Aristotle Virtue Analysis

Improved Essays
Aristotle explains the concept of virtue has a concept that can be cultivated through habits. He clearly states that virtue does not come from some predetermine system in each human being, but instead an empty void that gets filled over time. He argues his understanding of a virtue of character as a medial condition between vices, which means there is a balance between two parts of a spectrum. Aristotle uses examples such as a person deciding to be harpist or a builder. He states that the person does is not born with those abilities, but instead cultivates them through repetition also known as habits. The one piece that intrigue me was the argument concerning excess and deficiency in any sort of thing. Aristotle uses health and exercise as

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Aristotle argued that people develop their moral abilities, called virtues, through…

    • 206 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    According to the Aristotle virtue theory, achieving balance is explained by the word temperance. Temperance is the idea that happiness is achieved by not depriving one's self of happiness, but not doing to excess. Virtue promotes happiness (eudaimonia) of both individuals and others, it's a state of well being. For example, one may show temperance by only taking two Halloween candies, when trick or treating at a home that offers unmanned candy to trick or treaters. This person is showing temperance, that respects both themselves (not consuming excess sugar saving them from the ill effects of excess sugar in their diet), and respecting and promoting happiness for others others by allowing them to receiving candy themselves.…

    • 229 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    That one can’t live their life without exhibiting some form of virtue in one way or another. What is virtue? That’s the ultimate question Aristotle deciphers, as he firsts breaks it down into three parts passions, faculties, and states of character (150). The idea of virtue can’t be all three of these parts so it can only be one. Aristotle tries to find the part it is most closely related to.…

    • 1238 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The ancient Greeks, were a society based on honor and virtue. Great philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle still have a huge significance today in society. They argued that the best life for humans beings is a life devoted to “virtue”, but just how much of that is true and how is that reflected today in our society? Plato, student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle thought that what is morally good is whatever promotes “virtue” which is a certain health, beauty and good condition in the soul. He believed in complete harmony of the soul, and only then would a person be completely virtuous.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, the complexities of individuals and their character traits are developed within a sphere of human nature and moral virtue. To Aristotle, character virtues define an individual’s well being, characterize their dispositions to action, and are defined by reason’s judgement of phasic, ethical dilemmas. Aristotle’s theory argues for moral accountability not only in manifested action, but in an individual’s very psyche. As such, moral character virtue influences an individual’s entirety, influencing their emotions and actions and setting their path toward human betterment, or human telos. The path to virtue is fixed on that human betterment, the path of vice turned away.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Using the preceding chapters from Book I, this paper will focus on determining why the argument of man’s function is so important to Aristotle, and what he feels he will achieve from discovering it. To reach this conclusion, it is vital to first understand…

    • 1569 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Most would argue that there is such a thing as having or doing too little or too much of one thing. Unbeknownst to the majority of these people, they have adopted Aristotle’s philosophy, specifically that of the principle of the mean. The mean is the average between two extreme vices (Soccio 178-182). Aristotle sees a morally virtuous life as one of moderation and habit. This philosophical idea can apply to people from all walks of life and it would benefit many today to put this idea into practice.…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aristotelian Virtue Ethics is set apart from other ethical theories not only by its nature but also by its dedication and delivery in decision making. Its development has proved more modern and inclusive as decades pass, and many modern philosophers freely advance the ethical domain in which it operates. This evolutionary shift sets it apart from other ethical theories, as its vague principles allow it to be manipulated to meet contemporary needs. As Virtue Ethics is agent based, it is more subjective, and focusses on the person committing an act rather than the moral decency or error associated with the act itself. Herein lies its prime difference with deontological ethical decision making.…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aristotle proposes in his well renowned work, Nicomachean Ethics, a way of life that is structured on the foundation of what is happiness for human beings. Nicomachean Ethics provides the means in which are best determined to achieve the ultimate goal of an individual’s life which according to Aristotle is happiness. The definition of happiness is determined differently based on an individual’s perspective of the concept which the philosopher states in the beginning of Chapter Four in Book One of Nicomachean Ethics. Although differing in opinions and perspective of what happiness can best be defined as, there is a formal agreement of understanding amongst the people which Aristotle labels “the many and the refined” (Aristotle, Bartlett, & Collins,…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Can Virtue Be Taught

    • 653 Words
    • 3 Pages

    According to Aristotle from the Nicomachean Ethics, virtue is a “ mortal habit which generally results in the gaining or maintaining of values.” Everyone can concur that virtue is a result of one value, however some believe that virtues can be taught, while others strongly deem virtue cannot be taught. Virtue cannot be taught for these theses reasons, virtue begins in adolescence, virtue grows…

    • 653 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Philosophy 2306 Final Paper In The Elements of Moral Philosophy, James and Stuart Rachels discuss the ideas of ethics that a novice should challenge. This book consists of thirteen chapters. First, the author begins with the minimum conception of morality; the following three chapters cover cultural relativism and the connection between morality and religion; the middle chapters, five to twelve, focus on essential ethical theories; and the last chapter describes the author’s perspective of what a satisfactory moral theory should be like.…

    • 1430 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Every art and every inquiry, and likewise every action and choice, seems to aim at some good, and hence it has been beautifully said that the good is that at which all things aim.” As Aristotle makes inquires and deliberates over what is the highest end for the human life, he debates over what constitutes the highest good. Throughout the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argues that we aim at some end through our pursuits of action, and that those ends are in some way connected at achieving the highest good. Aristotle suggests the possibility of happiness, translated from the Greek word eudaimonia, which refers to a “state of having a good indwelling spirit or being in a contented state of being healthy, happy and prosperous.” For the one who…

    • 1453 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kant’s deontology and Aristotle’s virtue ethics are similar in that they both question one’s intentions when handling issues of morality. Virtue ethics asks that one looks within, while deontology asks that one looks towards rationality and duty. Respect for humanity is essential – deontology showing this respect through requiring that one never treat another as merely a means to an end, but in respect to their means and their existence as ends as well. Virtue ethics requires such respect by way of the definition of virtue itself, meaning that a truly virtuous person would not disrespect humanity in the first place, since such an action would not seem to come from a virtuous character. Though one’s motives are questioned in both cases, the…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Virtue Theory Analysis

    • 1065 Words
    • 5 Pages

    other things like fighting in school. From that class, I learned that as a parent you have to be balance and you have to teach your kids that ethics and respect are just as important as getting good grades. As a child my mother never specifically told me about the golden rule, which is to do unto others what you want done to you. Even though she never said it was almost common sense at a young age.…

    • 1065 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Over the course of the past century, the United States and western civilization as a whole have had front row seats in witnessing some of the greatest technological enhancements in mankind’s history. However, these improvements to our everyday life are not without their side effects. We as a society find ourselves more reliant on technology in our everyday lives with the expectations that everything will work fine and that we will be kept safe. This dependence highlights one example of the importance of virtues in engineering and how the engineer must take on the duty of looking out for the welfare of the public. I will discuss the integration of virtues into ethics according to Aristotle as well as my development as a student at Texas A&M…

    • 1162 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays