How do I know what I should do? In this paper, I will argue that ethics require one to view one’s own life as a whole. Ethics concerns how we should act. Actions are deliberate, and deliberation requires ends. Since ends can conflict, a final end is needed to look at life as a whole.
An action is a goal directed activity that does not transpire by accident. To Aristotle, actions comprise of two types of values of both living things and inanimate objects: instrumental and intrinsic. Instrumental value, for one, is important for the sake of something else, as a hammer’s good for hammering nails. In hitting a nail with a hammer, there is a reason to do so and that is to reach an outcome; in contrast, however, when someone accidently strikes their …show more content…
According to Aristotle, what sets humans apart from other beings is the ability to reason and the exercise of it for happiness. Happiness can be abridged into three theories: hedonism, stoics, and virtue, as well as external goods. Hedonism, for one, is living the happiest life with the most pleasure. Pleasure seems reasonable, but would human beings not be that distinct from monkeys or gorillas if pleasure was the ultimate goal to happiness. How about honor through virtue? Though of up-most prominence in making a name of oneself, reputation can easily be lost or gained. Even virtue will not guarantee happiness, for a virtuous person may not do much and suffer through a gargantuan tragedy, such as in the case of the 9/11 attacks. A plentiful of “heroes” emerged that day, but if not for the attacks, those “heroes” may have not done any heroic deeds. Their character would remain the same, but their service would be nonexistent. Nonetheless, Aristotle insinuates that happiness lies in honor through the exercise of virtues. Virtue is a habit in disposing towards linked actions by voluntary and deliberate choice, formed from reason or thought, with the comprehension and intent in doing something virtuous out of noble action, since only voluntary actions can be considered virtuous. Virtues are also set on a continuum so that they are between two vices: perfection and deficiencies. According to Aristotle, the following virtues are required for happiness, which is the ultimate goal of living a good life: courage (between cowardice and recklessness), justice (between arrogance and servility), temperance (between gluttonous and abstemious), and wisdom (as opposed to foolishness). In stoics, if one follows the path of a virtuous life through these four virtues, one then can have what is necessary and sufficient for happiness with nothing being able
An action is a goal directed activity that does not transpire by accident. To Aristotle, actions comprise of two types of values of both living things and inanimate objects: instrumental and intrinsic. Instrumental value, for one, is important for the sake of something else, as a hammer’s good for hammering nails. In hitting a nail with a hammer, there is a reason to do so and that is to reach an outcome; in contrast, however, when someone accidently strikes their …show more content…
According to Aristotle, what sets humans apart from other beings is the ability to reason and the exercise of it for happiness. Happiness can be abridged into three theories: hedonism, stoics, and virtue, as well as external goods. Hedonism, for one, is living the happiest life with the most pleasure. Pleasure seems reasonable, but would human beings not be that distinct from monkeys or gorillas if pleasure was the ultimate goal to happiness. How about honor through virtue? Though of up-most prominence in making a name of oneself, reputation can easily be lost or gained. Even virtue will not guarantee happiness, for a virtuous person may not do much and suffer through a gargantuan tragedy, such as in the case of the 9/11 attacks. A plentiful of “heroes” emerged that day, but if not for the attacks, those “heroes” may have not done any heroic deeds. Their character would remain the same, but their service would be nonexistent. Nonetheless, Aristotle insinuates that happiness lies in honor through the exercise of virtues. Virtue is a habit in disposing towards linked actions by voluntary and deliberate choice, formed from reason or thought, with the comprehension and intent in doing something virtuous out of noble action, since only voluntary actions can be considered virtuous. Virtues are also set on a continuum so that they are between two vices: perfection and deficiencies. According to Aristotle, the following virtues are required for happiness, which is the ultimate goal of living a good life: courage (between cowardice and recklessness), justice (between arrogance and servility), temperance (between gluttonous and abstemious), and wisdom (as opposed to foolishness). In stoics, if one follows the path of a virtuous life through these four virtues, one then can have what is necessary and sufficient for happiness with nothing being able