Midterm Semester 2 (Aristotle and Mill)

Question 1

Aristotle’s Function Argument

Answer 1

live an active life of the elements that has rational principles– one part reason and one part acting on reason

Question 2

Aristotle’s two types of virtue

Answer 2

intellectual and moral

Question 3

Intellectual virtue

Answer 3

wisdom, formed by teaching

Question 4

Moral Virtue

Answer 4

goodness of character, formed by habit

Question 5

How is moral virtue formed by habit?

Answer 5

an agent must learn to take pleasure in doing good and noble acts. by repeatedly doing good and noble acts, the agent learns to become virtuous by means of habit

Question 6

Rephrase Aristotle’s Function Argument

Answer 6

the function of a good man is to be good and noble in performing a good and noble act in accordance with the appropriate virtue

Question 7

For Aristotle, what is the human good?

Answer 7

the activity of the rational part of the soul performed well in accordance with virtue

Question 8

Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean

Answer 8

the nature of the virtue and character can be destroyed by excess and defect of passion, capacities, and state of character. an agent must learn to be intermediate in his passions and capacities so as to learn to do the right thing at the right time for not only himself, but other persons. in other words, an agent must form good habits by doing good deeds and finding balance.

Question 9

For Aristotle, what are the three things formed in a soul?

Answer 9

passions, capacities, and state of character

Question 10

For Aristotle, where does virtue fall under the three things formed in the soul?

Answer 10

state of character

Question 11

Mill’s version of Utilitarianism

Answer 11

actions are right as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the revers of happiness

Question 12

What is utility?

Answer 12

anything that tens to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good or happiness