Aristotle, Aquinas, and Cultural Relativism Flashcards

These flashcards cover key concepts and terms related to Aristotle, Aquinas, and the theory of Cultural Relativism, facilitating a deeper understanding of philosophical ideas on morality and virtue.

Eudaimonia

Human flourishing or true happiness achieved through a life of virtuous activity guided by reason.

Telos

The final purpose or ultimate goal of something.

Function (Ergon)

The characteristic activity that defines what something is meant to do.

Virtue (Arete)

Excellence of character that allows a person to perform their function well.

Moral Virtue

Good character traits developed through habit and practice.

Habituation

The process of developing virtues through repeated actions.

Golden Mean

The virtuous balance between excess and deficiency.

Excess

Too much of a trait (example: recklessness).

Deficiency

Too little of a trait (example: cowardice).

Practical Wisdom (Phronesis)

The intellectual virtue that allows a person to make good decisions about how to act.

Intellectual Virtue

Virtues related to thinking and reasoning that are learned through teaching.

Sophia

Philosophical wisdom; the highest form of intellectual knowledge.

Episteme

Scientific knowledge or understanding of universal truths.

Techne

Skill or craft knowledge about how to produce or create things.

Nous

Intuitive understanding of first principles.

Natural Law

The idea that moral truths come from human nature and reason.

Beatitude

Perfect happiness found in union with God.

Beatific Vision

The direct experience of seeing and knowing God, which Aquinas believed is the ultimate human fulfillment.

Human Act

An action done knowingly and freely.

Voluntary Action

An action performed with intention and choice.

Species (Object of the Act)

The type or nature of the action itself.

End (Intention)

The purpose or goal the person has in performing an action.

Circumstances

The surrounding details of an action that affect its moral evaluation.

Vice

A bad habit that inclines a person toward morally wrong actions.

Free Will

The ability to choose between different actions using reason and will.

Cultural Relativism

The idea that moral rules are determined by cultural beliefs and traditions.

Moral Code

A society’s system of moral rules.

Moral Objectivism

The belief that some moral truths are universal and apply to everyone.

Ethnocentrism

Judging another culture using the standards of one’s own culture.

Moral Progress

The improvement of moral beliefs and practices within a society.

Social Reformer

A person who challenges existing moral beliefs in order to improve society.

Moral Reasoning

Thinking carefully about why actions are right or wrong.

Moral Individualism

The belief that each person decides their own morality.

Subjectivism

The view that moral truth depends on individual feelings or opinions.

Moral Authority

A source that provides guidance about right and wrong.

Moral Drift

A lack of clear moral direction in society.