Jesus Vs Aristotle Analysis

What is excellence? Over the course of human history, the notions of good and evil have yet to receive clear definitions; the same holds true for excellence and virtue. Two historical figures have grappled with these concepts, and manifested two opposing opinions: Jesus Christ and Aristotle. Both have defined virtue in their own terms, and this essay will compare these definitions and ultimately confirm their inherent differences. In the end, if given the chance, Aristotle would not approve of Jesus’ conception of virtue/excellence due to their conflicting views on the intention of action and defining virtue. In order to prove the dissimilarities of these men we will first examine the values of Jesus Christ, then later move on to Aristotle.
Contrary to Jesus, action according to Aristotle must be done not with the goal of personal gain—rather it must be done to the median and done repeatedly well, as shown here; “For the things we have to learn before we can do them we learn by doing: men become builders by building houses, and harpist by playing the harp. Similarly, we become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage” (Ethics 1103b). Coupled with this idea of performing action well, Aristotle also promotes the highest virtue a human can posses as the ability of contemplation. In Books VI and X, Aristotle suggests that the intellectual virtue of wisdom is the “best and most perfect kind” of virtue, and he ultimately concludes that the good for man is rational contemplation in accordance with the intellectual virtue of wisdom as shown in this passage, “For this activity is not only the highest—for intelligence is the highest possession we have in us, and the objects which are the concern of intelligence are the highest objects of knowledge—but also the most contentious: we are able to study continuously more easily than to perform any kind of action” (Ethics 1177a.19). Throughout his text, the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle rarely mentions the divine—and when he does the
On the topic of action, granted both men support action instead of non-action, the intentions through which they encourage action however, oppose each other directly. Jesus argues for good action under the order of God and for the personal benefit of unlimited access to heaven. “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes of Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5.20). Aristotle, on the other hand, argues for action done well, repeatedly, and with the right intention, “We reach the conclusion that the good of man is an activity of the soul in conformity with excellence or virtue, and if there are several virtues, in conformity with the best and most complete” (Ethics 1098a.15). Their varying opinions on action does not define them alone, but their definitions of virtue as well. As stated above—Jesus views faith as the highest virtue, while Aristotle views contemplation as the most important. characteristic. Because of this extreme contrast between the two, we can definitively prove that Aristotle would not agree with Jesus’ conception of virtue or