In striving for the good life, our happiness, depends on living in accordance with the appropriate values. Aristotle imparts that a virtuous person is to behave in the right ways, for the right reasons, and should feel pleasure behaving in such ways. In other words, a good person, will feel pleasure in doing good things and consequently pain when doing bad things. We can further surmise from Aristotle’s Ethics, that pleasure is a facet of human existence that guides action and virtuous living.
Pleasure has an intimate connection with human nature. Yet, there are two extreme positions, of which it is viewed. In one respect, pleasure is regarded as utterly bad. While in the other, it is regarded as the good; a means to the end of human striving. However, if pleasure really is a means to the end of human striving, then why are we taught, and teach, that pleasure is utterly bad? This is reflected within the guiding principles of society; primarily through our laws and our education. This essay will investigate whether pleasure is utterly bad or intrinsically good - while exploring the ways in which we are taught about pleasure - how it relates to the law and education, - …show more content…
The law sets the standard for conduct for those to act virtuously. Aristotle implies that it provides the right amount of coercion to allow a man to conquer his passions enabling him to act in a virtuous manner. This is why Aristotle believes that practicing temperance and endurance in accordance with the law is just as crucial as education to the development of a virtuous character. For most people, mere exhortation will not be enough to make them act virtuously. Consequently, good laws are necessary in order to make people virtuous. Laws and proper education are necessarily especially for the young, in order to train their passions and desires to be in accord with
Pleasure has an intimate connection with human nature. Yet, there are two extreme positions, of which it is viewed. In one respect, pleasure is regarded as utterly bad. While in the other, it is regarded as the good; a means to the end of human striving. However, if pleasure really is a means to the end of human striving, then why are we taught, and teach, that pleasure is utterly bad? This is reflected within the guiding principles of society; primarily through our laws and our education. This essay will investigate whether pleasure is utterly bad or intrinsically good - while exploring the ways in which we are taught about pleasure - how it relates to the law and education, - …show more content…
The law sets the standard for conduct for those to act virtuously. Aristotle implies that it provides the right amount of coercion to allow a man to conquer his passions enabling him to act in a virtuous manner. This is why Aristotle believes that practicing temperance and endurance in accordance with the law is just as crucial as education to the development of a virtuous character. For most people, mere exhortation will not be enough to make them act virtuously. Consequently, good laws are necessary in order to make people virtuous. Laws and proper education are necessarily especially for the young, in order to train their passions and desires to be in accord with