Nicomachean Ethics: How To Tell If A Person Is Virtuous?
Chapman Evans
Dr. Jarrod Brown
9.25.2017
How to Tell If a Person Is Virtuous? Aristotle is known for the philosophy of virtue ethics. Aristotle describes in his book, Nicomachean Ethics, a virtuous person as someone who behaves naturally and correctly when it is the right time and place and so and so forth. “any one can get angry-that is easy-or give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for every one…” (II.9). In contrast to Utilitarianism and Deontology, where there is not a principle of utility or categorical imperative to adhere to. Instead, Aristotle believed that all actions that are committed by man, are committed because of our nature to be virtuous, and the happiness that is strived for as the end result. But he also maintained that the actions committed in strive of said happiness were the results of our special qualities as humans. Those special qualities being our rationality and our social nature. …show more content…
These are two extremes called vices. Both vices are on a scale, and the scale has a median commonly referred to as, “The Golden Mean”. “There are three kinds of dispositions, then, two of them vices, involving excess and deficiency respectively, and one a virtue, viz, the mean, and all are in a sense opposed to all; for the extreme states are contrary both to the intermediate and to each other” (II.8). The mean on the scale can be applied to most characteristics, courage being the most common example. One vice of courage would be recklessness, an excess, and the contrasting side would be timidity, a deficiency. Someone who has the virtue of courage, would commit themselves to making sure that the best outcome in any situation comes to fruition that stays in line with the golden
Dr. Jarrod Brown
9.25.2017
How to Tell If a Person Is Virtuous? Aristotle is known for the philosophy of virtue ethics. Aristotle describes in his book, Nicomachean Ethics, a virtuous person as someone who behaves naturally and correctly when it is the right time and place and so and so forth. “any one can get angry-that is easy-or give or spend money; but to do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for every one…” (II.9). In contrast to Utilitarianism and Deontology, where there is not a principle of utility or categorical imperative to adhere to. Instead, Aristotle believed that all actions that are committed by man, are committed because of our nature to be virtuous, and the happiness that is strived for as the end result. But he also maintained that the actions committed in strive of said happiness were the results of our special qualities as humans. Those special qualities being our rationality and our social nature. …show more content…
These are two extremes called vices. Both vices are on a scale, and the scale has a median commonly referred to as, “The Golden Mean”. “There are three kinds of dispositions, then, two of them vices, involving excess and deficiency respectively, and one a virtue, viz, the mean, and all are in a sense opposed to all; for the extreme states are contrary both to the intermediate and to each other” (II.8). The mean on the scale can be applied to most characteristics, courage being the most common example. One vice of courage would be recklessness, an excess, and the contrasting side would be timidity, a deficiency. Someone who has the virtue of courage, would commit themselves to making sure that the best outcome in any situation comes to fruition that stays in line with the golden