Aristotle’s Ethics

Ancient Athens

Aristotle

Aristotle: Goods Instrumental goods: desired for the sake of something else Intrinsic goods: desired for their own sake

Happiness One thing is always desired for its own sake, never for the sake of something else: happiness

Happiness One thing is always desired for its own sake, never for the sake of something else: happiness Happiness (eudaimonia) = living well = flourishing

Happiness One thing is always desired for its own sake, never for the sake of something else: happiness Happiness (eudaimonia) = living well = flourishing What does that require? Prosperity and luck, yes, but more

Living well What is it to live well?

Living well What is it to live well? Analogies: – A good knife cuts well – A good eye sees well – A good teacher teaches well

Living well What is it to live well? Analogies: – A good knife cuts well – A good eye sees well – A good teacher teaches well A good person _____s well

Function A thing’s function stems from what is special about it: what distinguishes it from other things – Knives cut: sharpness —> cutting – Eyes see: ability to see —> seeing – Teachers teach: ability to teach —> teaching

Our Function What is the function of a human being?

Our Function What is the function of a human being? What is special about people?

Our Function What is the function of a human being? What is special about people? We act according to rational plans

Virtue Our function is rational activity A good person succeeds at rational activity Virtue = excellence A virtuous person excels at rational activity

Two Kinds of Virtue Virtue = rational activity Excellence in rationality: intellectual virtue Excellence in activity: moral virtue

Becoming virtuous Intellectual virtue can be taught Moral virtue can’t be It requires developing habits We become good by doing good things

Right and wrong An act is right if it is something a virtuous person would tend to do

Circular? Moderns: A virtuous person is one who tends to do the right thing.

Circular? Moderns: A virtuous person is one who tends to do the right thing. Aristotle: That’s not enough. A virtuous person tends to do the right thing as virtuous people do them. A good person consistently does the right thing at the right time, in the right way, and for the right reason. Virtuous people do the right thing for the right reason: because it’s the right thing to do.

Virtue as a Mean Virtues are means between extremes Virtues constrain desires But we may constrain too little or too much

Virtues and Vices DriveToo littleJust rightToo much Fearcowardlycourageousrash Pleasureself-indulgentself-controlledinsensitive Material goodsstingygenerousextravagant Self-esteemvainhigh-mindedsmall-minded Angershort-temperedgentleapathetic Sociabilityobsequiousfriendlygrouchy Boastingboastfultruthfulself-deprecating Humorclownishwittyboring Drive for honorambitious?unambitious Spendinggrudgingmagnificentvulgar

Virtue as a Mean We must give in to desire in the right circumstances, in the right way, for the right reason, etc. Practical wisdom—the ability to draw the right distinctions and tell right from wrong—allows us to find the mean There’s no rule for doing this You must learn to see what is right

Can one be too moral? It’s possible to be “too generous” (extravagant), “too courageous” (rash), “too witty” (clownish), etc. Is it possible to be too moral?

Too narrow? (False negatives) Too broad? (False positives) Aristotle’s Theory Right Virtuous people would tend to do it