Aristotles Doctrine of the Mean - 525 Words

Virtue is a set of good qualities expressed by peoples actions and purposes in life. Some philosophers have claimed that there is no truth in virtue as it is not a priori knowledge; you cant prove that it is wrong to kill by deductive reasoning. The right and the wrong dont come from the true and the false. But Aristotle shows that knowing the natural end of man enables to tell if it is true of false that an action is right or wrong. So, for Aristotle, what does the vituous life entails? What is his doctrine of the mean? What is the government type that further Aristotles virtue life? Is it a plausible type of society? Virtue is bringing something to perfection. There are two kinds of virtues: the moral virtues, perfecting desire (who submits to reason) for the action, and intellectual virtues, perfecting the intellect alone, for contemplation. Lets begin with moral virtue; is it possible to teach virtue? Is it enough to know the good to do it? Obviously not. Aristotle argues that knowing the good is not yet doing it, because the reason is confronted by the desire, who rebels and resists. We must therefore form the desire from the good, exercise it, and shape it. As a result, for Aristotle, the virtue is neither a pure knowledge nor an isolated act, but a habit, a stable and sustainable provision of the will acquired by exercise. The truly virtuous man feels no compulsion in being it, he is joyfully aware of achieving his own nature. Virtue consists in a balance meanShow MoreRelatedAristotles Doctrine of the Mean1242 Words   |  5 Pages In this essay we will discuss and analyze Aristotle’ s Doctrine of the Mean. This topic area can be found in Book II, page 888, 6—15, through 890, 25. The purpose for Aristotle touching on this subject matter was to discern the states of character which are virtuous from those which are not. By this, I mean he is attempting to categorize which virtues are causal of a human â€Å"to be in a good state and to perform their functions well†(888—15). In order to keep this paper orderly and comprehensibleRead More Aristotles Doctrine of the Mean Essay1017 Words   |  5 PagesAristotles Doctrine of the Mean When we consider the questions of how we ought to live our lives, we often seek for some schematic that we can employ to help us categorize actions or qualities as good, bad, or indifferent. Such a means of organization would indeed make it easier to determine what the right thing to do is. Aristotle once attempted to formulate a similar plan. His ethics used a scheme by which characteristics could be measured and the right amount attained. Such an account isRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Me Underpin Aristotle s Account Of Citizen Virtue?899 Words   |  4 PagesTo what extent, and how, does ‘the doctrine of the mean’ underpin Aristotle’s account of citizen virtue? In order to answer the question ‘To what extent, and how, does ‘the doctrine of the mean’ underpin Aristotle’s account of citizen virtue?’ it is first important for me to define ‘the doctrine of the mean’ which was developed in Book II of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (II.2.1104a12-26) in the form of a medical analogy. ‘the doctrine of the mean’ is very often dismissed as being unhelpful andRead MoreAristotle s Doctrine Of The Mean1344 Words   |  6 Pagesdecision might be hard, and can be explained, however what is right and wrong when making a moral decision that is still a question today. This essay outlines how virtue ethics is not helpful as we hope when making a moral decision. Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean is a unique theory that is used for ethical views today. His main argument is basely on eudaimonia and how humans can attain that. Most of the time, happiness to humans is enjoying time with friends or loved ones, but to Aristotle happinessRead MoreAristotle Virtuous Character Analysis1284 Words   |  6 Pageshabituation. Aristotle’s theory of a virtuous character is developed by aligning with the Doctrine of the Mean. The philosopher developed the Doctrine of the Mean in Book II of Nicomachean Ethics to serve the purpose of conveying Aristotle’s concept on virtue ethics. A virtuous character can be considered as a person who acts in the right manner through habit and practice rather than reasoning. Aristotle writes, â€Å"Virtue, then, is a state involving rational choice, consisting in a mean relative toRead MoreThe Ethics Of Plato And Aristotle977 Words   |  4 Pagesindependent of anyone’s belief. This was how Plat o observed absolutism. Aristotle’s oversee on what is the ‘good life’ as he used an observed method to ethics. The ‘good life’ as Aristotle defines it as one which has happiness as a characteristic or ‘a life of happiness’. ‘Happiness is a motion of the soul in accord with perfect virtue’. ‘People ought to behave so as to achieve happiness’. I believe that Aristotle’s response will be everyone always ought to follow the middle passage between certainRead More1.In Your Own Words, Define The Term â€Å"Metaphysics† As Used1161 Words   |  5 Pagesphilosophy. Metaphysics is the study of reality. Metaphysicians ask themselves these type questions: what is reality? Does anything exist? Is anything that we see or believe in real? My examples of metaphysics from the book: I will be using Plato and Aristotle’s metaphysics examples. Interestingly enough, â€Å"Plato’s metaphysics claims that there are two kinds of reality† (Lavine 26). He believes in the material and immaterial word. The world of reality and the world of the senses. Plato’s metaphysics actuallyRead MoreExamining the Ethics of Plato and Aristotle Essay1063 Words   |  5 Pagesindependent of anyone’s opinion. This was how Plato perceived absolutism. Aristotle’s overlook on what is the ‘good life’ as he used an empirical approach to ethics. The ‘good life’ as Aristotle defines it as one which has happiness as a characteristic or ‘a life of happiness’. ‘Happiness is an activity of the soul in accord with perfect virtue’. ‘People ought to behave so as to achieve happiness’. I believe that Aristotle’s answer will be everyone always ought to follow the middle course betweenRead MoreAristotles Theory of Slavery1295 Words   |  6 PagesSome aspects of Aristotles theory of slavery Slavery -- natural or conventional? Aristoles theory of slavery is found in Book I, Chapters iii through vii of the Politics. and in Book VII of the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle raises the question of whether slavery is natural or conventional. He asserts that the former is the case. So, Aristotles theory of slavery holds that some people are naturally slaves and others are naturally masters. Thus he says: But is there any one thus intendedRead MoreAristotle s Highest Good Theorem1037 Words   |  5 PagesPhil 100 A01 Essay 2 Aristotle’s Highest Good Theorem When Aristotle first published his work entitled â€Å"Nicomachean Ethics†, you can imagine that numerous philosophers, scholars, and ordinary citizens were deeply contemplating his idea of the Highest Good Through the actions of virtue and reason, the act contemplation satisfies Aristotle’s characteristics as the Highest Good Being a self-sufficient, and complete activity, the ability to understand our function as human beings through contemplation