Separated by more than 8500 kilometers but only 52 years‚ two seminal thinkers have shaped the moral philosophy of their respective cultures. While Western ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Plato’s Republic‚ Eastern ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Confucius’s Analects. David Haberman describes the Republic as ‘one of the most influential books of all time’ (86). And Bryan Van Norden compares (with considerable fervor) the Analects to ‘the combined influence of Jesus and Socrates’
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According to Aristotle the highest good for human beings is Eudaimonia/happiness and that a rational choice of life will be one directed to one’s own happiness. Only a life in which one cultivates the traditional virtues will be a happy life. Eudaimonia‚ or ’happiness ’‚ is the supreme goal of human life. Aristotle believed that everything has a purpose - the good for a knife is to cut‚ and a good knife is one that cuts well. In the same way‚ Eudaimonia is the ’good ’ for a person. Aristotle draws a distinction
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‘The only reason to be moral is because it is the right thing to do’ Discuss. Morality is defined as the principles of distinguishing between good and bad behaviour. We call the murderer an immoral person because they have committed a ‘bad’ action. We also stereotype charity workers as moral because they are devoted to helping others. But what motivates our moral behaviour? In an attempt to answer this‚ I will assess several key theories and thinkers to prove that morality is a means of achieving
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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. The third term‚ arête‚ refers to whatever makes a thing an “outstanding specimen” of
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A human’s supreme good is eudaimonia‚ which one can achieve by living a life of reason. Eudaimonia is the Greek word for happiness and Aristotle argues that the highest good for human beings is happiness. He insists that every action performed by humans is to pursue happiness. Aristotle also argues that human action is always aimed at some end or good. Thomas Aquinas also concluded that humans have a supreme goal or purpose‚ but he does not see this as eudaimonia. Aquinas thought that as humans
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morally good and virtuous they have to possess the ‘good’ virtues. In the business world the virtues that are suggested to exist are courage‚ fairness‚ honesty and compassion. Aristotle said if we or a business have these virtues then we achieve our eudaimonia. In many ways businesses are seen as compatible with virtue ethics. The virtues provided are guidelines as to how people or businesses should aspire to be. This means that a framework is provided to try and help guide people to be virtuous‚ and
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Ethics Review #2 1)Give the complete definition Aristotle offers of eudaimonia? EUDAIMONIA MEANS HAPPINESS/ FLOURISHING DEFINED AS AN ACTIVITY OF THE SOUL IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPLETE VIRTUE WITH ADEQUATE EXTERNAL GOODS IN A COMPLETE LIFE This involves one’s life as a whole and consists in action in accord with reason Eudaimonia is not achieved through pleasure‚ wealth‚ honor or even virtue on its own. What is an external good? Are external goods necessary or sufficient for happiness? While
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categorize to make judgment about the world around us‚ he observes the world and then analyzes it. According to Aristotle‚ human beings has a purpose‚ which is to achieve “happiness”. Happiness translate as “eudaimonia”‚ it’s define as a well-being over a long period of time. In order to search for eudaimonia‚ we have to be complete and self sufficient‚ and this must gain through practice of virtue. According to Aristotle‚ virtue means excellence‚ it’s a type of development and exercise of capacity to
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or happy life. Virtues ethics is all about individual doing right. Personal characteristics if practiced will make sure that individual makes the right choice. Eudaimonia is a state variously translated from Greek as ’well-being’‚ ’happiness’‚ It characterizes the well-lived life. Eudaimonia is the proper goal of human life. Eudaimonia describes that state achieved by the person who lives the proper human life‚ an outcome that can be reached by practicing the virtues. A virtue is a habit or quality
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Aristotle believed that Eudaimonia was not happiness or pleasure‚ but simply being the best version of you that you could be. However‚ this interpretation presented a new question‚ what makes humans the best versions of themselves? Aristotle answered this with the function argument
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