Chapter 7: Ethics Morality as Virtue: Aristotle

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Chapter 7 EthicsMorality as Virtue Aristotle

• Introducing Philosophy, 10th edition
• Robert C. Solomon, Kathleen Higgins, and Clancy
  Martin

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Virtue

• Aristotles conception of virtue is based on the
  idea that man is a rational being
• Thus, for Aristotle, virtue is a rational
  activity activity in accordance with a rational
  principle

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Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.)

• One of the greatest Western philosophers, born in
  northern Greece (Stagira) father was the
  physician to Philip, king of Macedonia
• Was to tutor Philips son, Alexander the Great
• For eighteen years he was a student in Platos
  Academy, where he learned and parted from Platos
  views
• Turned to the study of biology many of his
  theories ruled Western science until the
  Renaissance
• Was with Alexander until 335 B.C.E., when he
  returned to Athens to set up his own school, the
  Lyceum

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• After Alexanders death, the anti-Macedonian
  sentiment in Athens forced Aristotle to flee
• Virtually created the sciences of logic and
  linguistics, developed extravagant theories in
  physics and astronomy, and made significant
  contributions to metaphysics, ethics, politics,
  and aesthetics
• Metaphysics is still a basic text on the subject
• Nicomachean Ethics codified ancient Greek
  morality stresses individual virtue and
  excellence

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• The best life of all is the life of
  contemplation, the life of a philosopher, for it
  is the most self-contained and the closest to
  the gods
• Such contemplation must be together with the
  pleasures of life, honor, wealth, and virtuous
  action

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Happiness

• Every act is for the sake of something else. But
  because there can be no infinite regress, there
  must be an end. What is the natural end that is
  the natural good for man? Aristotle claims that
  it is happiness
• Happiness is what men desire for its own sake and
  is the natural good for man. Happiness, for
  Aristotle, is living according to rationality,
  the exercise of our most vital faculties

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Reason

• The good for man is that which is natural to
  him. What is natural to man is his rationality.
  But action according to rational principles is
  what Aristotle thinks virtue is
• Thus, happiness is an activity of the soul in
  accordance with perfect virtue

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Society

• Virtue is a social conception and not limited to
  just the individual. Many of Aristotles virtues
  have much to do with ones role in society.
  Happiness, therefore, also has social dimensions
• Aristotles conception of happiness (eudaimonia)
  is different than the modern conception.
  Happiness is more like living well or
  flourishing

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Two Kinds of Virtue

• The practical or moral virtues and the
  intellectual virtues
• Moral virtues come to virtuous people
  naturally in other words, virtuous people have
  virtue built into their characters

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The Golden Mean

• Virtue as a mean between two extremes
• Not the same as moderation
• Examples
• Courage is the mean between cowardice and
  rashness
• Temperance is the mean between self-indulgence
  and insensitivity
• Magnificence is the mean between vulgarity and
  miserliness
• Pride is the mean between humility and vanity
• Wittiness is the mean between buffoonery and
  boorishness

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Morality and Sentiment Hume and Rousseau

• Hume reason is and ought to be the slave of the
  passions
• Reason can assist in acquiring our desires but
  not in determining our desires
• Cannot derive ought from is

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• Rousseau consciencea powerful moral feeling
• Problems
• When in disagreement, what standard adjudicates?
• In agreement, how can we know we are correct?