Aristotle's virtue ethics

The Golden Mean

Aristotle’s notion of a moral virtue; a balance between two behavioral extremes such as courage and cowardice; for Aristotle, the virtuous and happy life is a life of moderation in all things

A moral exemplar

a person who serves as a model of moral excellence, who demonstrates good moral conduct and exceeding what is expected or required; ex. Jesus, the Buddha

Aristotle

studied under Plato for 20 years; nicknamed “the Brain”; tutored Alexander the Great; his philosophy is characterized by observation; made major contributions to ethics, logics, and biology

Aristotle’s major contributions to philosophy and science

1. Matter

2. Teleology- considering a thing or action in terms of its goal, purpose, end, or function/goal

Teleology

considering a thing or action in terms of its goal, purpose, end, or function

Nicomachean Ethics

text written by Aristotle that argues that human choices can lead to eudaimonia and that happiness is the highest good; dedicated to Aristotle’s son Nicomachus

2 kinds of activites

1. activities done for their own sake (the good=the action itself)

2. Done for the sake of some product (the good=outside or and effect of the action)

Image of the Archer

Aristotle uses that image of an archer aiming at a target to illustrate how actions must be aimed at good (happiness)

Master Science/Arts that Direct Subordinate Ones

politics is considered the master science that directs other arts and sciences because it aims at the highest good

3 lives pursued

the life of pleasure, honor, and contemplation

the function of human

to use reason well, which is the distinctive characterisitc of humans

eudaimonia vs everyday modern use

Eudaimonia means “flourishing” or “living well,” not merely felling good or pleasure

Relationship between external goods and happiness

external goods (wealth, health), can aid happiness but are not identical to true happiness (supreme happiness)

psychological foundations of the virtues

the soul is divided into rational (intellect, reasoning) and non-rational (desire, growth) parts. the rational part is responsible for intellectual virtues, while the non-rational part relates to moral virtues

how we acquire virtues and 2 kinds of virtue

through habituation- repeated actions that build virtuous character; intellectual virtues (taught), and moral virtues (developed through habit)

different goods sought and evils avoided

noble (virtue), beneficial (utility), pleasurable (enjoyment), vs. base, harmful, painful

three aspects of a virtuous agent

knowledge of what is right, choosing it for its own sake, and acting with a firm and unchanging character

virtue as a mean and an extreme

virtue is a balanced state between two extremes (vices) of excess and deficiency

virtue

a quality that renders a thing goodby allowing it to perform its function well, thus achieving its end purpose