Aristotle's Virtue Ethics and Eudaimonia continued

Flashcards reviewing Aristotle's concept of eudaimonia, human telos, the function of reason, and virtue ethics.

How is ethics defined in the context of Aristotle's work?

Ethics is defined as the study and pursuit of the good life.

In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, what constitutes the good life?

The good life is a life in which a person achieves eudaimonia, defined as excellence, flourishing, achieving all that one can, and sometimes understood as happiness.

What does the term telos mean?

Telos refers to a thing's good or end—the purpose or ultimate goal that it is moving towards.

Why does Aristotle rule out merely being alive or being sentient as the function of a human being?

He rules out merely being alive because plants are alive, and being sentient because animals are sentient; neither is unique to human beings.

According to Aristotle, what is the specific function of a human being?

The function of a human being is a function of reason (or rationality).

How is reason or rationality defined for the purposes of this course?

Reason or rationality is simply defined as the capacity for higher thought.

Why is reason alone insufficient to achieve eudaimonia?

Reason alone is not enough because a person can be perfectly rational while still being a horrible or deeply unhappy person.

What must be added to reason in order to achieve eudaimonia?

Virtue must be added to reason to reach eudaimonia.

How is virtue defined in the editor's notes on page 185 (Section 15)?

Virtue is defined as "the state that allows the full rationally controlled harmonious realization of human capacities."

What working definition of virtue is used throughout the course?

A virtue is defined as a positive moral character trait.

What is a vice, and what does it mean technically to be vicious?

A vice is a negative moral character trait. Technically, to be vicious means that one's character is formed such that they have no positive moral traits.

Besides reason and virtue, what other requirements does Aristotle list for achieving an excellent life?

Aristotle states that one also needs external resources (food, clothing, shelter, heat), good friends, good family, a long life, and to be a beautiful person.

How is virtue acquired according to Aristotle?

Virtue is not something you are born with; it is taught, learned, and practiced repeatedly until it becomes habitual.