I had no idea when I started reading "Art of Rhetoric" that I would receive a full education in ethics as well. It seems that Aristotle has a hard time talking about any subject without first saying everything he knows about everything else. Some of his teachings are helpful, though, like the "seven causes" of human action: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, anger and desire (Rhetoric I x. 8 ). You may see this list and feel you can add to it but Aristotle will waste no time demonstrating why your addition is subsumed under his seven, and you will feel quite the fool. Personally I liked the list because modern philosophy (or at least John Piper) has assumed only one cause for behavior, desire. Nonsense.
Aristotle also has a lot of helpful insights about women. In his discussion about noble actions he says, "Virtues and actions are nobler, when they proceed from those who are naturally worthier, for instance, from a man rather than from a woman." (Rhetoric I ix. 21-22). Harsh.
When Aristotle address the virtues he holds two above the rest, justice and courage (also self-control, magnificence, magnanimity, liberality, gentleness, practical wisdom, speculative wisdom - Rhetoric I ix. 4-6). Courage is not a Christian virtue, per se, but it is understandable among a people who participated frequently in war. Justice is also not a virtue, according to Christians, for the Christian virtues relate to the perfection of the soul. Christians are encouraged to seek justice, but it not considered a virtue in the proper sense. In Aristotle, justice, just as all the virtues, is seen as good in its own right, and the pursuit of justice is always noble. Aristotle teaches, "To take vengence on one's enemies is nobler than to come to terms with them; for to retaliate is just, and that which is just is noble." (Rhetoric I ix 25.). Jesus taught that there is more "nobility" (to use Aristotle's language) in love. Love as the highest end, when compared to the virtues of Aristotle, takes on new meaning. Any virtue, or any good, that does not work itself out according to the principal of love is no longer noble or good. Of course we are not talking about sweaty palm, heart racing, head swimming love, but the consideration of another person before oneself, even if that person hates you.
Some of Aristotle's "virtues" are shamed by the Christian ethic. Magnificence, for example, is the virtue of greatness. Anything that is great is virtuous (good in its own right, and always good to pursue) and beauty falls in this category. Beauty is virtuous. According to Scripture beauty is vain, that is, it has no positive affect on the soul. While it is not considered evil it is seen as superfluous as it is not helpful in the pursuit of righteousness.
Thus far I have enjoyed Aristotle's tangents into all subjects as I wait for his discussion on the art of persuasion, but I am increasingly glad that in these last days we have been taught the true nature of virtue by the Son of its author.