Book 7 / Chapter 5
Paragraph 2 - Brutish and Morbid States in Ethics
Explanation - Part By Part
"These states are brutish, but (B) others arise as a result of disease (or, in some cases, of madness, as with the man who sacrificed and ate his mother, or with the slave who ate the liver of his fellow), and others are morbid states (C) resulting from custom, e.g. the habit of plucking out the hair or of gnawing the nails, or even coals or earth,"
Aristotle continues discussing behaviors that deviate from what is considered normal or natural, separating them into distinct categories based on their causes. He labels these as brutish states but acknowledges differences in how they arise:
1. States arising from disease or madness: These are extreme and horrifying acts that occur because of physical or psychological illnesses. Aristotle gives shocking examples, like a man harming and consuming his own mother or a slave eating another person’s liver. These are not actions that come from rational human decision-making but rather from deeply disturbed conditions.
2. Morbid states resulting from custom or habit: Here, Aristotle discusses behaviors that aren’t as extreme but are still considered unnatural or unhealthy, arising from habits formed over time. Examples include pulling out one’s hair, biting nails, or eating inappropriate substances like coal or dirt. These actions may seem minor in comparison but still fall outside the bounds of what’s natural or healthy for human behavior.
Through these examples, Aristotle is emphasizing that some extreme or unusual human behaviors do not stem from our rational or moral nature but instead from illnesses, madness, or long-ingrained bad habits. While the first type (disease or madness) is more dramatic and shocking, the second type (habitual behavior) is much more common and rooted in repeated actions that shape who we become.
"and in addition to these paederasty; for these arise in some by nature and in others, as in those who have been the victims of lust from childhood, from habit."
In this specific part, Aristotle is discussing various behaviors or inclinations that may seem outside the bounds of what is "natural," but he points out that these can arise in different ways. One example he mentions is paederasty (a historical term referring to relationships between adult men and adolescent boys, which was a complex and debated topic in ancient Greek culture). Aristotle suggests that such behaviors might arise either due to nature (an innate disposition in some individuals) or habit (formed through repeated exposure or experiences, such as being influenced during one's upbringing, particularly if someone has been subjected to problematic or inappropriate experiences in childhood).
The broader point here is that behaviors people exhibit—especially those viewed as unusual or extreme—can either come from something intrinsic to their nature or be shaped by external circumstances, like environment, upbringing, or repeated actions over time. This observation ties into Aristotle’s exploration of human character, morality, and how behaviors develop, either in alignment with or deviation from what he considers a "healthy" or "virtuous" state.