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Aristotle's Discussion Of Virtue Theories

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Virtue ethics encompasses taking actions based upon whether or not they contribute to the “good life.” According to Aristotle, living the good life would be accomplishing our function to our full potential. He also believes that virtue theory is only logical if it is teleological. By this he means that virtue theory must include the purpose of life. In his theory, he states that everyone takes actions in order to achieve a certain telos, a purpose or goal, aimed at some good. The good that he claims all people are trying to achieve is Eudaimonia, or happiness. This ultimate telos can be achieved by practicing arête (virtues). Arête is whatever makes a thing an outstanding specimen of its kind.
Aristotle splits virtues into two different categories,
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Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics begins by exploring ‘the good’. Book I argues that, unlike other goods, “happiness appears to be something complete and self-sufficient, and is, therefore, the end of actions” (10:1097b20-21). In other words, happiness is the ultimate good. But how does one achieve happiness? Aristotle formulates this in the context of work, since for all things, from artists to horses, “the good and the doing it well seem to be in the work” (10:1097b27-28).

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They supposed that anyone seeking virtues should seek them because they are practical and have ‘real-world’ benefits, “…vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered; that it was, therefore, everyone’s interest to be virtuous who wished to be happy…” ( Franklin 1973/2016, p. 65). Along those lines Aristotle also stated, “But for actions in accord with the virtues to be done temperately or justly it does not suffice that they themselves have the right qualities. Rather, the agent must also be in the right state when he does them” (Aristotle, 2005, p. 578). They believed the only way to become virtuous was by doing virtuous actions.

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For Aristotle he argues, nature has built into us the desire to be virtuous. But what does it mean? Aristotle says, “Do the right thing, at the right time, in the right way, in the right amount towards the right people.” He argues if one is virtuous you know what to do.

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Once I explain Aristotle’s argument in full, I will provide my opinion on Aristotle’s argument and point out potential flaws. Finally, I will provide a conclusion that sums up the arguments and opinions discussed in this paper. In the beginning of the article, Aristotle expounds his first premise by explicating, “every action and decision, seems to seek some good” (1094a 2-3). This means that people’s disciplines and actions seek some purpose that can be viewed as good.

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Within the given extract from Aristotle's ‘Nicomachean Ethics’ one’s interpretation is that Aristotle aims to continue the discussion on what makes a Good Life, which specific focus on what exactly the Good is. Aristotle starts by explaining that cultured men, educated and successful, “identify the Good with honour” as this is perceived to be the “goal of the political life”. Aristotle disagrees with identification, justifying this by explaining honour to be a superficial argument, being that it focuses on the gaining of something (ie power) over others, which is ultimately not Good motivation. Aristotle sees it that “People[...]seek honour in order to convince themselves of their own goodness”. Many would argue that to act only to justify one's own actions is not the entirety of the Good Life, as it has selfish motivations and selfishness is not part of the true nature of the Good Life.

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Virtue in general means admirable character trait to habitually act in a manner that benefits ourselves and others. According to Aristotle, virtue means to act in a manner that is not only for ones' own sake but also done mindfully, reasonably, and voluntarily. He explains virtue as habits, extremes, and means. In short, Aristotle defines virtue as the mean between two extremes that need to be avoided. Virtue, for Aristotle means a disposition to act in a particular manner, it is a carefully, consciously, and rationally uncalculated habit that is done for its own sake.

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He claimed that all human beings are born with the potential to be virtuous yet and can exhibit this through their functions. Moreover, he asserted that all good acts must possess a telos (end goal) which the person is looking for, and it is through the activities of that particular individual that the function or act accomplishes its telos. Additionally, Aristotle contended that virtue is not solely limited to knowledge but instead is about being good and moral to other human beings through the social activities one does. Aristotle states that "neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us; rather we are adapted by nature to receive them, and are made perfect by habit … we become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts" (Dyck, Bruno, and Rob 561). The fact that Aristotle acknowledged that the sole act of listening can’t make a person virtuous, instead action towards the good does is what sets the bar higher than his predecessors.

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When speaking of virtue most people think of someone who has high moral standards, and don’t think much else of it. Conversely, Aristotle puts much thought into what virtue is and what it means to be virtuous. He believes “that virtue is concerned with pleasures and pains, that it grows by the action of those things out of which it comes into being, or is destroyed by them when they do not happen in the same way, and that it is at work in connection with those things out of which it has come into being” (1105a 15). Aristotle explains that there are two different kinds of virtue, intellectual and moral, each of which is part of the rational portion of the human soul. Intellectual virtue is theoretical wisdom, and moral virtue is practical

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In short knowing and doing are in the same line. In knowing the truth your virtues will ultimately be guided by this knowledge. The “telos” or ultimate goal of human life for Aristotle is to attain “happiness”. “Happiness” here is does not mean the common meaning which we use everyday but it is more synonymous to the war “eudaimonia” which means to be in a state of being that is in good spirit. This emphasis that happiness is not just a temporary thing but a permanent outlook on life which means that they only way for us to truly know whether we have had a happy life is when we die.

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