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Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics (Virtue Ethics)

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Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (Virtue Ethics)

In this ethical theory, Aristotle stresses that all activities that humans make, aim to come to an ends that we consider to be good. Most of the activities are the means to an even higher end. The highest human good that we aim for is happiness, which is done for our own personal sake. It is said that one will attain happiness by leading a virtuous life, developing reason, and theoretical wisdom. In this theory, Aristotle also stresses that politics and ethics are very closely related. Politics create the structure by which humans can live a “good life” and reach their full potential. While Aristotle is thought to be the spearhead of virtue ethics Plato, Socrates, and other Chinese philosophers share roots in this theory. The strengths of this theory encourage better …show more content…

Before this class I have never heard of this theory and now I feel as though I have a decent grasp on its basic principles because we have applied it to so many assignments. This is the ethical theory in which the most emphasis is placed on making actions based on the outcome being that of the greatest good only when it brings the greatest amount of people good. This theory is seen as a sort of in opposition to egoism. The process of utilitarianism can be executed by evaluating what is intrinsically good or bad, considering all options, the value of each option, and ultimately what action is going to yield the ideal balance. Proponents of this theory include John Stuart Mill, who wrote the book titled Utilitarianism and also Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethics can be seen deeply rooted in utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is positively viewed for encompassing all elements (cost, benefits, cons) and being very inclusive but negative criticisms point to this theory being too subjective, especially when it comes to judging what is intrinsically “good” or

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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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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.

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Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on outcomes and consequences. When one considers the theory of utilitarianism, it must be understood that the pleasure is a fundamental moral good and the aim is to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. So, when a human is going through the decision making process it is of the utmost importance to look forward at the consequences of the decision and determine if the decision will maximize pleasure and minimize pain. John Stuart Mill, a nineteenth century philosopher focused on the theory of utilitarianism or the Greatest Happiness Principle and claimed that the maximization of happiness for the greatest quantity of people is the ultimate goal. One issue that we face in modern day America that

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The Nicomachean Ethics begin with a simple concept-- everyone wants happiness. In Book 1 of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explores what happiness is and how to achieve ultimate happiness and good life. In the passage, 1097b22-1098a18, also known as the “function argument”, he further explores the happiness as the chief good concept by examining human function and the good that comes along. In this passage, Aristotle’s thesis is that the good of humans resides in human function of activity with reason (rational activity). From this thesis, we can imply that the good performance of function can lead to ultimate happiness.

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He believed that a “good life” was defined by one’s character. If you lead a life of virtue, your life was a happy one, therefore good. Some important virtues included courage, temperance, generosity, and friendliness. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he defines virtues and vices as states of one’s character. These states are further divided into the excess, mean, and deficient categories.

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Utilitarianism, in its true meaning, is an ethical theory that holds that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure and minimizes overall pain or suffering. It’s based on the idea that morality should be based on the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and that this morality should be judged based on its consequences, not on the intentions of the person committing the acts. This theory has been influential in many aspects of society and is why I will be explaining the reasons as to why utilitarianism should be used as the base theory when it comes to the betterment of society. But first, in order to understand the importance of why utilitarianism can and should be used, you have to look into why thinking

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The first theory that will be explored utilitarianism, an ethical theory that stems from consequentialism. Consequentialism, often referred to as a type of situational ethic, believes an act is right if it has good consequences. Utilitarianism centers around the idea that happiness has intrinsic value. This theory is considered to be normative, or evaluative; in terms of actions being good or bad it considers the solution by asking if it ought to be done or ought not to be done. The principle of utilitarianism deems an act to be right if its outcome produces the most happiness for the most persons.

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Nichomachean Ethics In the book Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle, Aristotle tries explain to us what the ultimate goal of the human life. He says that every activity we participate in has and ultimate goal or an end. He states that happiness is the ultimate goal in life and that every activity we engage in our daily lives is to achieve happiness.

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The idea of a virtuous being, one who lives justly and righteously, is one discussed in great length throughout Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics.   Throughout Books I-III Aristotle offers the two requirements he believes are necessary to become a virtuous person and living accordingly. The first is one must be educated and brought up in a way that instills virtue. Essentially, virtue is acquired by habituation and is primarily taught through conditioning.

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The new natural law theory claims that our views on what is good would be different if human nature were different. We do what we believe is good by reflecting on what we see on a daily basis. Aristotle’s book “Nicomachean Ethics” also helps to prove this theory. Aristotle believes virtue has to be practiced at a young age. He argues between the order of knowing and the order of being.

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The main principle of utilitarianism is happiness. People who follow this theory strive to fulfill the “ultimate good”. The “ultimate good” is defined as ultimate pleasure with out any pain. It is said that the pleasure can be of any quantity and any quality, but pleasures that are weighted more important are put at a higher level than others that are below it. This ethical theory also states that if society would fully embrace utilitarianism then people would naturally realize their moral standing in the

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“Every skill and every inquiry, and similarly every action and rational choice, is thought to aim at some good; and so the good has been aptly described as that which everything aims. But it is clear that there is some difference between ends: some ends are activities, while others are products which are additional to the activities. In cases where there are ends additional to the actions, the products are by their nature better than activities.” (Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, as translated by Crisp, 2000, p. #3) Aristotle was the first philosopher who wrote a book on ethics titled, Nichomachean Ethics.

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Utilitarianism is a very controversial theory. Many people disagree with this idea because it disrupts our personal relationships, it is too demanding, it promotes that the consequences are the only thing that matters, and shows that pleasures are the only things that are important. Classical Utilitarianism is based on three points; that morality of actions are only bases on consequences, the consequences only matter if it creates more or less happiness, and everyone gets equal considerations when it comes to happiness. The classical Utilitarianism was made and defended by three philosophers from 19th century England; John Mill, Jeremy Bentham, and Henry Sidgwick. These people help this theory to be highly influential in the modern era.

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Virtue ethics is an expansive theory inspired by the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle. In contrast to deontology and consequentialism, virtue ethics emphasizes the moral character (ideal traits) of a person. Aristotle believed that nature produced humans with the desire to be virtuous, just how seeds are built with the drive to become trees. This concept can be related to the term eudaimonia, which translates to the flourishing of a human being; a happy and well-lived life.

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