1. Aristotelian Ethics
Teleology and Virtue

2. Aristotle (382-322 B.C.E.) Student of Plato in Socratic tradition
Originally a botanist
Scientific, analytical mind that categorizes and systematizes
Writes several extended essays on areas of philosophy
Eg. Politics, Poetics, Ethics

3. Nicomachean Ethics Written for his son, Nicomachus
Organized in order of predominant virtues and building to study of highest human goal = happiness
1st: Practical virtues (courage, temperance, justice, and prudence)
2nd: Friendship
3rd: Pleasure and happiness

4. Teleology
Aristotle grounds his ethical theory on the assumption that all things have an essential purpose, goal, end
Telos = the final cause, or goal, of an object
Most natural objects have at least one end
Ethics is determined by using all natural objects toward their intended or proper end

5. Teleology (cont.) The telos of human beings is: eudaimonia
= happiness or complete well-being
Is an end in itself without further end
Recognizing objective characteristics of the human being, there are objective elements to happiness
Not just happy b/c you think you are
Must be rightly ordered within - virtuous

6. Virtues and Character
As ethos is character, we must ask “How does one build character to do the proper act that leads to happiness?”
Must acquire virtues = good habits
Avoid corruption of person in vices
Cardinal virtues are: 1. fortitude (courage); 2. temperance; 3. justice; 4 prudence

7. Virtue Acquisition
Acquiring virtues requires first that we “know thyself”
words on oracle’s Temple at Delphi
Human beings are made up of 3 parts:
1. rational – mind
2. appetitive – emotion
3. vegetative - physical

8. Virtue Acquisition (cont.)
We learn by doing virtuous deeds
Cf. recursive nature of ethics
Jump into the cycle and do it
“The just man justices. . .” G.M. Hopkins
Virtue is often the “golden mean” or the average of extreme behavior
Although relative to each person, look to examples for balanced behavior

9. Character Types Spectrum of Virtuous Character
Questions of if one can:
A. judge right from wrong
B. put appetites in line with reason
C. do the right thing
In the most vicious cases, reason is so corrupt, cannot understand virtue

10. Aristotle and Christian Ethics
Foundation of much teaching today
St. Thomas Aquinas comments on Ethics and uses Aristotle’s method for own Summa Theologiae
Christianity believes all humans and creation have telos in God
Seek eternal communion with Creator
Ties to Natural Law theory
Virtue celebrated in scripture
E.g. Beatitudes, parables, Wisdom, Proverbs

11. Aristotle and Christian Ethics
Aristotle differs on a number of points:
Does not ground ethics in a loving, personal relationship with God or divine being
Virtuous person is not to live “humbly”
Not universal call to virtue, but best life and eudaimonia reserved for elite characters