Aristotle Flashcards
Aristotle’s types of souls- continent soul
Knows right- does right yet torn- bitter soul :/
Aristotles type of soul: incontinent soul
Knows right- does wrong thing- weak :(
Aristotle’s types of soul- virtuous soul
Knows right- does right with no conflict- happy soul :) desire and knowledge as a union
The human good- what is unique to humans?
Not life because plants and animals have life. Our essential nature is reason (or soul.) live a life guided by reason one must learn to reason
Virtue
The quality of performing an assigned function with excellence. Ex: bread knife, sleepy time tea
Virtuous person
Habit to live his life according to reason
Vice
Opposite of virtue. Bad habit, obstructs human beings full development instead of improving their life
Happiness according to Aristotle
Happiness is the result of an active life
Happy life- the good life. Developing habits that maximize potential ability to reason
Good friends, wealth, power, beauty and male
Life of Aristotle
Plato taught him. Brought up with science. Was not blindly devoted to Plato. Taught Alexander the Great, fled in danger after he died
Aristotle’s philosophy
Down to earth. Natural science is more interesting then abstract mathematics
“The human good is the activity of the soul in accordance with virtue”
The human end
Humans strive for happiness which is final and self sufficient. Pleasure and wealth is not final.
A happy person functions well
The golden mean
The just right point between not enough and too much. Ex: anger and anger less would be good tempered.
One must find the golden mean in all situations depending on the person
Devotion to a path
Good life as contemplation
Activity by which people may attain the highest human happiness. Only gifted philosophers have this.
Virtue ethics
Continues thought, choice and action of our soul shapes our virtue or character. Virtuous acts must be voluntary
