Aristotle Ethics Study Guide

Peralta, Jonah M. September 29, 2016 BSIE-HE/4C 1.) “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” – Aristotle - In education, you will encounter circumstances wherein you will find yourself struggling and facing hardships. But after some time, all your hard work will be paid off because all of the struggles and circumstances you faced will be compensated by all the good things. It only means that no things on earth including education or your studies will be as easy as you expected

It can exist in a variety of situations and settings, including many different types of religions, morals, and literature. Since it is such a common concept, it is important to identify where the term came from, and to understand what it truly means. The concept of “the greater good” was created within the writings of influential philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, and Cicero. Early on, the idea of “the greater good” was a pure concept, which consisted of having the social systems, institutions and environments all depend on each other to work in a manner that benefits all

“Every one does evil acts through ignorance.” (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics) How should we be good? Is a question of discernment, The Jesuit Guide to Almost Everything reminds us, in true discernment; “All mature choices are between goods.” (Martin,cite this pg 311) the good is different for each of us and figuring out what it means personally, is an act of discernment in itself. Once we choose the our own path to the good the difficulty lies in exactly how to go about the good that we choose.

Aristotle uses a “two step formula” to explore this concept. The first step is to isolate and determine what human’s distinctive function is. To explore human’s happiness, it is crucial to explore the manifestation of human nature. What makes humans humans? What are the distinctive activities and functions that we perform that brings us goodness and happiness?

Plato gives humanity the benefit of the doubt. He portrays that if you actually do good instead of seeming to do good, then you will be successful. Sadly, this idea of human nature is that of a utopian society. If everyone always did good deeds, nobody would get ‘screwed over.’ This would put everyone at the same level which just can’t be done if you want a ‘well ordered State.’

God gave us his word and teachings through the Bible. There you can find all things that are virtuous, and it commands us to dwell upon these things in Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. (NKJV Phil. 4:8) Here God is telling us to “meditate” on all things that are good and virtuous and describes what is good and virtuous. (NKJV Phil. 4:8).

In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Book ll, he explains that virtue is a habit of right action, formed by acting rightly (Nicomachean Ethics, p. 71). What he means by this is that everyone has the chance to act virtuously, but we must for work at doing what is right. Aristotle thought we should be virtuous because if we live virtuously than we will have a better life over

In other words, virtue is excellence, a noble quality, and goodness of something. Virtue is acquired from habit not from nature. The more opportunities one has to behave virtuously, and the more times one successfully does so, the more experience one gains in being virtuous. I think that the conditions one has

Aristotle has four main components of virtue which are doing something knowingly, something that one must choose, the choice made needs to be made for the right reason, and a stable condition is needed. Making a choice knowingly has a huge effect on whether something is being done for the right reasons. Aristotle wrote, “And a person lacking self control acts while desiring something not choosing it while a person with

It is critical to recognize Mill’s argument that a degree of contentment can exist in periods of less happiness. However, Aristotle’s view of perceiving wellbeing or goodness as ultimate is more pronounced. Worth emphasizing, Aristotle deeply explores his arguments basing them on functions of a rational man and virtues out of habits. Today, a virtuous citizen is one whose actions are inward, in response to conscience and moral obligations as a member of society. Such a person, not waivered with intensities of pleasures, honor, and wealth but seeks to have a satisfactory level of happiness with friends, co-workers, and family among other

This is a practical work answering all the theories of complex situations in human life. This work are the lessons of Aristotle’s lectures at Lyceum. The term “Ethics” deals with science to human behavior. Aristotle has shown reflection to real day society and has given us the path to make it organized. The term “Nicomachean” was used because it is believed that this text was either dedicated to or edited by son of Aristotle named Nicomachus.

The great-souled man finds the mean If we are interested in practicing the virtues, is important to define virtuous conduct. Consider the vice that exists in both excess and deficiency. While bravery is a virtue of character, one can act with too much bravery, and be reckless, or too little bravery, and be cowardly. Virtuous conduct lies in finding the mean: “The manner one ought is both a mean and the best thing, which is what belongs to virtue” (29:1106b23-24).

He says that as long as you are aware of the truth and you know what the good is, it automatically means you will do the good. We all have the capacity to see the truth and the “eidos” of the good but it needs to be developed. Once it is developed that means it is logical that you will automatically do what

We need to decide in every situation the right thing, to do for us. This eventually leads to the statements about finding the mean of all the virtues for yourself. Once you have achieved true happiness, you will be able to deliberate for any person in any scenario what the mean is for them and the right thing to do for all cases and all

Eudaimonia is the universally recognized chief good. Aristotle discusses four central views which are critical to eudaimonia being the ultimate human good. Firstly, one has to live a life according to one’s function. Secondly, natural, virtuous activity is required in order to live a life of happiness. Thirdly, one requires possessing external goods such as wealth, power and friends in order to be happy.