/3/ ARISTOTLE ON ETHICS.....Aristotle considered ethics to be a practical study, which facilitates us to become good and do good . He wrote several treatises on ethics: Nicomachean Ethics, the most popular Eudemian Ethics Magna Moralia Aristotle stated that virtue has to do with the proper functioning of humans through their good behaviors , good actions and good conduct. For example.. An eye is only a good eye in so much as it can see, because the proper function of an eye is sight. Aristotle reasoned that humans function (behave and act ) in respect of other humans, and that this function must be an activity of the soul AND it must be in accordance with reason . Optimum activity of the soul as the aim of all human deliberate action is to attain eudaimonia, generally translated as happiness or well being or flourishing . To have the potential of being happy in this way necessarily requires a good character or moral or virtue . Thus according to Aristotle humans should aim for virtuous life with good character or in other words having excellent and well-chosen habits. The acquisition of an excellent character is in turn aimed at eudaimonia a Greek word often translated as well-being, happiness or human flourishing. In other words ethics is thus a reflection on how individuals should best live. Aristotle regards the ethical virtues ( wisdom,justice, courage, temperance ) as complex rational, emotional and social skills. Ethical Virtues are acquired through proper upbringing and habits. Proper upbringing and habits develop ability to see, on each occasion, which course of action is best supported by reasons. Therefore practical wisdom, as he conceives it are acquire through practice.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 10:08:44 +0000
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