# Euripides — Nicomachean Ethics character guide

> Euripides in Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0003-book-i

## Who they are

Playwright referenced in discussions of emotion and choice.

## Relationships

### [Pittacus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters/pittacus)

_social_

Euripides is a tragedian and Pittacus is a historical sage; they are referenced together in discussions of virtue.

### [Alcmaeon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters/alcmaeon)

_professional_

Euripides wrote a lost tragedy about Alcmaeon, making Alcmaeon a character in his play.

### [Heraclitus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters/heraclitus)

_social_

Both are pre-Socratic philosophers and tragedians referenced in Aristotle's ethical discussions.

## In the story

### [The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/the-will)

Referenced for the example of Alcmaeon being compelled to kill his mother, used to discuss the limits of compulsion.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/i)

Referenced for the example of Alcmaeon being compelled to kill his mother, used to illustrate absurd claims of compulsion.

### [Chapter IX: On Suffering Injustice and Doing Injustice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/ix)

Quoted for verses describing a son who slew his mother, used to question voluntary suffering of injustice.

### [Chapter VIII: Statesmanship and Prudence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/viii)

Quoted for the line 'What? was I wise, who might without a care / Have lived a unit in the multitude / Like any other unit?' to illustrate the common view that prudent men attend to their own affairs while statesmen are busybodies.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/vii)

Referenced indirectly through the character Cercyon in the 'Alope of Carcinus', used as an example of struggling against excessive pleasure or pain.

### [Book VIII: Friendship or Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/book-viii)

Quoted for the view that opposites attract, using the example of earth and heaven.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/i)

Cited for the view that opposites attract, using the example of earth and heaven.

### [Unanimity and Friendship in the State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/chapters/vi)

Referenced for his play 'The Phoenissae,' illustrating discord when brothers each wish for the government for themselves.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters/euripides
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicomachean_ethics_se/characters