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We do not seek honor because it is valuable in itself, we seek honor to make us feel good, to achieve happiness. Aristotle believed that a true, ultimate must be sought for its own sake, that the end goal be self-sufficient and final.
For Aristotle, the good life is the "life of contemplation." Contemplation, the activity of the intellect, is loved for its own sake. It is not done in order to achieve something else. Thus, it is a true, ultimate end. Furthermore, contemplation, being an activity of the mind, is self-sufficient, meaning it does not require other people or places for its existence.
Contemplation, the activity of the intellect, is the highest form of activity because it corresponds to the best part of the soul, the rational part. The rational part of the soul is superior to the irrational part. The rational part of the soul
There are two kinds of virtue, intellectual virtue and moral virtue. The soul has two parts, one rational, the other irrational. The rational part...
The irrational part produces moral virtue, which is created by habit.
The rational part of the soul is best because it is necessary for the noblest type of action, action by choice. Only action by choice is can be virtuous. A person cannot take credit for action by habit, so action by habit cannot be virtuous and is less noble than action by choice. Aristotle defined choice as the deliberate desire of things in our own power. This deliberation requires a rational mind that picks one course of action over another.
Virtue is important because people attain the good life through the attainment of virtue. However, Aristotle believed that the highest virtue was for the few. This is why he believed that monarchies were the best form of government, followed by aristocracy, then democracy.
Bibliography
Smith, J.A. (2004) The Ethics of Aristotle, translated by J.A. Smith. Pennsylvania State University.
Bibliography
Smith, J.A. (2004) The Ethics of Aristotle, translated by J.A. Smith. Pennsylvania State University.
It is therefore important to understand first off Aristotle's thoughts on human nature in order to understand his opinions on ethics and virtue. That human beings are social beings is something familiar to us nowadays as it was in Aristotle's time. Consequently, ethics and virtue were part of human nature and so every living being was supposed to live by what is righteous. This is another characteristic separating us from
Aristotle thought happiness was longer in coming, it was the manner of being actualized and fulfilling one's true potential using their own individual gifts: Again, if the virtues are concerned with actions and passions, and every passion and every action is accompanied by pleasure and pain, for this reason also virtue will be concerned with pleasures and pains. This is indicated also by the fact that punishment is indicated by
Acting in accordance with virtuous principles is a key to attaining happiness. In Book Three of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explains the difference between voluntary and involuntary action as well as total passivity. In the first chapter of the book, the philosopher explains the importance of free will and taking action in determining ethical behavior. Aristotle concludes that the only truly ethical acts are those that are chosen by
These [bad effects of pleasure and pain] are the reason why people actually define the virtues as ways of being unaffected and undisturbed [by pleasures and pains]" (1104b21-25) It is not imperative to remain indifferent or unaffected by both pleasure and pain to be virtuous, it is only essential that we have the right feelings of pleasure and pain at the right time. Therefore, he goes on defining virtue as
Engagements in actions that are thought to be virtuous make one to be virtuous. On the other hand, immorality arises when a person has filed to live up to the requirements of the good habits and actions expected of him or her. Deontologists take positive actions as the posterior characteristics. Utilitarian theory claims that the product of an act determines whether it is a virtue or vice. If the
Aristotle and Thrasymachus Aristotle's theory of moral virtue presents a challenge to the view of Thrasymachus that justice is the advantage of the stronger. Thrasymachus believes that it does not pay to be just, and that justice in and of itself is a flawed concept. When a person behaves justly, that works to the advantage of other people who reap benefits from it, not to the advantage of the person who