aristotle and morality

what is the good life? whats virtue?

virtue is interested in life

what is virtue?

is rational activity, activity in accordance with a rational principle

rational self mastery

no one practiced this like the Greeks

• to Aristotle the Greeks were the greatest

virtue ethics

character and conduct over rules and consequences

in Aristotle ethics

everything is defined in terms of their functions, when we do this we are saying what is

(describing the function; essence)

humans are a higher level of rationality

being rational is the defining capacity of a human being

what sis the goal or end rational beings will use to meet this?

it is happiness

eudaimonia

pleasure that is good for us as a person to experience that makes us a better person

• ex: pleasure that extends my knowledge or enhancing my self-awareness

eudaimonia means what in greek

flourishing

what are two things that contribute to Aristotles ethics?

friendship and contemplation

hedonia or hedonism

a conception of the good life that says that the ultimate good is pleasure

• feels good, doesn’t have an effect on the self

• ex: drinking water from a waterfall