Passions And Actions Whilst Virtue example essay topic

In the Nicomachea n Ethics, Aristotle discusses the nature of intellectual virtue (excellence) and moral virtue (et hike) and defines them. He defines virtue as a state of character concerned with choice and lying in a mean, the mean being relative to us. This mean he says, is determined by a rational principle. It is a mean between two vices namely, excess and defect. Now virtue is concerned with passions and actions in which excess is a form of failure and so is defect whilst the intermediate is regarded as a form of success. Virtue is also the mean because the vices fall short or exceed what is right in both passions and actions whilst virtue both finds and chooses the intermediate.

Thus in respect of the definition which states it's essence, virtue is a mean with regards to what is best and extreme. Things like temperance and courage have no excess or deficiency because what is intermediate is an extreme. Also passions like spite, envy, shamelessness and actions such as murder and adultery are bad and there are no excesses or deficiencies of them. According to Aristotle also, virtues are in us by nature and also by nurture for he states", we are by nature equipped with the ability to receive them, and habit brings this ability to completion and fulfillment" (1103 a 24-26). The idea of virtues existing in us by nature only is excluded because virtues are changeable and everything that is by nature is nit changeable.

Senses are natural while intellectual virtue is acquired by teaching and it needs experience. Moral virtue is gained by habit, it needs time to be developed, and is connected with action and emotion. Certain actions can be repeated over many times making for practice. However this practice may be good or bad. So by practicing justice, one can become jut or unjust. For Aristotle it is important that practice is implanted in children because it takes time for it to be experienced.

I believe this is true as we are in a sense, characterized by our habits. For example, one gets up early every morning (so over time this becomes habit) and has time to do many things during the day. This becomes his lifestyle, his characteristic, and characteristic of a diligent man. Aristotle also discusses how virtues have to do with pleasure and pain. This syllogism reminds me of a math formula and is as follows; if virtue is related to action and emotion, and the outcomes of action and emotion are pleasure and pain, it applies that virtue has to do with pleasure and pain. He also goes on to say that there are three kinds of things in the soul: emotions, capacities and characteristics.

Virtues are characteristics since they " are some kind of choice or at least involve choice" (1106 a 3). He also concludes that virtue is a characteristic of man, which makes him a good man and causes him to perform his own function well. The good is also discussed. For Aristotle, every art, inquiry and action or pursuit is thought to aim at some good. The difference however is among the ends through which it is achieved. We desire to achieve this end for it's own sake and not for the sake of something else because this end is the good.

This ultimate good, is the chief good and knowledge of it will have great influence on life. Human good, he says is the activity of the soul exhibiting excellence and though there is more than one good, it is the best and most complete. For him, the definition of good and happiness is relative. Also what drives you toward happiness is the definition of good for Aristotle and is the achievement of goals towards which human beings naturally aim. Thus the different types of good can be wealth, noble birth, science, wisdom etc. Aristotle's definition of the good is that not all goods fall under one Good.

The definition of "good" is objective and is by analogy. Thus comparing him to Plato's view of the good, he is more of a realist whilst Plato is more of an idealist because Plato's view is that the good is abstract and is attained by intellectual pursuit. Aristotle also criticizes Plato's view of the good as follows. The good life is never fully intellectual or philosophical. One cannot maintain he says, that all goods fall under one good because the Good is a predicate of many goods. What is the good he asks, without the object?

Is it those pursued even when isolated from others such as intelligence, sight, honors and certain pleasures? These things- honors, justice etc have distinct and diverse accounts relative to goodness. The good therefore is not something that conforms to one idea. For example, what is sweet without the object that is itself sweet? Thus the final good we are seeking must be desirable in itself and not for the sake of something else. This Aristotle says is happiness since we choose it for nothing other than itself.

This summarizes Aristotle's account of virtue, happiness and goodness. I believe that depending on the religious background and environment one was brought up in, on conforms to Aristotle's view or Plato's view, divergent as they are, but never the two.