NET: Virtue Ethics, Aristotle Flashcards
What work of Aristotle’s is this ethical theory found in?
Nichomachean Ethics
Aristotle’s ethical view is teleological - he believes everyone has an aim/purpose.
What is that aim?
[Some] ‘good’.
How do we know is something is ‘good’?
Through fulfilling its purpose.
E.g. if a knife cuts well, it fulfills its purpose and is therefore, good.
However, Aristotle believed there were different types of good.
What, for Aristotle, is the ‘supreme good’?
Eudaimonia - happiness.
It is an intrinsic good, it doesn’t just involve individuals, but humanity as a whole.
What must the highest good be?
- An end in itself
- Self-sufficient
- Attainable
Happiness alone satisfies these conditions.
How can happiness be found?
Through something practical & human, it must be found in the life and work unique to humans.
True happiness is found in the active life of a rational being, or a perfect realisation of the true soul & self.
For Aristotle, goodness is goodness of the soul
What is central to the concept of the soul & why is it so important for Aristotle?
Reason; it sets us above all other living beings.
A person who engages in intellectual reasoning is superior to one that relies on emotion for decision making.
Ethics is not just reason for Aristotle, what does he believe we should do with reason?
Ethics is reason put into practice.
Actions are to be judged by reason as it is a vital part of human life.
How many moral virtues that fall in between two vices - that of excess vs deficiency - the golden mean/doctrine of the mean?
12 moral virtues
E.g:
- Courage
- Modesty
- Friendliness
- Sincerity
What does Aristotle say the two aspects of the human soul are?
What are they?
Rational
- Has intellectual virtues, like justice & understanding, developed through reflection & study.
Non-rational
- Has moral virtues, virtues of character like courage & generosity, formed by practice and by following others’ example.
How do we determine what the golden mean is?
Rationally, based the relative merits of the situation.
“…as a prudent man would determine it.”
What are the four cardinal virtues?
Considered to be basic virtuous required for a virtuous life on which all others hinge.
- Temperance
- Courage
- Wisdom
- Justice
How many intellectual (rather than moral) virtues are there - what are they?
9
- Art or a technical skill
- Scientific knowledge
- Cleverness
- Understanding
- Prudence or practical wisdom
- Resourcefulness or good deliberation
- Intelligence or intuition
- Judgement
- Wisdom
These intellectual virtues are divided into primary and secondary virtues - what are the primary virtues?
- Art or a technical skill
- Scientific knowledge
- Prudence or practical wisdom
- Intelligence or intuition
- Wisdom
These intellectual virtues are divided into primary and secondary virtues - what are the secondary virtues?
- Resourcefulness
- Understanding
- Judgement
- Cleverness
