Aristotle
Eudaimonia :)
Doctrine Of The Mean
the function argument
Vices and Virtues (harv)
how to measure our excellence in character (right amount of something)
Aristotle's account of virtues and vices
The 'summum bonum' the final good.
Virtues as character traits/dispostitions
The role of education/habituation in the development of moral character
Identifying a function of a human being. Aristotle argues that the human function is rational activity. our good is therefore rational activity performed well, which Aristotle takes to mean in accordance with virtue
The importance of feelings
Aristotle believed the purpose of school was to develop and exercise students' potential for reasoning, form ethical character and provide a skill and knowledge base. He thought the purpose of schooling was to develop dispositions and habits that exercise reasoning and forming a human's ethos.
Aristotle defines moral virtue as a disposition to behave in the right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficieny and excess (called vices). We learn moral virtue primarily through habit and experience rather than through reasoning and instruction.
Aristotle sees virtues as character traits and tendencies to act in a particular way. We gain them through experience and by copying 'moral exemplars' (role models) until we manage to internalise the virtue. We become temperate by practicing temperance, courageous by practicing courage and so on. In time, these virtues become habituous and we sub-consciously live with them.
Aristotle refers to the function as ergon
fulfilling our function makes us a good thing of our kind
It must be an end and not a means to an end: 'we always choose it for what it is and not what it gives us
"to say happiness is the supreme good seems a platitude, and some more distinctive account of it is still required, this might perhaps be achieved by grasping what is the function of the man"
Aristotle's virtues are as follows: Courage
Temperance
Liberality
Magnificence
Magnanimity
Patience
Truthfulness
Wit
Friendliness
Shame
Justice
It must be an final end or the supreme good: that for the sake of which everything else that is done
It must be self sufficient and not need anything more than what it is to make it complete and sufficient. : It's the sufficient good that is the most desirable of all things
Aristotle connected emotions closely with judgment and belief, and held that they can be cultivated through moral education to be important components of a virtuous character. (Martha Nussbaum)
It must be something that is innately related to us as human beings
Aristotle would say that something is good if it is the best, most valuable, and enjoyable thing (virtuous) and it has particular qualities in which they are intended to do
Asking What is the good life?
for example a plant that leads a good life has good growth, nutrition and well watered.
The final end >>
A well functioning plant is able to provide food, homes, flowers and oxygen as well as having a good life
Basically saying that our life isn't fulfilled until we're completely self sufficient, doing everything for sake of what it is instead of what it gives us and have reached the summum bonum, the final good
reason is the foundation
however the mean can sometimes be tricky!
what might be brave in one situation, may be foolhardy in another. therefore we need to practice our reasoning skills to make the right choice and behave in the right way
every virtue is a mean between the vicious extremes of excess and deficiency
helping us to set out precise rules for how to behave in different situations
can be considered quite bland!