Virtue Ethics On Contrast To Mill's Utilitarian Philosophy
An analysis of the Importance of Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics on Contrast to Mill’s Pleasure Principles in Utilitarian Philosophy
This philosophy paper will discuss the importance of Aristotle’s argument for virtue ethics in contrast to Mill’s Utilitarian theory on the happiness of the individual. Mill’s theory of happiness is dependent on the happiness of the individual, as long as that individual does not harm other people in society. For example, the happiness of an individual is perfectly acceptable if they like to get drunk, but they cannot harm anyone else in this state of mind. Mill would define this form of “happiness’ as part of preserving individual freedom, yet not without compromising the greater good of society:
No person ought …show more content…
This aspect of individual freedom provides a gauge for Mill’s focus on personal happiness that seeks pleasure over pain (Lyons, 1997, p.19). In this manner, Mill is essentially claiming that being drunk is morally and ethically acceptable to preserve the happiness of a person. I find this argument devoid of a value system that encourages the “greater good” in society, since drunkenness lacks virtue and foresight (to the future health of the individual) into the higher qualities of human behavior and intellectual …show more content…
Mill have makes no reference to the damage that a cowardly drunk may bring to society, since he does not understand the long term ramifications of allowing drunkenness for individuals that claim to not be damaging he “greater good” by their actions. Aristotle does not believe in this vacuous system of individualism, which will always show the interconnection between individual and societal behaviors. Mill may find a disconnect between the individual and society, but it is Aristotle that finds the sympathetic relationship virtuous behaviors as an interconnected system “because contemplation is complete happiness and practical wisdom” (Reeve, 2012, p.237). In this manner, I would agree with Aristotle that the individual is part of society as a whole, which would make individual drunkenness a dangerous threat to the well being of
This philosophy paper will discuss the importance of Aristotle’s argument for virtue ethics in contrast to Mill’s Utilitarian theory on the happiness of the individual. Mill’s theory of happiness is dependent on the happiness of the individual, as long as that individual does not harm other people in society. For example, the happiness of an individual is perfectly acceptable if they like to get drunk, but they cannot harm anyone else in this state of mind. Mill would define this form of “happiness’ as part of preserving individual freedom, yet not without compromising the greater good of society:
No person ought …show more content…
This aspect of individual freedom provides a gauge for Mill’s focus on personal happiness that seeks pleasure over pain (Lyons, 1997, p.19). In this manner, Mill is essentially claiming that being drunk is morally and ethically acceptable to preserve the happiness of a person. I find this argument devoid of a value system that encourages the “greater good” in society, since drunkenness lacks virtue and foresight (to the future health of the individual) into the higher qualities of human behavior and intellectual …show more content…
Mill have makes no reference to the damage that a cowardly drunk may bring to society, since he does not understand the long term ramifications of allowing drunkenness for individuals that claim to not be damaging he “greater good” by their actions. Aristotle does not believe in this vacuous system of individualism, which will always show the interconnection between individual and societal behaviors. Mill may find a disconnect between the individual and society, but it is Aristotle that finds the sympathetic relationship virtuous behaviors as an interconnected system “because contemplation is complete happiness and practical wisdom” (Reeve, 2012, p.237). In this manner, I would agree with Aristotle that the individual is part of society as a whole, which would make individual drunkenness a dangerous threat to the well being of