He believes that happiness is achieved through a life full of virtue as well as the expansion of reason and the ability of greater wisdom. This is why we take various actions, to ensure enough outer goods to obtain health, leisure time and the ability to have virtue in our lifespan. Furthermore, another point Aristotle emphasizes, is that moral virtue is located somewhere between extremes and deficiency. That’s where the Greek saying “παν μετρον αριστον” comes from, meaning everything is good but don’t over or under do it. Keep everything in moderation, except virtue.
They supposed that anyone seeking virtues should seek them because they are practical and have ‘real-world’ benefits, “…vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered; that it was, therefore, everyone’s interest to be virtuous who wished to be happy…”( Franklin 1973/2016, p. 65). Along those lines Aristotle also stated, “But for actions in accord with the virtues to be done temperately or justly it does not suffice that they themselves have the right qualities. Rather, the agent must also be in the right state when he does them” (Aristotle, 2005, p. 578). They believed the only way to become virtuous was by doing virtuous actions. Aristotle believed that virtuous actions was something that had to be learned in addition into turning it into a habit, “For we learn a craft by producing the same product that we must produce when we have learned it…” (Aristotle, 2005, p. 578).
The idea of virtue ethics was first introduced to the world by Aristotle over 2,300 years ago in 325 BC (Rachels 173). Virtue ethics operate on the belief that people develop good character by looking at the virtues they admire in other people and emulating them. In order to do this, a person must ask themselves what kind of person they want to be and focus on choosing characteristics not specific people to emulate. Unfortunately, virtue ethics were quickly overshadowed by other perspectives on ethical theory as Christianity gained popularity and values changed. As time went on people stopped asking themselves, “What traits make a good person?” and instead asked, “What is the right thing to do?” (Rachels 174).
Evidence of the impact of Aristotle's mentorship can be found by comparing the decisions made during Alexander's time as king and Aristotle's ideas found in the books that he left behind. Even though Aristotle was only Alexander's tutor for a short amount of time, Aristotle became a large influence in Alexander's life. As a teacher Aristotle was able to project his personal views onto his pupils as well as educational information. Alexander was a captivated student. He had special interests in lessons such as medicine and scievnce, however he also enjoyed the arts, particularly literature.
Most people have accepted a relative worldview, and leaders continue to impress tolerance on the upcoming generation. While it is necessary to accept disagreement, Aristotle and Isocrates challenge young people to think critically and independently. Society thrives when men and women think and speak with a gentle critique and with a unified desire for truth. If great men such as Aristotle and Isocrates displayed such a passion for rhetoric and argued for its correct teaching, contemporary authors and speakers should consider the same standard. The modern world needs less “sophists” who argue for the sake of arguing or promoting a selfish agenda, and it needs speakers who are willing to seek and defend truth – real, justified, pure
We are trying to reach happiness. According to Aristotle’s writing called, Nicomachean Ethics, all actions performed by humans aim to gain happiness, happiness is the ultimate end, and that happiness is greatly determined by moral and intellectual virtues. However, I will discuss how some believe that his doctrine of the mean lacks the direction of how one achieves equilibrium of the virtues. In addition, I will explain how Aristotle’s ethics, in fact, does give sufficient advice of how a person can live virtuously. Firstly, Aristotle
They both emphasize the importance of “virtue” as the main quality of a ruler. According to Aristotle the virtue of the rulers is more important that the approval of the citizens. He states that “all should joyfully obey such a ruler, according to what seems to be the order of nature” (as cited in Ebenstein and Ebenstein, 2000, p. 79). Confucius’ ruler should act with love and concern for the others and people follows him for his quality not because of laws or the fear of punishment. People who do not act virtuously feel shame for
Locke saw religion as main method of creating good and moral leaders and education as an auxiliary method. Aristotle did not consider all people equal; Locke and Aristotle had differing views on citizenship in their respective polity or commonwealth. He, Aristotle, argued that only certain people should participate in the political process. This contrary to Locke’s ideals that all people were created equal. Moreover, Aristotle did not consider all inhabitants of a state as citizens; he did not think women, aliens, or vulgar people, to name a few, should be granted the rights of citizens.
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.
In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he describes his feeling and thoughts on pleasure; he discusses that pleasure is good and that the feeling of eudaimonia is connected to pleasure. Eudaimonia, also know as the term for happiness in Greek, means “a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous” (dictionary.com). Aristotle describes happiness as the main purpose of all human lives and that it is absolutely the essential goal for all humans. I disagree with Aristotle’s statement that a life of pleasure cannot be the best life because just because a person finds pleasure in different ventures other than being virtuous doesn’t make them an animalistic person. Aristotle indicates that pleasure is the most necessary part of unimpeded activity, but pleasure on it own, can be unintended from an activity; in which pleasure itself would develop from activity without any type of drawbacks.