Aristotle – Nicomachean Ethics Book I 1. What does it mean to say Aristotle’s ethical theory is “teleological?” In Aristotle’s world‚ nature‚ which is made up of matter and form‚ is teleological‚ meaning it has an end or goal. For example‚ the telos of an acorn is to turn into an oak tree. At first something has its potential and then it makes the choice in life to actualize that potential‚ by virtue‚ and be the best it can be. There is an aim and purpose to everything and a purpose to everything
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Aristotle was a greek philosopher who wrote the book “Nicomachean Ethics”. Aristotle’s view of human natures centers around humans achieving happiness. Too him happiness is our highest goal in life. Aristotle points out that most people in this world have a false view of what happiness really means. Most think of it as physical pleasure like eating‚ sex‚ or honor. These people have an imperfect view of what it means to be alive and what it means to be happy. The reason people have a false
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In the Nicomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle strongly advocated for this idea. In Book I of the Nicomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle states‚ “since happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue‚ we must consider the nature of virtue…[as] to make fellow citizens good and obedient to the laws” (Becker #)
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In book one of Nicomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle establishes his belief that in order for humans beings to achieve true happiness‚ they should try to find balance in certain aspects of their life called virtues. To define true happiness‚ Aristotle formulates that whatever happiness is‚ it must be the highest good (49). In other words‚ Aristotle is indicating that whatever we do in life‚ we do for the sake of happiness. Furthermore‚ true happiness is the apogee of our intentions. Once we achieve true
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In the Nicomachean Ethics‚ it seems odd that Aristotle emphasizes friendship so much‚ placing it above justice‚ spending more time on it than on any of the moral virtues‚ and stating that “[a]nyone who is to be happy… will need virtuous friends” (Nicomachean Ethics IX.9.1170b). Compared to the lofty virtues that Aristotle discusses in the rest of the Nicomachean Ethics‚ like justice‚ friendship seems markedly less essential for a happy life. It is easy to see friendship as a result of man’s social
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In the reading Nicomachean Ethics‚ by Aristotle‚ a well-known philosopher‚ wrote about what it is to be a good person and how being a good person‚ reflects our happiness. Along with writing by Aristotle‚ there was another writing by Immanuel Kant‚ called The Foundations of the Metaphysics of morals‚ that’s rights about the fundamentals of the moral duty. These two philosophers were very good and can very well go well with each other. Aristotle and Immanuel Kant can agree that‚ to be a moral person
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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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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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How Important is Happiness in Our Lives? There are many occurrences in life where we come across happiness. In this paper‚ I will relate Greek philosopher Aristotle’s words in his book Nicomachean Ethics‚ to the idea of happiness and his contrast of happiness and pleasure. Happiness is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience” (Merriam-Webster). However‚ there is much more to understand about the bigger picture and full idea of
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