Aristotle The Mind of the School

From The Nichomachean Ethics “It is no easy task to be good…. any one can get angry- that is easy- or give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way..is not easy”

Aristotle and Virtue What assumptions does Aristotle make concerning his philosophy of Life and how to live virtuously? First, assumed the Good Existed (Plato) Meaning of Virtue? A character trait that helps make a person a good person Virtue as the mean between extremes?: yes, but… A virtuous mean does not always exist for all character traits: Adultery, theft, murder are always wrong: spite, shamelessness, envy, can never be virtuous or have a mean

Virtue and Eudaimonia: An Essential Component of Successful Living Ultimate end of human life? Happiness Key distinction: happiness and pleasure Are many things we desire Aristotle does not want to say goal of life is simple physical gratification Has a more ‘long-term happiness’ in mind

 eudaimonia An activity of the soul in conformity with perfect virtue extended over a lifetime supplemented by sufficient external goods.

Eudaimonia as Virtues, Character, and the Good Life Virtues are desirable because they promote long-term happiness (eudaimonia) Character traits such as self-confidence, friendliness, honesty tend to increase our chances of success Can justify a virtuous life because it promotes the well being of people who have them

Eudaimonia, Family, and Friends How is Aristotle’s understanding of Virtue relational? Our virtue, character, and happiness depend heavily on family and friends Many of the virtues are valuable precisely because they help cultivate strong family and friendship bonds

Habituation of Virtue Aristotle: none of the virtues of character arise naturally in us Rather, we have a natural ability to acquire virtue through habituation We become just by doing just actions, temperate by doing temperate actions Refraining from pleasure allows us to become temperate

Modeling Virtuous Character We are both influenced by and influence others through our moral development and virtuous behavior

Virtue: the mean between extremes SpectrumDeficiencyExcessMean Fear --- Confide nce CowardCourageRash

“Moderation in all things.” As Mom says:

DefinitionExampleCause Aristotle’s Four Causes “that out of which a thing comes to be, and which persists” Elements: earth, air, water, fire, or… Material Material Cause “the statement of essence” “the account of what-it-is-to-be” Shape, figure, blueprint, type… Formal Cause “Having four legs and a flat top is what it is to be a table.” “the primary source of change, generation, or movement” The man who gives advice, the father (of a child)… Efficient Cause “A carpenter is what produces a table.” “Wood is what the table is made out of.” “the end or goal, that for the sake of which a thing is done” Health (is the cause of exercise)… Final Cause “Writing upon is what a table is for.” Your ExampleYour Soul?