Regarding the idea that ‘virtue is the mean’ we must first distinguish the intellectual virtues from the moral virtues‚ as it is only the latter type of virtue to which the idea applies. Employing our rational functions appropriately will‚ according to Aristotle‚ result in the engendering of the various types of intellectual virtues: theoretical wisdom‚ science‚ intuitive understanding‚ practical wisdom‚ and craft expertise (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy‚ 2001‚ Section 6). But as the doctrine of
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In comparing both Kant’s resolution and Mill’s resolution to Aristotle’s expected resolution‚ one can view the many similarities and differences between Aristotle’s philosophies and those of Kant and those of Mill. Primarily‚ Aristotle would resolve the moral conflict by siding with the judgement that expresses the virtue as the mean and coincides with achieving a human’s highest end of the Summum Bonum‚ which equates to happiness‚ both according to the situation‚ but not relevant to the individual
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Kant argued that moral requirements are based on a standard of rationality he dubbed the "Categorical Imperative" (CI). Immorality thus involves a violation of the CI and is thereby irrational. This argument was based on his striking doctrine that a rational will must be regarded as autonomous‚ or free in the sense of being the author of the law that binds it. The fundamental principle of morality the CI is none other than this law of an autonomous will. Thus‚ at the heart of Kant’s moral
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In Schopenhauer’s view‚ whose will is at work when two people fall in love? What reasons does Schopenhauer give for this view? In Schopenhauer’s view it is the will of the unborn baby which is at work when two people fall in love. The baby’s will is born when two lovers meet. The real aim of love’s romance‚ although the persons concerned are unconscious of the fact‚ is that a particular being may come into the world. Romantic love is nature’s way of selected breeding.. It makes you think‚ that
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In The Republic‚ Plato plays around with the argument that it is better to be just than unjust. His vessel for showing this is through the forming of an “ideal” city. In this hypothetical city he creates a censored educational system and abolishes the “typical” family structure in hopes that the society would be just. Taking in the context and the time period‚ Socrates’ ideas were radical but plausible‚ if executed correctly. Through that execution‚ though‚ I am not completely convinced that human
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Aristotle Anti-Death Penalty The death penalty is one of the controversial topics that plague American society today. The moral and ethical battles are ones that have been in existence as long as capital punishment has. Different methods of the death penalty have gone through many phases of development throughout the ages. Since its establishment there has been death by hanging‚ death by decapitation‚ death by electric chair‚ and the most commonly used method‚ death by lethal injection. This
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Explain the Analogy of the Cave in Plato’s Republic. Plato was a Greek Philosopher‚ who was a student of Socrates. The Analogy of the Cave in Plato’s Republic was written as a dialogue between Socrates and Plato’s brother Glaucon. In the Analogy of the Cave‚ Plato describes the prisoners who lived an isolated life in the confined space of a cave. Plato’s Analogy explains a philosopher’s journey to knowledge and the difficulty that he faces along the way and the prisoners in the cave who have not
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What do Plato‚ Descartes‚ and Hobbes contribute to the question "how do we know what is true‚ and what is false?" In the allegory of the cave‚ Plato views the sunlight as the truth‚ and the shadows in the cave as being false‚ and his contribution to the question "how can we tell what is true‚ and what is false" is that we have no way of knowing what is true‚ and what is false‚ until we have experienced them both‚ and can compare the two. I think that Plato is trying to say that society
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philosophers it’s a tossup between being born with it while others think that knowledge is gained as one grows up. In simple terms‚ is knowledge nature or nurture? Are you already born to be joining IMSA or are you brought up with a great education? Plato believes that knowledge is innate‚ meaning that it’s already in you from the beginning‚ also known as a priori knowledge. But other philosophers claim that knowledge is gained through experience. While Plato’s theory does make some sense‚ I believe
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Kant ’s Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Moral The central concept of Kant ’s Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals is the categorical imperative. "The conception of an objective principle‚ in so far as it is obligatory for a will‚ is called a command (of reason)‚ and the formula of the command is called an Imperative." (Abbott‚ 30) An imperative is something that a will ought or shall do because the will is obligated to act in the manner in which it conforms with
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