ipl-logo

Aristotle's Ethical Philosophy Analysis

682 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Aristotle notion of happiness

Samuel LaMotte
Intro to Ethics
25 October 2015
Julius Jackson
Analysis 2 Aristotle had five main points in his ethical philosophy. First is the highest good and the end toward which all human activity is directed is happiness, which can be defined as continuous contemplation of eternal and universal truth. Second is how one attains happiness by a virtuous life and the development of reason and the faculty of theoretical wisdom. For this one requires sufficient external goods to ensure health, leisure, and the opportunity for virtuous action. Third is how Moral virtue is a relative mean between extremes of excess and deficiency, and in general the moral life is one of moderation in all things except virtue. No human desire is bad if it is controlled by reason according to a moral principle. Moral virtue is acquired by a combination of knowledge, habituation, and self-discipline. Fourth is Virtuous …show more content…

We learn intellectual virtues by instruction, and we learn moral virtues by habit and constant practice. We are all born with the potential to be morally virtuous, but it is only by behaving in the right way that we train ourselves to be virtuous. As a musician learns to play an instrument by practicing, we also learn virtue by practicing, not by thinking about it. Virtue is a disposition, not a feeling or a faculty. Feelings are not the subject of praise or blame, as virtues and vices are, and while feelings move us to act in a certain way, virtues dispose us to act in a certain way. Our faculties determine our capacity for feelings, and virtue is no more a capacity for feeling than it is a feeling itself. Rather, it is a disposition to behave in the right way. Aristotle lists some of the principle virtues along with their corresponding vices of excess and deficiency in a table of virtues and vices. Some extremes seem closer to the mean than others: for instance, rashness seems closer to courage than to

Show More
Related

Xacc/280 Week 2 Individual Assignment

656 Words | 3 Pages

First, teachers will explain and educate on the defining aspect of virtue and emphasize that it is more of an external action. Afterward, teachers will teach about righteousness and explain righteousness is more of an internal thought process. Finally, teachers will educate students on humanity and the act of loving and caring for family and peers. Students should be able to distinguish the differences between the three and recognize each characteristics in a scenario. Students, finally, should be able to understand how to act in each manner in their journey in The

Read More

Similarities Between The Lottery And Harrison Bergeron

1190 Words | 5 Pages

A virtue is when a person behaves in a moral manner. Certain virtues that societies should possess can be harmful. Typically, good virtues, such as honor, courage, and compassion. are commonly used by people as a way of living. Every society should live by the good virtues and strive to ensure that all citizens are treated equally.

Read More

The Virtue In Out Of The Silent Planet

778 Words | 4 Pages

One of the most decidedly controversial terms of our time is virtue. Depending on differing religions, statuses, or morals, virtue could have an entirely contrasting definition. However, no matter how a person defines virtue, it must first and foremost be determined how to be virtuous. How is virtue accomplished? Is it by avoiding evil or by choosing goodness over evil?

Read More

Analysis Of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

1025 Words | 5 Pages

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).

Read More

The Role Of Virtue In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

731 Words | 3 Pages

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book ll, is about his idea of how people should live a virtuous life. Throughout this book, he explains that humans learn virtue from instructions and we learn virtue from practice too. Virtue is something that is very important because it is a moral habit that results in keeping our moral values. Aristotle believed that nobody is born with virtue, everyone has to work at it daily. After reading Nicomachean ethics, Book ll, my main conclusion of it is that us as humans are better off being virtuous than simply doing what we feel like doing at any moment in time.

Read More

Aristotle Nicomachean Ethics Argument

1210 Words | 5 Pages

Thus, when human function is done well, it is in accordance with virtue and best human life is achieved. In addition, it can be inferred that since Aristotle’s definition of happiness is to be virtuous, performing rational activity well can lead to happiness. In addition, Aristotle states, “if there are more than one virtue, in accordance with the best and most complete” (1098a18). This means that eventually there will be one virtue that is inclusive of all virtue and that displays an end, and this virtue will be in line with the self-sufficient and inclusive concept of happiness as the chief good. If this inclusive virtue and good is achieved, ultimate happiness will be achieved as well.

Read More

Aristotle's Final Action Analysis

1092 Words | 5 Pages

This paper will discuss how Aristotle’s theory of action relates to the his thoughts on “one’s life as a whole.” It will start by defining actions and the attributes given to them. Next, Aristotle’s view on life as a whole will be discussed. Then the process behind determining one’s final end is addressed and the paper will conclude with the argument supporting why a single final end is optimal. Aristotle considers choice to be necessary for proper action and believes all actions are aimed towards a goal, which is inherently good (Annas 30).

Read More

Aristotle Ethics Study Guide

1203 Words | 5 Pages

1) Aristotle’s theory of Ethics is centered around a vision or purpose, guided by human values (Teological Ethics) and consists of 3 main parts; The Pursuit of happiness, Human Excellence, and The mean. For Aristotle, happiness isn’t momentary, happiness is a prolonged period in which a person does good things repeatedly and lives well. Happiness for Aristotle involves becoming an active member of your community and doing good things for the community. According to Aristotle, human excellence is the idea that humans aim to achieve the good and to live a life, demonstrating the virtues of excellence where they are the best they can be (have obtained as much good into their lives as possible). Human excellence, for Aristotle, is guided by our ability to reason and choose to do what is right.

Read More

Virtue In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

304 Words | 2 Pages

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle lays the groundwork for his perspective on virtue ethics, articulating the relationship between happiness, or eudaimonia, and virtue, or aréte. Aristotle’s particularly unique concept of happiness follows from his belief that happiness is the only end that humans wish to achieve that is purely an end in itself, and not a means as well, rather than an emotional disposition of happiness in the modern understanding of the word. Similarly, the Greek idea of virtue doesn’t have the same connection to duty that it does in English, rather it is most synonymously related to excellence. That is, to be virtuous is to be excellent at what you are. For example, a sharp knife is virtuous because it is good for cutting things;

Read More

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

1089 Words | 5 Pages

My aim in this paper will be to present Aristotle’s views on the maximal good from excerpts of his thesis from “Nicomachean Ethics”. Aristotle’ thesis is that there is a chief good and that is happiness. He starts this book on the idea that there is a definitive good that is complete and he concludes that this good is happiness. First, I will present Aristotle’s strongest argument for his claims. I will then present an objection to Aristotle’s argument.

Read More

Explain What Does It Mean To Be In Search Of The Good Aristotle

457 Words | 2 Pages

What does it mean to be ‘in search of the good’? Generally, the search of the good can be defined as the development of skills to navigate through life in order to succeed in finding direction. One notable philosopher from ancient Greece by the name of Aristotle had some ideas on the moral and ethical aspects of searching for the good in life. Essentially, the rediscovery of Aristotle by a fellow philosopher Thomas Aquinas, through Arab scholars, allowed Aristotle’s ideas to become part of Catholic ethical reflection. Aristotle covered many essential topics on this; however, four specific theories stand out prominently; specifically, they are the pursuit of happiness, teleology, human excellence, and the mean.

Read More

Aristotle Just And Unjust Analysis

1082 Words | 5 Pages

Aristotle, on the other hand, had a much more positive outlook on the applicability of his political theory. In many ways, his ideal ideology would look much like Plato’s, although with a more guided and empirical approach. Aristotle, like Plato, argued that the state was not only necessary, but essential to the happiness of its people, because the state was the only means by which the city could achieve happiness. According to Aristotle, “the best good is apparently something complete” and likewise, that “happiness more than anything else seems complete without qualification” (Nicomachean Ethics, 205) and “everyone aims at living well and at happiness” (Politics, 315). Furthermore, he argued that “happiness is an activity of the soul expressing

Read More

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

458 Words | 2 Pages

From our experiences, is a balance of noted subsequence, Habits of acting and principles of action allow for divergence from how these habits and/or principles correlate, the principle an embodiment of a person's constitution applied in the motivation of balance, as Aristotle emphasizes, an individual's characteristics our values. Additionally, Aristotle also exclaims, "A Nexis is an active condition, a state in which something must actively hold it, and that is what Aristotle says a moral virtue is. " That is to say, when taking a moral course of action it is a principle that is weighted. To flourish from exposure, experience right from wrong and elaborate these schemes, deepen our definitions of what it means in our extension. In a way, reminiscent of our own failures and experiences that are in fact just

Read More

Philosophical Ethics: Aristotle's Virtue Ethics

1337 Words | 6 Pages

The first topic in philosophical ethics I would like to discuss is Aristotle’s virtue ethics. As an objectionist, Aristotle tried to determine what a good person is. To Aristotle, happiness is what made you a good person, and that is what the chief goal in life is. He believed that happiness was achieved when a species determines its’ own telos, or purpose. Along with that, Aristotle determined three facts of humanity.

Read More

Instrumental Goods In Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics

456 Words | 2 Pages

In Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, virtue is a habit or disposition that enables a person to act in accordance with reason, while vice is a habit or disposition that leads a person to act against reason. Virtue is developed through habituation and moral education, and it leads to eudaimonia or the good life, while vice leads to a life of misery and suffering. Virtue is the mean between two extremes of excess and deficiency, while vice involves either excess or deficiency. 4. In Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics, intellectual virtues are acquired through learning and include skills such as mathematics, science, and philosophy, while moral virtues are developed through habituation and include qualities such as honesty, courage, and kindness.

Read More

More about Aristotle's Ethical Philosophy Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document