Aristotle Human beings have a function Performing that function well (with virtue) is happiness Happiness is an activity of the soul in accord with virtue Practical virtues are habits The virtues are the mean between extremes

Aristotle focuses on the question of what makes a good person. Actions are going be good or right if they are the actions that a good or virtuous person does A virtuous person is inclined to act virtuously. They want to act in accord with the mean

Kant The only thing good in an unqualifed way is a good will Virtues are not good in an unqualified way because they can be used for bad purposes, e.g. the cool calculating villain.

Acting from duty vs. acting in accord with duty An action is in accord with duty if it is the right thing to do. An action is done from duty if it is done because it is the right thing to do Actions done from inclination are not done from duty

Categorical imperative Hypothetical imperatives are conditional: Example: stop smoking because you want to avoid cancer Categorical imperatives are not conditional. Moral duties are those actions that are in keeping with the categorical imperative.

The principle of universalizability An action will be the right thing to do if you can (1) conceive of everyone acting the way you are acting and (2) will that everyone act in the same way as you do. Examples: pp. 53-54

Second formulation of the categorical imperative Treat other people not merely as a means, but also as an end. We always use other people, but Kant thinks its wrong to treat other people just as instruments, as things to be used for other purposes.

Kant and Aristotle Kant takes as fundamental the notion of duty—the right action done from a respect for the moral law. A good person will be one who acts this way (from duty) Aristotle thinks a good person will do the right thing from inclination. They will want to be virtuous. For Aristotle what is fundamental is what makes a person virtuous, not what makes a particular action right