Aristotles Ethics Major Claims in Book I Ethics

Aristotle’s Ethics

Major Claims in Book I Ethics = quest for objective, lasting good n Good = happiness-inrational activity (“flourishing selfactualization”) n Key to happiness = pursuit /achievements of virtue, excellence n (“personal growth”) n

Virtue (arete) (I. 13) n Moral virtues – – n n Courage Temperance “Minor virtues” Justice - deliberate, choose • Social, pre-adult Intellectual virtues - guided by sense of honor, shame – Practical wisdom (phronesis) – Philosophical wisdom (sophia) n Interpersonal virtue: – Friendship (philia) 3 Moral Stages: • Mature, rational self - stable character • Immature, irrational - acts on impulse - inconsistent n Moral Ed changes: • emotional ego • rational, autonomous person (achievement)

Moral Virtues n n n Not “natural”/instinctive but learned; yet “natural’ in deeper sense of human teleology Relate to pleasure and pain; esp. to attaching pleasure/pride to virtuous deeds Cultivated by action/habituation, not instruction (though this may be relevant) Express the “self”/ concept of “prohairesis” = “habits of choice” (note paradox) Often involve “practical reason” (evaluation, knowledge of situation) Essential to “eudaimonia” (flourishing selfactualization)

Definition of Moral Virtue (II. 6) n. A habit or state of character that expresses a choice n Which finds a mean relative to us n As determined by rational principle, ie. guided by values a morally wise person would see are at stake n Trait that contributes integrally to eudaimonia/the good life

Deficiency VIRTUE Excess Cowardice COURAGE Rashness Self-indulgent TEMPERANCE Asensual (drunken, glutton, promiscuous) (healthy moderation) (e. g. anorexic) Cheapness GENEROSITY Wastefulness Self-Shame, Servility SELF-PRIDE Arrogance, Vanity (& high self-regard) (low self-esteem) Exploitative, Selfish (covetous, dominator) JUSTICE (fair-mindedness) (Altruistic, ‘selfless’)

Courage and Cowardice n Courage involves mastering appropriate fears n Ultimate test = death in battle Can err in emotions or in values No freedom without courage Related institutions = military, police, firemen (sports? ) “Apparent” forms of courage: n n – civic; based on skill/experience; based on ignorance; ‘natural’ aggressiveness

Temperance vs. Intemperance Temperate • choose “mean, ” willingly limit your pleasures • enjoy temperance • Related human institutions: marriage, family, parties, music n Self-indulgent • habitual excess in food, drink, sex • virtue = ability/will to control impulse • vice = “enslaving” n

Generosity & Magnanimity Generosity n “Greatness of soul” & proper pride • Artful use of $ – Wise regard for goals, • knows value of $ abilities, ambition • Not unrelated to justice – Self-knowledge & selfn Vices = Cheapness & regard, pride & dignity Prodigality n Vices = Humility & • More = prone to Egotism cheapness – More = lack pride (? ) • focus = giving, not – Humility not a virtue acquiring* n *Indicates A’s class bias? Note on internal vs. external goods of activities

“Minor social virtues” n Even tempered (‘gentle’) vs. irascible n Friendliness (good natured) vs. unfriendly & flatterers n Truthful (sincerity) vs. boasters (also vs. ironists? ) n Wit (good sense of humor) vs. boors and buffoons n Sense of shame vs. shamelessness – Note this is not a virtue, but a paradigm for all conventional, i. e. unprincipled virtue

ARISTOTLE PAPER FORMAT n Introduction: – presents virtue to be discussed, definition, – questions to be considered about it, as well as – author's conclusion whether • Aristotle's treatment of the virtue is or is not satisfactory, • it is or is not necessary for and constitutive of "lasting happiness. " n Critical discussion: – – – examples and arguments pro and con on Aristotelian account of the virtue, 'extremes‘ of emotion/behavior to which it is the mean relationship to other virtues (incl. practical wisdom if that not = virtue), and its role in a worthwhile, ‘humanly fulfilling' life. Consideration of arguments that reject or point up problems in Aristotle's treatment. Conclusion: summarizes key points which lead to author's views. n Fix on one or two key points, since it is a short paper, and argue vigorously pro and con on them. I'm looking for a thoughtful and probing essay, which zeroes in on critical distinctions and questions regarding this 'virtue' and its relation to ethics and a good human n