Lina Okab 10/18/08 Like Aristotle‚ I also believe that virtues are not characteristics but a state of character. Aristotle defines virtuous character in Nicomachean Ethics : Excellence [of character]‚ then‚ is a state concerned with choice‚ lying in a mean relative to us‚ this being determined by reason and in the way in which the man of practical wisdom would determine it. He argues that our reasoning‚ which is the foundation for our virtues‚ derives from habit and not from nature. Neither by
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Throughout the books of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics that we have read thus far‚ he speaks of virtues both intellectual in nature as well as moral‚ appearing in people first as a result of nature. He then describes how through further education and “habituation”‚ those characteristics or behaviors become active in our lives and allow us to behave justly. Further‚ although virtues are a thing relating to the individual‚ he discusses them in relation to one another‚ sort of generalizing them for
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aRISTOTLE | Principle of Ethics | | | | 5/8/2011 | [Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document. Type the abstract of the document here. The abstract is typically a short summary of the contents of the document.] | A married couple‚ both addicted to drugs‚ is unable to care for their infant daughter. She is taken from them by court order and placed in a foster home. The years pass. She comes to regard her foster
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Aristotle highlights in Nicomachean Ethics‚ that moral virtue is “acquired by repetition of the corresponding acts‚” thus virtue is acquired‚ not innate (Cahn 134). By doing moral acts repeatedly one becomes wise‚ “having or showing experience‚ knowledge‚ and good judgment” therefore‚ to be virtuous an individual is requires a plethora of wisdom‚ which is not learned or taught nor inherent‚ but from the source of trial and error. Additionally‚ after virtue becomes a habit the individual would then
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One of the many subjects that Aristotle tackles in The Nicomachean Ethics is the concept and practice of friendship. Aristotle himself sets three requirements for friendship‚ as well as three separate categories for friendship‚ the categories being‚ utility based‚ pleasure based‚ and virtue based. While Aristotle does state that a virtue based friendship is the strongest‚ one could also put forth the argument that friendship only exists for the benefits of utility that come from friendship‚ leading
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most effectively. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics‚ he defines happiness to be obtained through “habituation or by some sort of training” of the virtues‚ a practice Bill Gates knows well (Aristotle 121). According to Forbes magazine‚ he was voted to be “the world’s most generous person”‚ further expressing his ability to exercise virtues (Mac). But is Bill Gate only appearing to look virtuous to gain more money and pursue greed? By looking at the works of Aristotle and various news articles we arrive
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Virtue ethics was systematized by Aristotle during the 4th century BC. In his writing‚ Nichomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle outlined three terms to describe his ideology. The first of these three terms is eudaimonia. This means happiness‚ “good spirit‚” or flourishing. In Aristotle’s eyes‚ eudaimonia is the state to achieve to realize ones full potential. The second term‚ telos‚ is the end‚ purpose‚ aim‚ or goal that one should be trying to achieve. One can only achieve eudaimonia by fulfilling their telos
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Introduction Aristotle‚ a pupil of Plato is one of the greatest‚ ancient Athenian philosophers. Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle’s most advanced work on ethics. In fact‚ Nicomachean Ethics was written around 340 BC. It is most likely to have been named after either his father or son‚ who were both named Nicomachus. Undoubtedly‚ friendship is one of the most important elements in the books of Aristotle’s ethical principles. Out of the ten books of Nicomachean Ethics‚ only books eight and nine are
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In Book 2 of Aristotle’s The Nicomachean Ethics‚ he outlines his definitions of moral virtues and how they are acquired. He reaches an implicit conclusion that performing virtuous actions is not sufficient for counting as virtuous by arguing that one must perform virtuous actions in the manner of truly virtuous people in order to become virtuous. This essay will thus analyse the structure of Aristotle’s argument on the relationship of virtuous actions to one’s virtuous character. In Aristotle’s
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of these thinkers‚ Aristotle‚ wrote extensively about the importance of human virtue and its relationship to politics. After outlining the Greek philosopher’s view of man’s final end‚ I argue that‚ for Aristotle‚ ethics is necessarily related to the common good and concerns mankind as a whole. Book I of the Nicomachean Ethics opens with the observation that‚ “Every art and every inquiry‚ and similarly every action as well as choice‚ is held to aim at some good” (1). All human actions have an end
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