The Ring of Gyges Plato

Aristotle’s Moral Theory 384-322 BC Greek Philosopher Nicomachean Ethics Student of Plato Wrote on many subjects

Aristotle’s Ethics Virtue Ethics

The Great Three Plato (429 - 347) Socrates (469 - 399) Greek Philosophers (500BC – 200BC) Timeline The Great Three Plato, 20, meets Socrates, 60 Aristotle, 17, meets Plato, 62 Plato (429 - 347) 500 BC 200 BC Socrates (469 - 399) Aristotle (384 - 322)

A Roman copy of a bust of Aristotle by the Greek master, Lysippos in 330 BCE

What do you want to be when you grow up?

HAPPY!!!!

The end or goal of man is to be happy Isn’t your ultimate desire to Teleological Ethics The end or goal of man is to be happy Isn’t your ultimate desire to be Happy?

All things aim toward happiness Why do you want to be rich? Why do you want a nice car? Why do you want a nice spouse? Intermediate Goals

Isn’t your final goal TO BE HAPPY?

Eudaimonia Greek for Happiness

Eudaimonia Defined To live well Well-being Human flourishing Self-sufficient Family Friends Fame Wealth

TEMPORAL CIRCUMSTANCES But also: Luck Fortune Based upon TEMPORAL CIRCUMSTANCES

How do we understand happiness? By answering the question: What is the function of Man?

The function of a thing will help us determine what a “good” thing really is

Example What is the function of a knife? To cut Therefore a good knife cuts good and is therefore sharp

The function of man is the exercise of his reason

Is a man who uses his reason A Good Man Is a man who uses his reason The rational man

What does it mean to be rational? To live in such a way that will enable you to satisfy your purpose Which is to be happy!

How do we achieve this? By Developing Virtue

Happiness and Virtue Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with perfect virtue

The virtuous man is the most excellent man Arete Virtue Excellence The virtuous man is the most excellent man

The middle point between two extremes What is Virtue? The Relative Mean between two extremes The middle point between two extremes The “Golden Mean”

Relative v. Absolute Mean is the exact mid-point between two extremes Aristotle is not talking about this!

Specific Circumstances Based Upon? The Individual’s Physical Intellectual Genetic Specific Circumstances

How much should you drink? For Example How much should you drink?

Considerations Weight? Physical Constitution? How much food have you consumed? What’s your mental and emotional state?

These may change over time Your Mean may change

You need to know yourself Possessing Virtue means that you also know yourself Your Limits Your Strengths Your Weaknesses

4 Primary Virtues Wisdom Justice Courage Moderation

What are the two extremes that wisdom is the middle point of?

Justice

Courage

Moderation

Social Virtues

The Virtue is to be Generous Concerning Money The Virtue is to be Generous

Virtue Concerning Honor Pride (Appropriate Self-Respect)

We should have Good Temper

We are not born with virtue Virtue is not Natural We are not born with virtue

This is Good If we had to be born with virtue and were not That would be it There would be nothing we could do about it

How do we develop Virtue By Developing Character Qualities Through Practice Through Habits

Thru Experience Thru a Good Teacher

Aristotle places ethics within the larger framework of politics Ethics and Politics Aristotle places ethics within the larger framework of politics

Everything flows from the top down Why? Because if the goal of human existence is happiness, our political leaders must know this Everything flows from the top down

Example Politicians Generals Cavalry Blacksmith

Friendship Books 9 and 10 of the “Nicomachean Ethics” deal with the questions of What is friendship?

3 Types of Friendship 1. Friendship of Pleasure 2. Friendship of Utility 3. Friendship of Excellence

Friendship of Pleasure A friendship of pleasure is one based on the fact that certain people simply enjoy one another’s company, but what both parties really seek is their own pleasure.

Since the good that is desired on both sides is pleasure and enjoyment, relationships of this sort tend to fade and break off when what had given pleasure ceases to do so.  

Friendships of young people often tend to be of this variety

Friendship of Utility A friendship of utility is grounded on the mutual advantage that the parties serve with respect to one another.

The friendliness that marks this sort of relationship is largely based on the usefulness that is served by being nice to one another, as in the workplace

There is little to sustain the relationship when the mutual utility ceases

Friendship of Excellence A friendship of excellence (also called friendship of character) depends on virtuous people wishing well for one another.

Despite the fact that such relationships will also usually be pleasant or useful, such factors are incidental, because these people wish well to their friends for their friends’ own sake.

Such friendship arises from character; therefore, the people involved must be virtuous already or, at least, one of them must already be well developed in virtue and the other, marked by genuine potential for virtue, which the first will aim to draw out.

Although the number of friendships of pleasure or of utility might be considerable, the number of friendships of excellence one might have is probably small, because such individuals are rare, and such relationships require considerable time and familiarity.