Plants. Animals. Human beings. Where do we stand in the hierarchy of nature? To be able to answer this successfully, one must first define what each organism is. In doing this, one is able to differentiate humans from other beings in the world. Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, states that what sets us apart from other animals is our rationality. In his work Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle outlines his concept of rational choice. By analyzing the characteristics that make humans stand out from other beings and describing the aspects of our rationality, one can explain and defend Aristotle’s notion of rational choice and the harmonious relationship it has with society and our responsibility for our character.
Throughout Aristotle’s philosophy, …show more content…
This is the end or the telos of your action. Aristotle says in his work Nicomachean Ethics that “the object of wish is the end” (2000, p. 45). The will is what you are trying to do or for what you are wishing. For Aristotle, what we will is actually emotional. Emotions involve character, since character is the habits of emotion. Our habits are rooted in pleasure and pain. These are trainable. Through practice, we are better able to reach the means between the extremes, which is how we reach the goal of acting virtuously (Aristotle, 2000, p. 23-24). All of this is the development of what causes you pleasure at the right moment at the right time, which is cumulatively your character. Human beings are social by nature. Right from the start, we begin developing habits. By nature, we have the capacity for pleasure and pain, and how much pleasure or pain something causes you is a result of habits and practice. The collection of this is your character. It is acquired, and it is what causes you pleasure and pain in the way that they do. In addition, you have to do the right thing in the right way at the right time because it is your habit. It comes from the training you get in society. For example, you have been trained by society to will a job. After wishing for something, the next step is to
Throughout Aristotle’s philosophy, …show more content…
This is the end or the telos of your action. Aristotle says in his work Nicomachean Ethics that “the object of wish is the end” (2000, p. 45). The will is what you are trying to do or for what you are wishing. For Aristotle, what we will is actually emotional. Emotions involve character, since character is the habits of emotion. Our habits are rooted in pleasure and pain. These are trainable. Through practice, we are better able to reach the means between the extremes, which is how we reach the goal of acting virtuously (Aristotle, 2000, p. 23-24). All of this is the development of what causes you pleasure at the right moment at the right time, which is cumulatively your character. Human beings are social by nature. Right from the start, we begin developing habits. By nature, we have the capacity for pleasure and pain, and how much pleasure or pain something causes you is a result of habits and practice. The collection of this is your character. It is acquired, and it is what causes you pleasure and pain in the way that they do. In addition, you have to do the right thing in the right way at the right time because it is your habit. It comes from the training you get in society. For example, you have been trained by society to will a job. After wishing for something, the next step is to