Phi 335 Aristotle Exam

Front 1

What is an aretaic conception of ethics?

Back 1

Arete – excellence, goodness or virtue
So, an aretaic conception of ethics would be understood as an ethic pointing toward the highest good or the fulfillment of human purpose or function.

Front 2

Describe Aristotle’s conception of eudaimonia: what does he mean by a final and self-sufficient end of action? How does eudaimonia fit that description? What aspects of eudaimonia are under our control and which are affected by luck? Why does it require a complete life span?

Back 2

Eudaimonia – the ultimate human good chosen in of itself; a blessed life
If eudaimonia is the ideal end of life, it must be:

*Final – always something worthy to choose in of itself (never from anything else)

*Self-sufficient – all by itself it makes a life worthy of being chosen, nothing further is needed
Eudaimonia consists in:

a) Virtue (in our control);

b) Good fortune;

c) A complete life

*Achieving virtue requires a complete life, with practicing doing the right thing; it takes time to practice virtue and teach to others. Virtue is the foundation for eudaimonia and is the most stable achievement possible in human life.

Front 3

Describe Aristotle’s conception of eudaimonia:

Back 3

Eudaimonia – the ultimate human good chosen in of itself; a blessed life
If eudaimonia is the ideal end of life, it must be:

Final and
Self Suffiecient

Front 4

what does he mean by a final and self-sufficient end of action

Back 4

*Final – always something worthy to choose in of itself (never from anything else)

*Self-sufficient – all by itself it makes a life worthy of being chosen, nothing further is needed

Front 5

What aspects of eudaimonia are under our control and which are affected by luck?

Back 5

Eudaimonia consists in:
a) Virtue (in our control);
b) Good fortune;
c) A complete life

Front 6

Why does eudamonia require a complete life span?

Back 6

*Achieving virtue requires a complete life, with practicing doing the right thing; it takes time to practice virtue and teach to others. Virtue is the foundation for eudaimonia and is the most stable achievement possible in human life.

Front 7

What for Aristotle are the 3 parts of a human soul, their roles, and the relations among them? What is the proper function of a human being? How does Aristotle reason from his account of proper human function to his account of eudaimonia?

Back 7

3 parts of a human soul:
1) Nutrition/growth;
2) Desire/appetite;
3) Reason

-Nutrition/growth are irrational functions of the soul, which we have no control.
-Desire/appetite are rational functions, exercised through Moral Virtue
-Reason is a rational function, exercised through Intellectual Virtue

Nature of a person: Rational nature
Special function of a person: Activity of the soul that expresses reason
Excellence of a person: Activity of the soul that expresses reason in the most excellent way
*Since Moral and Intellectual Virtues are rational powers, eudaimonia would require expressing such virtues in the most excellent way.

Front 8

3 parts of a human soul:

Back 8

1) Nutrition/growth;
2) Desire/appetite;
3) Reason

Front 9

What for Aristotle are the 3 parts of a human soul, their roles, and the relations among them

Back 9

-Nutrition/growth are irrational functions of the soul, which we have no control.
-Desire/appetite are rational functions, exercised through Moral Virtue
-Reason is a rational function, exercised through Intellectual Virtue

Front 10

What is the proper function of a human being? How does Aristotle reason from his account of proper human function to his account of eudaimonia?

Back 10

Nature of a person: Rational nature
Special function of a person: Activity of the soul that expresses reason
Excellence of a person: Activity of the soul that expresses reason in the most excellent way
*Since Moral and Intellectual Virtues are rational powers, eudaimonia would require expressing such virtues in the most excellent way.

Front 11

What is Aristotle’s complete (4-part) definition of moral virtue?

Back 11

Virtue is activity of the soul expressing reason in the most excellent way.
When desires/appetites show excellence in obeying reason in action and feeling, this is MORAL VIRTUE.
When rational powers themselves are well used in thinking, this is INTELLECTUAL VIRTUE.
INTELLECTUAL is acquired by instruction & experience.
MORAL VIRTUE is acquired by habit:just as we get crafts by practicing the craft, we get virtues of character by doing the kind of acts they show in. I.e., we get virtue by practicing doing the right things

Front 12

Explain how moral virtue is acquired.

Back 12

MORAL VIRTUE is acquired by habit:just as we get crafts by practicing the craft, we get virtues of character by doing the kind of acts they show in. I.e., we get virtue by practicing doing the right things

Front 13

What is the proper function of a human being? How does Aristotle reason from his account of proper human function to his account of eudaimonia?

Back 13

THE HAPPY PERSON (one who achieves eudaimonia) = one who behaves excellently, with an adequate supply of the needed external goods, for a complete life.

Front 14

What does Aristotle mean by “choice lying in a mean”?

Back 14

Aristotle lays out a list of virtues in which, by practicing moral virtue, we come to act within a mean of excess and defect.

Front 15

What is the difference between a right action and a virtuous action for Aristotle? Are all right and wrong actions determined by a mean between excess and defect?

Back 15

Right action - that which is a mean (mid-point) between extremes of excess or deficiency of the sort of thing in question

Virtuous action – right actions which the agent knows are right, has decided to do, and are done out of formed and stable character

*No, there are some actions that are morally impermissible such as: adultery, murder, theft, etc.

Front 16

Right action :

Back 16

- that which is a mean (mid-point) between extremes of excess or deficiency of the sort of thing in question

Front 17

Virtuous action

Back 17

– right actions which the agent knows are right, has decided to do, and are done out of formed and stable character

Front 18

Are all right and wrong actions determined by a mean between excess and defect?

Back 18

*No, there are some actions that are morally impermissible such as: adultery, murder, theft, etc.

Front 19

What are the 2 parts of the rational part of the soul?

Back 19

As the soul divides into rational and irrational parts, so the rational part itself divides into two parts that grasp a rational principle (138/1138b/para1):

scientific rationality

calculative/deliberative rationality

Front 20

scientific rationality

Back 20

directed at eternal and unchanging things (god, laws of the universe, the unchanging order of natural beings, mathematics); this aims at unchanging truth about these unchanging things

Front 21

calculative/deliberative rationality -

Back 21

directed at things which are impermanent and change, including human actions, and aims at “truth in agreement with right desire.”

Front 22

What is practical wisdom? How is practical wisdom acquired? How is practical wisdom different from either art, science, or philosophic wisdom?

Back 22

practical wisdom: excellence in deliberation about what to do in particular situations

“Virtue makes us aim at the right mark, and practical wisdom makes us take the right means.”

Practical Wisdom + Moral Virtue = Real virtue



The use of practical wisdom is deliberate (~art) and not unchanging (~phi wisdom, science)

Front 23

philosophical wisdom:

Back 23

intuitive reason + scientific knowledge;

to grasp the true first principles of unchanging realities and to draw the correct conclusions about the things “highest by nature;”(145/1141a/para7 and 146/1141a/para7)

Front 24

science:

Back 24

capacity for knowledge of necessary and unchanging things by demonstrating the truth about them from true first principles;

Front 25

art:

Back 25

a capacity to make things according to true reasoning

Front 26

practical wisdom:

Back 26

capacity to deliberate well so as to act with regard to things good or bad for human beings, what is the “ultimate particular fact” in specific situations about what is best; (142/1140a/para5 and 148/1142a/para8)

Front 27

intuitive reason:

Back 27

grasp of first principles from which all scientific demonstrations proceed; (144/1140b/para6)

Front 28

What is the relationship between practical wisdom and moral virtue? How does true moral virtue require practical wisdom, and true practical wisdom depend on moral virtue?

Back 28

“Virtue makes us aim at the right mark, and practical wisdom makes us take the right means.”
Practical wisdom requires the use of moral virtue.
“…So we cannot be practically wise without being good, nor good without practical wisdom to give us the “right rule.”

Front 29

Why does Aristotle say that all the virtues are really one?

Back 29

They are all parts of eudaimonia, the ultimate end.

Front 30

What does Aristotle mean by philia? Why is philia so important for virtue?

Back 30

-Personal relationship in which people wish each other well and know it.
Usefulness, pleasure and virtue – wanting a friendship to be mutually useful.

Front 31

What does Aristotle mean by philia?

Back 31

-Personal relationship in which people wish each other well and know it.

Front 32

Why is philia so important for virtue?

Back 32

Usefulness, pleasure and virtue – wanting a friendship to be mutually useful.

Front 33

What are the 3 kinds of friendship among equals?

Back 33

Utility and usefulness
Pleasure
Virtue, goodness and good character – this one is most endearing in terms of friendship

Front 34

Why does Aristotle think it is important to distinguish between equal and unequal relationships?

Back 34

Know your role. Aristotle believed in a natural hierarchy. Born into a poor family, one is lesser than one born into a rich family.

Front 35

Explain and contrast the two distinct principles of difference and proportionality that are intertwined in Aristotle’s discussion of philia. Which is Aristotle’s view?

Back 35

Principle of Difference: we ought render different things to people in different relation to us
Viz. – I should save my brother before I save a stranger
Principle of Proportionality: Equals should give equality to each other in love and all other respects; while in relationships of inequality the better deserves more than the lesser.
Viz. – A man deserves more love from his wife
-The Principle of Proportionality is Aristotle’s View; Principle of Difference is implied.

Front 36

Principle of Difference:

Back 36

we ought render different things to people in different relation to us
Viz. – I should save my brother before I save a stranger

Front 37

Principle of Proportionality:

Back 37

Equals should give equality to each other in love and all other respects; while in relationships of inequality the better deserves more than the lesser.
Viz. – A man deserves more love from his wife

Front 38

Which is Aristotle’s view?

Difference or porportiionality

Back 38

-The Principle of Proportionality is Aristotle’s View; Principle of Difference is implied

Front 39

How does Aristotle argue for the life of contemplation as true eudaimonia?

Back 39

Philosopher (highest social state) must practice contemplation.
Arg. 1:
P1.Eudaimonia consists in the most excellent exercise of the highest part of us
P2.Reason is the best and highest part of us
Eudamonia consists in the pure exercise of reason – speculation and theorizing
Viz. – The contemplative life
Arg. 2:
P1.The gods are the most blessed and happy of all beings. But all action and production are beneath their divine nature.
P2.The blessed and happy life of the gods must consist in contemplation.
P3.The human activity most akin to the life of the gods will be most happy.
Contemplation is for humans the happiest life, and human life is happy just so far as it attains the god-like state of pure intellectual activity.

Front 40

What happens to the active life of moral virtue (e.g. the statesman)?

Back 40

Statesman may reach eudaimonia (most excellent exercise of the highest part of us), but he doesn’t practice the contemplative life and thus does not attain the god-like state of pure intellectual activity. So, the highest eudaimonia requires contemplation, which requires time.

Front 41

Why, in the final book, does Aristotle say that “argument and teaching” are not able to encourage “the many” to goodness?

Back 41

For these do not by nature obey they sense of shame, but only fear, and do not abstain from bad acts because of their baseness but through fear of punishment; living by passion they pursue their own pleasures and the means to them, and avoid the opposite pains, and have no even a conception of what is noble and truly pleasance, since they have never tasted it.

While argument and teaching, we may suspect, are not powerful with all men, but the soul of the student must first have been cultivated by means of habits for noble joy and noble hatred, like earth which is to nourish the seed.