Aristotle's intellectual andMoral Virtues
Kimberley Mitchell
November 24, 2014
PHI-3404-01
Professor Daniel Jove
Aristotle’s Intellectual Virtues and Moral Virtues
Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. That good is happiness, which means living well. Health, wealth, and luck are necessary for happiness. All human action has an end, a purpose. There are two types of ends; 1) end for something else 2) end in itself, common. For example, we go grocery shopping to buy food, but buying food in itself is a means toward the end of eating well. There are various views on what happiness is, and it differs from person to person (Ethics I. 4). There are three popular views on what the good is (Ethics I. 5) Life of pleasure, end/good is pleasure, Life of Politics, end/good is honor, and Life of contemplation, end/good is knowledge. However, good must be something final and self-sufficient (Ethics I. 7) the final end equal good that is happiness.
The question is, is happiness acquired by learning or habituation, or sent by God or by chance (Ethics I. 9)? Happiness is not an emotional state; it is more about being all that you can, fulfilling your potential. Aristotle defines the supreme good as an activity of the rational soul in accordance with virtue. Because happiness is an activity of the soul according to virtue, it is necessary to examine human virtue He believed virtues led to happiness, and virtues mean the act of achieving balance and moderation. Virtue is praiseworthy, but happiness if above praise (Ethics I. 12). While happiness is the activity of living well, virtue represents the potential to live well.
Virtue then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral (Ethics II) Aristotle defines moral virtue as a state of character, not a passion, nor a facility. By passions he means appetite, anger, fear, etc.; by facilities the things in virtue of which are capable of feeling these. (Ethics II. 5). Virtue is a disposition (Ethics II),
November 24, 2014
PHI-3404-01
Professor Daniel Jove
Aristotle’s Intellectual Virtues and Moral Virtues
Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good. That good is happiness, which means living well. Health, wealth, and luck are necessary for happiness. All human action has an end, a purpose. There are two types of ends; 1) end for something else 2) end in itself, common. For example, we go grocery shopping to buy food, but buying food in itself is a means toward the end of eating well. There are various views on what happiness is, and it differs from person to person (Ethics I. 4). There are three popular views on what the good is (Ethics I. 5) Life of pleasure, end/good is pleasure, Life of Politics, end/good is honor, and Life of contemplation, end/good is knowledge. However, good must be something final and self-sufficient (Ethics I. 7) the final end equal good that is happiness.
The question is, is happiness acquired by learning or habituation, or sent by God or by chance (Ethics I. 9)? Happiness is not an emotional state; it is more about being all that you can, fulfilling your potential. Aristotle defines the supreme good as an activity of the rational soul in accordance with virtue. Because happiness is an activity of the soul according to virtue, it is necessary to examine human virtue He believed virtues led to happiness, and virtues mean the act of achieving balance and moderation. Virtue is praiseworthy, but happiness if above praise (Ethics I. 12). While happiness is the activity of living well, virtue represents the potential to live well.
Virtue then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral (Ethics II) Aristotle defines moral virtue as a state of character, not a passion, nor a facility. By passions he means appetite, anger, fear, etc.; by facilities the things in virtue of which are capable of feeling these. (Ethics II. 5). Virtue is a disposition (Ethics II),
Cited: Aristotle, and W. D. Ross. Nicomachean Ethics. Raleigh, NC: Alex Catalogue, 2000. Print.