Ethics I

Question 1

what are the 3 types of objects of sense?

Answer 1

1. special: things that can only be percieved by one of your senses
(e.g. only eyes can see colours)

2. common: not special to any one sense (min. 2 senses)
(e.g. movement can be felt, seen, heard, etc.)

3. incidental: patterns are predictable in a way that can be recognized
(e.g. patches of colours in certain patterns)

Question 2

what is ethics (ethos) as defined by the Greeks?

Answer 2

• ethics = character
• not strictly good vs. bad
• ethics is messy b/c life is messy → no perfect answer

Aristotle argues that all scenarios can be argued with no agreement made by the end of debate

Question 3

what is happiness (eudaimonia)?

Answer 3

• “human flourishing”
• living & faring well
• the end goal for which all things are done
• doing what humans do & doing it well
• you’re a happy person when you’ve lived a good life → the answer comes in death

nothing we do is purposeless → everything is done for some “good” we’re trying to achieve in our pursuit of happiness

Question 4

what are the 3 prominent types of life

Answer 4

1. life of enjoyment (sex, drugs, rock & roll)
2. political life (engaged citizen; honour and/or virtue)
3. contemplative life (philosopher)

Question 5

what is the Function (ergon) Argument?

Answer 5

for every object X that has a function, the good for X is to perform that function well

Question 6

what is the human function according to Aristotle?

Answer 6

• function = what it does (or can be used for) best
• an activity of soul in accordance with rational principle
• perform functions well by being virtuous (arete = excellence)

activity/actions of the soul imply a rational principle