Aristotle And Aristotle 's Theory Of Moral Virtue

Aristotle outlined his theory of Virtue Ethics in his book Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle focused his idea of ethics on agents rather than acts. His main idea is focused on the idea of human character- how can you be a better person? In fact, Aristotle once said: “For we are enquiring not in order to know what virtue is, but in order to become good, since otherwise our enquiry would be of no use.” Aristotle is given the credit for developing the idea of virtue ethics, but many of Plato's cardinal values influenced his ideas. Virtue Ethics is focused on the person's actions, not the consequences of that action. Aristotle believed if you had good moral values, then your actions would be "good" in theory. Rather than defining good actions,

Aristotle’s thoughts on ethics conclude that all humans must have a purpose in life in order to be happy. I believe that some of the basics of his ideas still hold true today. This essay points out some of those ideas.

Mankind has been searching for existential reasoning since our earliest beginnings. One of the biggest questions, the one that keeps me up at night, “How ought we to live?” will be explained from the viewpoints of Epictetus in his Enchiridion and Aristotle in Nicomachean Ethics. In this paper, I will discuss both philosophies in principle and practice, while giving insight to how to they may function in a modern world situation. Although both theories have useful guidance for navigating the human condition, Aristotle’s theory of virtue encompasses more of a real world schematic of how to interpret oneself in relation to our surroundings through compassion rather than apathy.

1. In light of Aristotle’s analysis of virtue and/or Plato’s analysis of virtue, what would be, in your view, four core Canadian moral virtues? Give a short explanation for your choices

The philosophy of virtue ethics, which primarily deals with the ways in which a person should live, has puzzled philosophers from the beginning of time. There are many contrasting interpretations regarding how one should live his or her life in the best way possible. It is in my opinion that the Greeks, especially Aristotle, have exhibited the most logical explanation of how to live the "good life". The following paper will attempt to offer a detailed understanding of Aristotle's reasoning relating to his theory of virtue ethics.

Aristotle’s philosophy on virtue ethics involves the essence of what it means to be human, how to live the most fulfilling and effective life, and how this affects one’s responsibility to others. This theory is applicable to virtually any profession, engineering included. As has been instilled in my perceptions about my chosen career field since my first day at Texas A&M University, engineering is far beyond the intellect to do calculus and write computer code; engineering is making decisions that will affect countless others and could even hold others’ life at stake. For this reason, Aristotle’s duality of intellectual and moral virtues deserves a more substantial introspective role in the engineering field.

Nicomachean Ethics teaches that in all the activities that we aim to accomplish, the good should be something final and self-sufficient. Aristotle explains, “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good” (Aristotle 624). Aristotle tells us as the reader that our virtues are the reason why we chose to pursue things that we like and stay away from the things that we do not like. We chose to be around things that brings us joy. Virtue is defined as a moral excellence. Aristotle explains, “Since things that are found in the soul are of three kinds – passions, faculties, states of character – virtues must be one of these” (Aristotle 627). An example of passion can be a fear or something that

Aristotle, 384-322 B.C Deeper Understanding of Virtue Ethics Aristotle’s idea of virtue states that any action or even a feeling must be done at the “right time, in the right way, in the right amount, for the right reason- not too much and not too little” (442, The Moral of the Story, 2016). Strengths of Aristotle Virtue Ethics The preferment of Aristotle’s foundation of virtuous ethics are seen through the holistic view of human nature. By this it means that virtue ethics include emotion due to it being essential to the building of one’s character. Aristotle believes that there is a social concept of morality grounded within human nature’s foundation in which there are rational and irrational sides of conflict. Strengths of Aristotle Virtue

Agree or disagree with the statement, “there is no objective right and wrong because people never agree about what is right and wrong”.

In Book II of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the idea of moral virtue. Aristotle emphasized the importance of developing moral virtue as the way to achieve what is finally more important, human flourishing (eudaimonia). Aristotle makes the argument in Book II that moral virtue arises from habit—equating ethical character to a skill that is acquired through practice, such as learning a musical instrument. However in Book III, Aristotle argues that a person 's moral virtue is voluntary, as it results from many individual actions which are under his own control. Thus, Aristotle confronts us with an inherently problematic account of moral virtue.

Aristotle’s notions of virtues are the heart of the subject matter in Aretaic Ethics. The concept of Aretaic ethics comes from the Greek word “arete” which translates as human excellence or excellence of character, virtue (Virtue Ethics, 2013). Virtue ethics emphasizes being a certain person with certain quality of character. Its basic concept is that the virtue or value of the actions is not in the act itself, rather it is in the heart of the actor. Though it may seem not overly compatible with today’s notions, I believe Aristotle’s notions of virtues are an important precursor towards self fulfillment and harmonized society.

Aristotle, provided his account of morality, then Hume also has his own set of morality. In which, Hume mentions that “reason is the salve of the passion”(Prompt). While, Aristotle’s view is that passions are the slaves of reasons. Even though both have their own sets of morality, one of them has a better concept of morality. Hume has his own set of morals in which there are flaws. In this paper, I shall have to agree with Aristotle over Hume. Aristotle’s concept that our passions are the slaves of reasons. In this paper, I will agree with Aristotle and I would have to disagree with Hume. I shall start off with a brief introduction of Aristotle’s morals. Next, I will move on to the reasons why Aristotle has a better reasons than Hume. Then finally, I will give my closing remarks on the topic.

Given the outline of Aristotle’s theory of moral virtue, I am left to conclude that Aristotle’s position is correct. Morality is obviously not innate, but clearly anyone with proper faculties of reasoning can achieve morality. Similarly we would not judge a baby on the actions it takes just as one would not judge the actions of an animal because the lack of reason strips the ability to achieve morality from the being under judgement; So to say that an animal or baby is gluttonous and therefor immoral makes no sense. We also know emotion to lack being inherently good or bad, even sadness can be good given that you act sad for the proper reasons in response to the proper conditions. I definitely agree that in most cases, what is virtuous is the mean between two vices and determined by the conditions underlying the situation. This is because the each action can be good or bad, and when a situation involves multiple conditions, it produces a range of mixtures of actions to be taken; some actions being more good or bad then others. For example, in war there are many conditions interplaying with one another; in instances of possible death, one must act courageous to overcome fear, but in the case of certain death one may employ cowardice. In both previous examples, one can argue that the action that followed was morally virtuous; in the first case, courage aided in warfare, while in the second, cowardice saved the man to fight another day.

As Aristotle emphasizes, the field of ethics is concerned with the well-being of the city as a whole, not as much with individual well-being (NE I.2, 1094b). On an individual basis, the distinct human function has no significant moral role. However, when practicality is stressed over theory, the moral significance of that distinct function becomes more integral. Aristotle’s account of the highest good in Book I of Nichomachean Ethics concerns the the general desire for happiness: it serves as a guide for a political leader, not a layout for individual morality. Thus, the distinct human capacity is morally significant insofar as it acts though politics. Although it is true that the method he uses to arrive at his conclusion seems to

Aristotle’s philosophy of ethics reflects the complexity of human action, deliberation, and human life in general. His philosophy provides a flexible basis for integrating the subjective and the objective. In the books Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle describes five intellectual virtues that help man to be a good human being: technical knowledge, scientific knowledge, philosophical wisdom, intuitive reasoning, and practical wisdom. These intellectual virtues are important aspects of Organizational Behavior, my current major. In this paper, I will argue how the core values of Organizational Behavior were developed and connected with Aristotle’s ethical ideas.