Download - Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
1/28
Aristotle
The Ethics
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.stenudd.com/myth/greek/images/aristotle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.stenudd.com/myth/greek/aristotle.htm&h=473&w=320&sz=38&hl=en&start=2&um=1&usg=__jvag4kkXPZ7o6m98arZU_utkHxQ=&tbnid=UR4nl4CIzu457M:&tbnh=129&tbnw=87&prev=/images?q=Aristotle&um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*&sa=N -
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
2/28
Metaphysics and Ethics
All things have an end
A final cause the good for which a thing isdone or the good for an object
Shipbuilding Ship
Economics Wealth
Medicine -- Health
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
3/28
The End of Human Life
There must be some end to human life
That is the reason for which we do all other things
Politics Includes the good for all areas of
human life
This inquiry into the good of man is a kind of
political enquiry
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
4/28
Preface: The exactness of knowledge
Various disciplines admit different degrees of
certainty.
We should not expect from ethics and politics
the exactitude of physics.
But we should not therefore think it is only a
matter of convention.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
5/28
Happiness as the greatest human good
There is wide agreement that happiness is the
greatest human good.
But there is little agreement about what
happiness (or a well-lived life) consists in.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
6/28
What is happiness?
Aristotle lays out the view of classes embracedby Plato (that some are dominated by desire,some by spiritedness, some by reason)
1. Some say it consists in a life of pleasure This is the view of the masses
2. Some say it is the life of honor
This is the view of statesmen
3. Some say it consists in virtue
This is the view of the wise
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
7/28
The final good as self-sufficing
Our true good can scarce be taken away from
us.
Many goods, however, are only conditional
and partial; they aim at something beyond
themselves.
Moneymaking ultimately aims at happiness
These thus cannot be confused with the final
good, which is self-sufficing.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
8/28
Contingent goods and a happy life
These various partial, contingent goodscontribute to a good life.
Contingent goods, which can come and go, are
still goods. It is better to have them, than not tohave them.
Thus one living a fully good life has friends, acertain wealth, physical beauty, etc. Someexternal goods are necessary. (See also Bk. X, Ch.8)
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
9/28
More fundamental, however:
What is our function?
The human function is a kind of life.
It is to exercise ones vital faculties in accordwith reason.
It is act and live well and beautifully, as anexcellent, exemplary human.
This means it is to act virtuously.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
10/28
Human nature
Humans have three parts constituting their
nature:
Vegetative soul
Appetite
He says these listen to reason
Reason
Reason plays a role in controlling appetites:
If we do this, then we develop character virtues
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
11/28
Two kinds of virtue
Intellectual virtue
This consists in developing intellectual abilities
(including the ability to judge how a virtuous
person should acti.e., phronesis, or practicalwisdom/prudence.
Character virtue
These are moral excellencieshabits of charactercultivated in those who live excellently
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
12/28
The development of character
Virtues are not natural.
They must be acquired by training.
Just as we become pianists by playing piano,we become just by acting justly, courageousby acting courageously, etc.
So, too, we become unjust by practicinginjustices, cowards by practicing cowardice,etc.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
13/28
Context sensitive action
The goal is not to follow a principle that
applies equally in every situation.
It is to develop a character that allows us to
judge what action is appropriate in each
different kind of situation
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
14/28
Taking pleasure in the right things
Humans are malleable. We can take pleasure
and find pain in very different things
The virtuous person learns to take pleasure in
good things and to find pain in bad things.
We also want to avoid finding pleasure at the
wrong times or in the wrong manner
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
15/28
The virtuous
The virtuous takes pleasure
In the right things
At the right time Toward the right persons
In the right manner
To the right degree
We take the pleasure or pain that we derive frommoral actions as a test of our character.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
16/28
Hamartanein
Hamartanein is the Greek for missing the
mark.
Our goal is to hit it.
It is difficult, however, because there are manyways of missing it, and few of hitting it.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
17/28
The golden mean
The goal in virtues of character is to achieve a mean between twoextreme forms of character.
We want to avoid both a deficiency and an excess of a certaincharacteristic.
The mean, however, is relative
The right amount of food for Milo, the wrestler, is different than theright amount of food for me.
Virtue, then, is a habit or trained faculty of choice, thecharacteristic of which lies in moderation or observance of themean relatively to the persons concerned, as determined byreason, i.e., as the prudent man would determine it. (NE, Bk II, Ch.6)
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
18/28
Not all things admit of a mean
Example: Adultery
One cant commit too little adultery, or just
enough only too much. One cant commit adultery with the right person,
in the right way, at the right time, etc.
Nor can there be an excess of the virtues i.e., tomuch justice, too much moderation, etc.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
19/28
The golden mean
In feelings of fear and confidence Mean = courage
Deficiency of confidence = cowardliness.
Excess of confidence = foolhardiness
In taking money (small and large sums) Mean = Liberality, magnificence
Excess in spending = prodigality, bad taste
Deficiency in giving = Illiberality, meanness
With regard to honor and disgrace Mean = high mindedness Excess = vanity
Deficiency = low mindedness
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
20/28
Mean in nearly all things
In anger Mean = gentleness
Excess = wrathfulness
Deficiency = wrathlessness
Pleasantness in amusement Mean = wittiness
Excess = buffoonery
Deficiency = boorishness
Pleasantness in other affairs Mean = friendliness Excess = obsequious or flattery
Deficiency = disagreeableness, quarrelsomeness
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
21/28
Life of moral virtue is happy in a
secondary sense
The development of character virtues is relatedto intellectual virtue.
In living in accord with virtue, we do develop theintellectual virtue of prudence
The development of this virtue stands in afeedback relationship with the development of
virtues of character. The more virtuous we become, the better we see
what virtue calls for in a particular situation.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
22/28
External goods and the virtues of
character
Basic necessities in life must be met to have agood life.
They are also necessary for the exercise of
character virtues. Strength is necessary to express bravery.
Some money is needed to be liberal.
But we only need moderate amounts of thesethings to live a life of virtue.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
23/28
Perfect happiness
This consists in the fullest expression of reason in us.
It requires speculation or contemplation, since that is how we mostfully express reason.
The life of contemplation is the only life pursued completely foritself.
It alone is the life of leisure. All toil is done in the hope that we can find peace/leisure even the toil of the
statesman.
But the life of contemplation surpasses what is possible for us it ismore of a divine life.
We ought, however, to exercise our reason in contemplation asmuch as possible.
The wise person is the happiest of all.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
24/28
Political Thought
Moral education is important.
A good polity: supports the development of good
citizenry (the cultivation of the virutes).
The best polity: one of virtuous citizens.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
25/28
Development of Virtue as Human Goal.
Development of Virtue as Political Goal.
Humans are rational animals.
Humans are political animals (zoon politikon).
Human Telos: Happiness (Eudaimonia) is the goal of
action. It requires a certain material basis, but mainly a rational life in
combination with the cultivation of the virtues.
The goal of the polity is (among other things) tosupport this natural goal. That means the polity must create the basis favorable for the
individual development of reasons, education, virtue.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
26/28
Ethics and Politics
Humans are social animals.
One living outside of the state is either an animal or aGod.
Aim of a good polity
to enable citizens a complete human life.
The Polis exists naturally. Each person shares the aim of pursuing Eudaimonia.
The state is necessary for achieving this goal.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
27/28
A virtuous character is an individual and social
product
Humans are social beings.
Although reason is essential to humans, it isdeveloped better in some societies than in
others.
A rational society creates rational citizens.
-
8/2/2019 Aristotle 1 Ethics Ppt 110210114816 Phpapp01
28/28
Legislation
Law is to secure the conditions needed forindividuals to maintain a well-lived life. A well-lived life is an exemplary one.
The measure of an exemplary life is passed on in the polity.The polity thus also assumes the right to help decide whatgood life of the citizens consists in.
Education is an essential governmental duty.
A well-educated (virtuous) citizenry is needed to maintaina just state.