Chapter 2 Aristotle Flashcards
Nichomachean ethics
name normally given to Aristotle’s best-known work on ethics
teleologist
a person who assumes that everything in nature aims at some end or good
self-realization ethic
Aristotle’s concept of morality and moral development
entelechy
Aristotle’s notion that every living thing in nature possesses an “inner urge” to become its unique self, ie and acorn becomes on oak tree, newborn yearns to become adult.
happiness
the ultimate end of life (per Aristotle); and end that’s final, self-sufficient and attainable
hierarchy of ends
instrumental, intrinsic or ultimate; types of ends people pursue
instrumental end
an end that will lead to something further down the road; a means to an end; for the sake of something else
intrinsic end
for their own sake; valued in themselves, not because of what they produce or whatever else they may lead to
ultimate end
per Aristotle - happiness or eudaimonia
eudaimonia
happiness in Greek; ultimate end
secondary form of happiness
moral activity, amusement and physical appetite satisfaction
ultimate end of life
final, self-sufficient, and intrinsically valuable
self-sufficient
make life desirable and lacking nothing
final
must be desirable in itself
attainable
reachable
hedonist
someone who sees the chief good as the pursuit of pleasure
state
the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes
activity
happiness; mode of living
success
fulfilled
distinctive function
of humans (over plants) - rational activity;able to be happy and live a good life unlike plants
rational capacities
soul’s activity and actions that express reason
alternative lifestyles
fall short of human ideal of the good life; lifestyle of pleasure and appetite gratification, statesman’s lifestyle, contemplative lifestyle, virtuous lifestyle
lifestyle of pleasure and appetite gratification
one of Aristotle’s alternative lifestyles; instrumental end
statesman’s lifestyle
alternative lifestyle of action where honor is paramount; depends on the opinions of others
the good life
Per Aristotle, life of the intellect
soul
for Aristotle, having a soul means to be alive or animate
contemplative lifestyle
humanity’s highest good; incorporates activities of the rational soul; it is most God-like or divine; self-sufficient; intrinsically choiceworthy; contemplation can be done alone
divine
God-like
balancing process
life of reason and contemplation; rationally ordered life in which intellectual, physical and social needs are met under the rule of reason and moderation
virtue
moral excellence; goodness; for Aristotle, two kinds: intellectual and moral
intellectual virtue
wisdom and understanding acquired thru instruction
moral virtue
temperance and patience and results as a product of habit; feeling and actions
habit
an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary
Doctrine of the Mean
right conduct is incompatible with excess or deficiency; to live morally, we must find a happy balance between the two extremes; living in moderation
moderation
restraint; avoidance of extremes or excesses
What makes Aristotle a teleologist?
his focus on the ends of human activity; his functional explanation of morality (self-realization ethic); his incorporation of the concept of entelechy into his theory of human development
What is the end of human life?
happiness or eudaimoia; ultimate end is final, self-sufficient and intrinsically valuable; successful living; not hedonism; fulfillment of our distinctively human function - rational activity of the soul
How are humans distinctive? What do they share with other life forms?
same as plants - nutrition and growth; same as animals- sensory capabilities; differ- higher part of soul involves rational activity; humans have capacity to be happy and live a good life, unlike plants.
What lifestyles are discussed by Aristotle?
Lifestyle of pleasure and gratification; statesman; contemplative; virtuous
What lifestyle is within reach of most of us? By what is it characterized?
Virtuous lifestyle; virtue offers us secondary happiness and represents a lifestyle of moderation
What are some virtues?
courage: mean between cowardice and rashness; modesty: mean between shyness and shamelessness; truthfulness: mean between boastful and understatement; wittiness: mean between buffoonery and boorishness
