aristotle and peer response

Peer Response 1:  Aristotle does discuss both practical wisdom and respect in the Nicomachean Ethics (Hursthouse, 2016). Practical wisdom needs to be cultivated over time, although it does seem that some people are more prone to being practical, reasonable, and even-tempered than others. Those who lack innate practical wisdom can cultivate it, and in fact, have an ethical obligation to cultivate this virtue.

Aristotle believed that there are two types of virtuous people: those who have “full or perfect virtue,” and those who have to exert effort or “strength of will” to be virtuous (Hursthouse, 2016, p. 1). Sometimes to be a virtuous person, one does need to exert effort, until it becomes second nature to do so. Once ethical virtue becomes second nature, the person is no longer “continent,” but fully and perfectly virtuous in that area of life (Hursthouse, 2016, p. 1). Practical wisdom comes from experience.

As Hursthouse (2016) puts it, a child or even an adolescent is prone to making moral mistakes because they have not yet learned the lessons that would make them practically wise in that situation. Once they have an experience that teaches them the lesson, then they are more fully prepared to develop this virtuous characteristic. Respecting others also comes from practice and experience. Virtue comes from respecting others, but at the same time holding true to one’s own ethical character.

Peer Response 2:  It is true that temperance and magnanimity are two of the most important character virtues, according to Aristotle (“Traditional Theories of Ethics,” n.d.). Both temperance and magnanimity relate to the overall concept of balance, exhibiting a middle path approach to all ethical behavior. One should not go to extremes. Being imbalanced, intemperate, arrogant, or self-effacing can all impede one’s ability to experience eudaimonia, or happiness (Hursthouse, 2016).

A virtuous person who exhibits balance in their comportment and attitudes towards others is one who flourishes in their life, and who inspires others do to the same. Therefore, it is important to always be a good person because virtuous characteristics are noticed by others, admired by others, and ultimately imitated by others. A person who is virtuous can create a better world by making those character virtues become normative throughout the society.

Instead of relying on religion to guide our normative ethics, or our personal moral code, we can focus on our character and how we can improve our attitudes and behaviors. Peer Response 3:  Integrity and commitment are strong ethical virtues that can engender what Aristotle called eudaimonia. To have integrity means to remain committed to one’s principles, but it also means having a strong moral character overall. To have integrity means to be integral—to be whole and complete.

The person who has integrity is not pulled in many directions at once. Instead, that person acts in a virtuous way in every situation regardless of the circumstances. Other ways of describing integrity include steadfastness and loyalty, which is why commitment is another ethical virtue. To be committed to people or causes is to remain loyal, but it also means being honest. A good friend is someone who tells a friend where they can improve, and who does not fear embarrassment or any other effect.

To be virtuous therefore requires selflessness. When we are.