisions to the people after careful deliberation. This example reinforces Aristotle's point that choices arise from a process of deliberation, where a decision is reached and then communicated as a definitive course of action. It highlights how deliberation leads to a determined decision that is shared as a formal, authoritative choice, particularly when the decision involves leadership or governance.
"The object of choice being one of the things in our own power which is desired after deliberation, choice will be deliberate desire of things in our own power; for when we have decided as a result of deliberation, we desire in accordance with our deliberation."
Aristotle is explaining that choice arises when we desire something that is within our control, but only after we've carefully thought it through (deliberated about it). In other words, a choice doesn't just come from a random impulse or a fleeting desire. Instead, it emerges as a deliberate desire—grounded on the process of reasoning and deciding how to achieve a goal that is realistically attainable by us.
Put simply: Once we've reasoned through the options and decided on a course of action that we believe is possible for us to accomplish, our desire to act on it becomes a choice. This act of choosing is shaped by and aligned with the conclusions we reached during our deliberation.
"We may take it, then, that we have described choice in outline, and stated the nature of its objects and the fact that it is concerned with means."
Aristotle is wrapping up his discussion on what "choice" really means. He emphasizes that choice isn't about what ultimate goal we want to achieve (ends), but rather about the means—the specific actions or steps we decide to take in order to achieve that goal. He considers choice to be the deliberate selection of a course of action that is within our power, based on careful deliberation. In essence, choice is not random or impulsive; it's a thoughtful decision about how to move toward something we desire.