Aristotle’s Ethics

Major Claims in Book I Ethics = quest for objective, lasting good Good = happiness-in- rational activity (“flourishing self- actualization”) Key to happiness = pursuit /achievements of virtue, excellence (“personal growth”)

Virtue (arete) ( I.13) Moral virtues –Courage –Temperance –“Minor virtues” –Justice Intellectual virtues –Practical wisdom (phronesis) –Philosophical wisdom (sophia) Interpersonal virtue: –Friendship (philia) 3 Moral Stages: Mature, rational self - stable character - deliberate, choose Social, pre-adult - guided by sense of honor, shame Immature, irrational - acts on impulse - inconsistent Moral Ed changes: emotional ego  rational, autonomous person (achievement)

Moral Virtues Not “natural”/instinctive but learned; yet “natural’ in deeper sense of human teleology Relate to pleasure and pain; esp. to attaching pleasure/pride to virtuous deeds Cultivated by action/habituation, not instruction (though this may be relevant) Express the “self”/ concept of “prohairesis” = “habits of choice” (note paradox) Often involve “practical reason” (evaluation, knowledge of situation) Essential to “eudaimonia” (flourishing self- actualization)

Definition of Moral Virtue (II.6) A habit or state of character that expresses a choice Which finds a mean relative to us As determined by rational principle, ie. guided by values a morally wise person would see are at stake Trait that contributes integrally to eudaimonia/the good life

Deficiency Cowardice VIRTUE COURAGE Excess Rashness Self-indulgent (drunken, glutton, promiscuous) TEMPERANCE (healthy moderation) Asensual (e.g. anorexic) CheapnessGENEROSITYWastefulness Self-Shame, Servility (low self-esteem) SELF-PRIDE (& high self-regard) Arrogance, Vanity Exploitative, Selfish (covetous, dominator) JUSTICE (fair-mindedness) (Altruistic, ‘selfless’)

Courage and Cowardice Courage involves mastering appropriate fears Ultimate test = death in battle Can err in emotions or in values No freedom without courage Related institutions = military, police, firemen (sports?) “Apparent” forms of courage: –civic; based on skill/experience; based on ignorance; ‘natural’ aggressiveness

Temperance vs. Intemperance Temperate choose “mean,” willingly limit your pleasures enjoy temperance Related human institutions: marriage, family, parties, music Self-indulgent habitual excess in food, drink, sex virtue = ability/will to control impulse vice = “enslaving”

Generosity & Magnanimity Generosity Artful use of $ knows value of $ Not unrelated to justice Vices = Cheapness & Prodigality More = prone to cheapness focus = giving, not acquiring* *Indicates A’s class bias? “Greatness of soul” & proper pride –Wise regard for goals, abilities, ambition –Self-knowledge & self- regard, pride & dignity Vices = Humility & Egotism –More = lack pride (?) –Humility not a virtue Note on internal vs. external goods of activities

“Minor social virtues” Even tempered (‘gentle’) vs. irascible Friendliness (good natured) vs. unfriendly & flatterers Truthful (sincerity) vs. boasters (also vs. ironists?) Wit (good sense of humor) vs. boors and buffoons Sense of shame vs. shamelessness –Note this is not a virtue, but a paradigm for all conventional, i.e. unprincipled virtue