Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel that explores the experiences of young soldiers during World War I and their struggle to maintain their humanity in the face of the brutality of war. In this essay, we will use the philosophy of Aristotle to evaluate the ethics of Paul, one of the soldiers in the novel. We will analyze his actions, beliefs, and experiences through the lens of Aristotle’s philosophy, specifically his works On the Soul and Nicomachean Ethics.

Aristotle’s philosophy in On the Soul and Nicomachean Ethics centers around the idea of human flourishing or eudaimonia, which is achieved through the cultivation of virtues. Virtues are habits that enable us to act in accordance with reason and achieve our telos or goals in life. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle identifies several virtues, including courage, justice, and friendship, which we will use to evaluate the ethics of Paul.

Paul is a young soldier who has been drafted into the German army during World War I. Throughout the novel, he struggles to reconcile his experiences in the war with his sense of morality and humanity. Despite the horrors of war, Paul retains a sense of empathy for his fellow soldiers and seeks to protect them from harm. He also questions the morality of the war and the authority figures who promote it, recognizing that the soldiers on both sides of the conflict are simply young men who have been forced to fight.

One of the virtues that Aristotle emphasizes in Nicomachean Ethics is courage. Courage involves facing danger in the pursuit of a worthy goal. Paul demonstrates courage throughout the novel as he confronts the dangers of war and tries to protect his fellow soldiers. For example, when he and his friends are sent on a dangerous mission to lay wire in no man’s land, Paul takes charge and ensures that they all work together to complete the task safely. He also shows courage when he volunteers to take a wounded soldier to the hospital, knowing that it puts him in danger of being shot by enemy fire. As Aristotle says in Nicomachean Ethics, “Courage is a mean with regard to fear and confidence: the courageous person is not daunted by what is fearful and does not rush into the dangers that are not.”

Another virtue that Aristotle emphasizes is justice. Justice involves treating others fairly and giving them what they are due. Paul struggles with the concept of justice in the novel, as he questions the morality of the war and the treatment of soldiers by their commanding officers. He recognizes that the soldiers are not being treated fairly, as they are forced to endure the horrors of war without any say in the matter. He also questions the justice of killing other soldiers, recognizing that they are just like him, young men who have been drafted into the war. As Aristotle says in Nicomachean Ethics, “Justice is a mean between doing injustice and suffering it: justice is not itself a part of virtue but is rather a virtue.”

Aristotle also emphasizes the importance of friendship and community in living a good life. Paul values his friendships with his fellow soldiers, recognizing that they are all in the same situation and need each other for support. He also recognizes the importance of community, as he takes pride in being a part of the German army and fighting for his country. However, as the war drags on and he experiences more death and destruction, Paul becomes disillusioned with the idea of community and questions whether it is worth fighting for. As Aristotle says in Nicomachean Ethics, “Without friends, no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.”

In On the Soul, Aristotle discusses the nature of the soul and how it is related to the body. He argues that the soul is the form of the body, meaning that it is what gives the body its life and functionality. Paul’s experiences in the war challenge his understanding of the relationship between his body and soul, as he witnesses the physical and mental toll that the war takes on himself and his fellow soldiers. He struggles to maintain his sense of self and identity in the face of the trauma he experiences, questioning the nature of his soul and whether it is possible to maintain it in such brutal conditions.

Overall, Paul’s ethics and morality in All Quiet on the Western Front can be evaluated through the lens of Aristotle’s philosophy, specifically his emphasis on virtues such as courage, justice, and friendship. Despite the horrors of war, Paul demonstrates courage and empathy towards his fellow soldiers, and questions the morality of the war and the authority figures who promote it. He values his friendships and recognizes the importance of community, but struggles to maintain his sense of self and identity in the face of the trauma he experiences. Through his experiences, Paul grapples with the nature of the soul and the relationship between his body and spirit, challenging our understanding of what it means to live a good life in the face of extreme adversity.

In conclusion, the philosophy of Aristotle provides a valuable lens through which to evaluate the ethics of Paul, a soldier in Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front. Through Aristotle’s emphasis on virtues such as courage, justice, and friendship, we can analyze Paul’s actions and beliefs, and gain a deeper understanding of the complex moral and ethical dilemmas that arise in times of war. By examining the ways in which Paul grapples with these dilemmas, we can gain insights into the nature of human flourishing and the pursuit of eudaimonia in the face of extreme adversity.