The Sorting Hat Ceremony is the most defining moment of one’s time at Hogwarts. After all, the title of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin comes with much more than a common room or class schedule. Indeed, this simple act of sorting determines who to befriend, and consequently, who to become. However, this system of separating students by virtue is inherently unjustifiable as it attempts to foster only some extreme “virtues” in children which actually become vices, instead of focusing on one overarching theme that unlocks all of the true virtues, which prevents students from becoming fully developed, virtuous individuals.
In essence, the House system ignores Aristotle’s Reciprocity Thesis. Aristotle claims that one cannot truly …show more content…
This idea stems from the fallacy that people are only born with virtues of character, and therefore do not have to actively chose to act virtuously in their daily lives. Aristotle believes this claim is false, as truly virtuous acts are solely guided by reason, as virtue of thought demands. Because anyone can and must develop practical wisdom in order to have any and all virtues of character, these qualities cannot simply be inherent. The Sorting Hat, however, ignores this truth and characterizes students by “innate ability” anyway. The Hat supposedly recognizes similar qualities in 11-year-olds and places the children together based on this thought alone. Take for instance the virtue of bravery. If one is deemed brave above all else at the onset of his Hogwarts career, then he is placed into Gryffindor. On the quality of bravery, Aristotle writes “…both children and brutes have the natural disposition to these qualities, but without reason they are evidently hurtful” (NE VI.13:5-10). As true virtues are defined as rational, excellent activities, this kind of inherent bravery is not actually a virtue, but a predisposition to act rashly if one ignores reason in any given situation. The message that Hogwarts attempts to instill in Gryffindor students is not “rashness”, but real and true bravery. Alas, by not prioritizing and developing wisdom behind the courage, Hogwarts is not teaching its students a virtue, but more so a vice in the form of an excess of a virtuous quality. Thus, in ignoring wisdom and therefore the Reciprocity Thesis, Hogwarts cannot actually teach its students any virtues at
In essence, the House system ignores Aristotle’s Reciprocity Thesis. Aristotle claims that one cannot truly …show more content…
This idea stems from the fallacy that people are only born with virtues of character, and therefore do not have to actively chose to act virtuously in their daily lives. Aristotle believes this claim is false, as truly virtuous acts are solely guided by reason, as virtue of thought demands. Because anyone can and must develop practical wisdom in order to have any and all virtues of character, these qualities cannot simply be inherent. The Sorting Hat, however, ignores this truth and characterizes students by “innate ability” anyway. The Hat supposedly recognizes similar qualities in 11-year-olds and places the children together based on this thought alone. Take for instance the virtue of bravery. If one is deemed brave above all else at the onset of his Hogwarts career, then he is placed into Gryffindor. On the quality of bravery, Aristotle writes “…both children and brutes have the natural disposition to these qualities, but without reason they are evidently hurtful” (NE VI.13:5-10). As true virtues are defined as rational, excellent activities, this kind of inherent bravery is not actually a virtue, but a predisposition to act rashly if one ignores reason in any given situation. The message that Hogwarts attempts to instill in Gryffindor students is not “rashness”, but real and true bravery. Alas, by not prioritizing and developing wisdom behind the courage, Hogwarts is not teaching its students a virtue, but more so a vice in the form of an excess of a virtuous quality. Thus, in ignoring wisdom and therefore the Reciprocity Thesis, Hogwarts cannot actually teach its students any virtues at