Nick Courto
Ms. Nugent
English 10 H period 4
14 April 2016
A Well-Lived Life in Accordance with Aristotle’s Theory of Ethics
Like his predecessors Plato and Socrates, Aristotle subscribed to the philosophical mindset that a well-lived life is driven by ethics and virtue. A person’s virtue would be declared through acts such as fairness, bravery, and tolerance. These are just a few of the many virtues he believed that a good person should possess. The appropriate utilization of such actions of morality and justice must be put into daily practice to build unity of character and virtue which results in the overall well being of life.
Aristotle, Plato and Socrates all supported the belief that the ultimate goal of mankind is having lived a good …show more content…
The importance of the supreme good must be taken in account when personal pleasure if sought (Randall). Although man can be self sufficient, Aristotle believes friendship is necessary for happiness. The good man need friends to to practice his benevolence on (Randall 11). Man needs to share in the good activities of others. To seek pleasure at the cost of someone else’s happiness will also result in one’s own misery and discontent. Society benefits when it’s individual members make choices that will benefit the greater good of all of its members. “The whole is more than the sum of its parts”(Hollister 84), was a phrase used by Aristotle to mean that one isolated act will not make for a good life. It is a series of conscious virtuous actions that are the necessity for happiness. Plato’s theory of the Form of the Good, took virtuous living to a highly unattainable range. Plato’s theory assumes that the Good is the same in every person and every situation. It would be highly unlikely for this to be true. “Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth” (Hollister 281). Although Aristotle was a student of Plato’s philosophy, he adds intellectual virtue to the theory. Within our own intellect we are able to take into account knowledge, choice, theory, practicality and truth. All of these characteristics will …show more content…
Socrates teachings included the idea that once a person had knowledge of wrong they could no longer practice the wrong deed. In turn, he taught that no one could resist virtuous practices if he truly understood virtue (Farrington). Without knowledge, Socrates felt that life was not worthwhile as is evident when he states, “The unexamined life is no life for man” (Farrington 5). Aristotle also credits Socrates with the analytical procedure known as the art of logic. Through dialect and intelligent conversation, one could logically obtain truth. Such truths must then be fortified and upheld through law and policy. “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; seperated from law and justice, he is the worst” (Hollister 37). The youth in particular must understand ethics in order to be able to practice and possess ethical traits. Laws, religion and education were and are means of establishing ethical guidelines for the youth to follow. “The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead” (Hollister 175). Aristotle concludes that educations make a tremendous difference in a person’s life and ability to live well. “Good habits formed at youth make all the difference” (Hollister 68). Once the youth acquired the knowledge associated with ethical behavior, the belief was that they would behave accordingly. Living in this
Ms. Nugent
English 10 H period 4
14 April 2016
A Well-Lived Life in Accordance with Aristotle’s Theory of Ethics
Like his predecessors Plato and Socrates, Aristotle subscribed to the philosophical mindset that a well-lived life is driven by ethics and virtue. A person’s virtue would be declared through acts such as fairness, bravery, and tolerance. These are just a few of the many virtues he believed that a good person should possess. The appropriate utilization of such actions of morality and justice must be put into daily practice to build unity of character and virtue which results in the overall well being of life.
Aristotle, Plato and Socrates all supported the belief that the ultimate goal of mankind is having lived a good …show more content…
The importance of the supreme good must be taken in account when personal pleasure if sought (Randall). Although man can be self sufficient, Aristotle believes friendship is necessary for happiness. The good man need friends to to practice his benevolence on (Randall 11). Man needs to share in the good activities of others. To seek pleasure at the cost of someone else’s happiness will also result in one’s own misery and discontent. Society benefits when it’s individual members make choices that will benefit the greater good of all of its members. “The whole is more than the sum of its parts”(Hollister 84), was a phrase used by Aristotle to mean that one isolated act will not make for a good life. It is a series of conscious virtuous actions that are the necessity for happiness. Plato’s theory of the Form of the Good, took virtuous living to a highly unattainable range. Plato’s theory assumes that the Good is the same in every person and every situation. It would be highly unlikely for this to be true. “Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth” (Hollister 281). Although Aristotle was a student of Plato’s philosophy, he adds intellectual virtue to the theory. Within our own intellect we are able to take into account knowledge, choice, theory, practicality and truth. All of these characteristics will …show more content…
Socrates teachings included the idea that once a person had knowledge of wrong they could no longer practice the wrong deed. In turn, he taught that no one could resist virtuous practices if he truly understood virtue (Farrington). Without knowledge, Socrates felt that life was not worthwhile as is evident when he states, “The unexamined life is no life for man” (Farrington 5). Aristotle also credits Socrates with the analytical procedure known as the art of logic. Through dialect and intelligent conversation, one could logically obtain truth. Such truths must then be fortified and upheld through law and policy. “At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; seperated from law and justice, he is the worst” (Hollister 37). The youth in particular must understand ethics in order to be able to practice and possess ethical traits. Laws, religion and education were and are means of establishing ethical guidelines for the youth to follow. “The educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead” (Hollister 175). Aristotle concludes that educations make a tremendous difference in a person’s life and ability to live well. “Good habits formed at youth make all the difference” (Hollister 68). Once the youth acquired the knowledge associated with ethical behavior, the belief was that they would behave accordingly. Living in this