The Role Of Virtue In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

It is important to notice that since virtue ethics, defended by Aristotle, is based on rationality (which he explains is the only factor that differentiates humans from animals), choice becomes a great deal when debating on human behavior. For Aristotle, everything chosen is voluntary, but not everything voluntary is chosen, and he explains this further with the children example. Children actions are voluntary but not particularly chosen due to their level of rationality. Further Aristotle explains how human choice is not responsible for its results, since choice can only relate to actions and feelings that is in our power. For example, one could not choose to win a competition or to be healthy as he explains but he could choose to do actions that are going to help the individual to achieve the desired outcome. Therefore, if one wishes to be healthy, he can choose to eat healthy and practice sports, but his choice of being healthy just by its own will not predict the outcome of actually being healthy. Conclusively, “choice relates to the means and wish relates rather to the end”. Additionally, Aristotle also expatiates on anger and appetite. These characteristics, for Aristotle are related to pleasure and feelings which are themselves relate to all animals. However, choice is not for that choice is only related to rational beings. Additionally, acts done in anger or in appetite does not

Aristotle has a firm belief that human being’s actions need to be aimed at and end with some sort of good. With this is mind, he further explains that happiness is the end result of our actions. Thomas Hill, although similar in view, advocates for the importance to not only preserve our environment but connects how the preservation of nature directly relates to human virtue. In this essay, I will argue that Thomas Hill’s beliefs on human virtue along side with the preservation of our environment goes hand in hand with Aristotle’s views of the development of human virtue. Both Aristotle and Thomas Hill believe that human virtue not only has the power to control our actions positively or negatively but can also influence whether human beings

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). This principle lies at the heart of the great-souled man, the first of Aristotle’s peaks of humanly excellence.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent man, who aided the fight for civil rights. Due to the unjust treatment of African-American, the Civil Rights Movement was formed to create a new outcome for the future. During the battle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became imprisoned in Birmingham city jail due to his participation in a nonviolent demonstration against segregation. While imprisoned, he wrote a letter on August 1963, called the "Letter from Birmingham Jail;" he expressed his concerns as to why there has been no advancement for the civil rights movement. While dissecting and analyzing his letter, his moral theory from this letter describes him to be a virtue ethicist. Aristotle describes virtue theory as an ethical theory that emphasizes an individual 's character rather than following a set of rules. Breaking it down even further to specify knowing right from wrong, being able to read an atmosphere by knowing what is right, and it is the midpoint between two extremes. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. display to be a virtue ethicists through his letter oppose to being a deontologist or utilitarian.

Aristotle defined a virtue as a good habit formed by rationally shaping one’s desires in order to reach a mean between overreaction and under reaction (Prof. Skerker). Virtues are only acquired through the habituation of doing the right things voluntarily. Aristotle also believed that a person doing the right thing and reaching the mean of a virtue should be brought pleasure by their actions. In a class discussion we defined character as the sum of all of our virtues, combined with how we use those virtues to influence our decisions and actions. The virtues I found most applicable in this case study are: integrity, humility, and loyalty. Integrity is a very influential virtue in this case, as

Thanks Christine! Yes, I believe virtue shouldn't be placed if one did good to other. And you must understand every good act comes in various ways. Just like Odysseus in the Odyssey, he showed a sign of virtue when he had the strength and courage leading his men into a dangerous journey. This does show he's virtue for exhibiting such strength and wisdom in his quest. Although, most people might object that a virtuous man shouldn't be one with strength but one who is of moral excellence. However, how's moral excellence without a willing mind and strength to overcome any obstacle? Absolutely, none! Therefore, a virtuous person might be one with or without leadership skills, though one who is able to sacrifice more to others in spite of any situation.

This seems like an active choice right? So to become a virtuous person, one must determine in the mind and follow through daily with their actions to pursue moral excellence. This previous statement is not only proved by Scripture, but it can also be proven by C.S. Lewis’s novel, Out of the Silent Planet.

The divine command theory, utilitarianism, Kant’s duty defined morality, natural law theory, and Aristotle’s virtue ethics are the five types of ethical theories. The divine command theory states that what is morally right and wrong will be decided by God. Utilitarianism states that “Action “A” is morally right if and only if it produces the greatest amount of overall happiness. Kant’s duty defined morality states that what is important is acting for the sake of producing good consequences, no matter what the act is. Natural law theory states that people should focus on the good and avoid any evil. The last theory is Aristotle’s virtue ethics which states that we should move from the concern towards good action and to focus on the concern with good character. This paper argues that Aristotle’s virtue ethics is better than the other ethical theories.

He describes the objection as, “all men desire the apparent good, but have no control over the appearance, but the end appears to each man in a form answering to his character” (1114b).  This view argues that all people pursue that which seems good, but some people cannot see the true good, which is out of their control.  The immediate implication of this objection, if it is indeed true, suggests that “no one is responsible for his own evildoing” (1114b).  This argument, though most people would intuitively disagree with it, is in reality quite compelling.  Just as those who are colorblind can not paint, and the crippled can not run, those with a naturally flawed or warped view of what is good can not be virtuous.  Similarly, the virtuous can not take credit for their virtue because they are simply gifted with a clearer view of what is good, which is completely out of their control.  Eventually, Aristotle does not completely refute this claim, but rests upon his earlier argument that one’s actions control her character: “if each man is somehow responsible for his state of mind, he will also be himself somehow responsible for the appearance” (1114b).  If you are willing to believe that a person can change her state of character by habitual repeated actions, then Aristotle’s claim about

Virtue is defined in many ways. Some say that it comes from the Latin word ‘virtus’, meaning virtue or courage, which comes from the other Latin word ‘vir’, which means man, meaning that virtue is the qualities of a man, such as courage. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines virtue as, “conformity to a standard of right [and/or] a particular moral excellence” (Merriam-Webster 899). With all these definitions floating around, it is hard to determine what virtues really is and what it really means to have virtue. In Plato’s Meno, Socrates and Meno discuss the definition of virtue and whether it can be taught. They conclude that virtue cannot be taught, “that virtue comes to the virtuous [(those who possess virtue)] by the gift of God” (Plato

What is virtue? Merriam-Webster defines virtue as morally good behavior or character. So how does one become truly virtuous? Must they simply avoid evil or morally wrong behavior? Or must virtue be an active choice? In C.S. Lewis' classic sci-fi novel, Out of the Silent Planet, Dr. Ransom, a philologist, is kidnapped by two scientists and transported with them to the distant planet Malacandra. Soon after landing, Ransom flees for his life as large aliens approach the clearing in which the scientists have pitched their camp. During his time in hiding, Ransom lives with a friendly species of alien where he learns some of the native dialect. Eventually he meets the ruler of Malacandra and experiences a vastly different and more harmonious world than Earth. Ransom, albeit unknowingly, answers the questions posed about virtue in three separate incidents.

The ultimate goal of human life for Plato is to know and understand the truth or the “eidos” of the “good”. The only way for us to see this truth is through our minds. The truth is not accessible in the physical world but in the intellectual realm. For us to be happy or for use to know the truth is only when we are beyond our physical sense it is a totally different level. So according to Plato, “knowledge” and “virtue” are corollary meaning that as long as one exists the other will follow. 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

Aristotle’s writings are the best prototype of virtue ethics. Contemporary virtue theories do not grasp nor represents the Aristotelian theory, because they think that it is impossible to escape the charge of relativism in virtue ethics. According to the relativist approach, ethical goodness is relative to each society depending on its traditions and practices. It is thought that virtue can only be outlined locally with reference to a single locale. Relativists reject the idea that there is a general rule, based on specific virtuous actions, that leads to the good life i.e. they reject that there is a single virtue (or norm of flourishing life) that is able to flourish the life of all human beings. Writers like Alasdair MacIntyre, Bernard Williams and Philippa Foot have abandoned “the project of rationally justifying a single norm of flourishing life for and to all human beings.” They deny that ethics can have trans-cultural norms

Debate surrounding the question of citizenship, and the ensuing ideals about what makes a good life, has existed for as long as citizenship itself – providing many contrasting views and interpretations about the peak of human flourishing. Aristotle himself recognizes this fact, stating that “…there is often dispute about the citizen…since not everyone agrees that the same person is a citizen” (Politics 65). This is indicative, then, of the fact that there will be many different interpretations of human existence and its purpose; due to the fact that there is not even agreement on citizenry and what the ideas of it reflect for human life. The juxtaposition of two such views, those of Aristotle and Locke, allow thinkers to evaluate not only two

Virtue ethics is an expansive theory inspired by the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle. In contrast to deontology and consequentialism, virtue ethics emphasizes the moral character (ideal traits) of a person. Aristotle believed that nature produced humans with the desire to be virtuous, just how seeds are built with the drive to become trees. This concept can be related to the term eudaimonia, which translates to the flourishing of a human being; a happy and well-lived life. Aristotle argued that the good life would focus to a great extent on contemplation and learning, or acquiring the intellectual virtues. According to Aristotelian theories, to achieve eudaimonia, one must possess arête and telos. Arête can be directly translated as