AristotleAristotle

How Should We Live?How Should We Live?

Summary of What Will ComeSummary of What Will Come

The selection (The selection (Nicomachean EthicsNicomachean Ethics, Bks. I and II) , Bks. I and II) begins with Aristotle describing ethics as an begins with Aristotle describing ethics as an inexact art of inquiry and making certain remarks inexact art of inquiry and making certain remarks about the purpose of ethical inquiry. about the purpose of ethical inquiry.

Since every pursuit aims at some good, and since Since every pursuit aims at some good, and since ethics has to do with human actions, if we can find ethics has to do with human actions, if we can find the good that is the end of human life, we will have the good that is the end of human life, we will have found what is morally good. found what is morally good.

So, Aristotle is saying that:So, Aristotle is saying that:

He is going to tell us some things about how He is going to tell us some things about how we should liv and what our priorities should we should liv and what our priorities should be, butbe, but

Since Ethics does not give us 100% right or Since Ethics does not give us 100% right or wrong answers, his recommendations are wrong answers, his recommendations are not 100 % correctnot 100 % correct

And he is also telling us that:And he is also telling us that: We have a responsibility to examine what We have a responsibility to examine what

our highest priority (good) should beour highest priority (good) should be

Summary, cont.Summary, cont.

After suggesting several possibilities such After suggesting several possibilities such as health or pleasure, he settles on as health or pleasure, he settles on happiness as the true end since it is self-happiness as the true end since it is self-sufficient or the "final" good. sufficient or the "final" good.

A discussion of the nature of happiness A discussion of the nature of happiness follows. follows.

Eudaimonia: HappinessEudaimonia: Happiness

S0,S0,

HAPPINESS SHOULD BE OUR #1 HAPPINESS SHOULD BE OUR #1 PRIORITY!PRIORITY!

BUT WHAT IS HAPPINESS?BUT WHAT IS HAPPINESS?

PEOPLE DISAGREE ON WHAT TRUE PEOPLE DISAGREE ON WHAT TRUE HAPPINESS ISHAPPINESS IS

So,So,

Health alone cannot make us happy. So it Health alone cannot make us happy. So it is not our ultimate priority. We want to be is not our ultimate priority. We want to be healthy so we can achieve something elsehealthy so we can achieve something else

Wealth cannot make us happy, so it also is Wealth cannot make us happy, so it also is not our #1 priority. We want wealth so we not our #1 priority. We want wealth so we can achieve something elsecan achieve something else

So health and wealth are sought for the So health and wealth are sought for the sake of ‘something else’sake of ‘something else’

That ‘something else’ is happinessThat ‘something else’ is happiness

So, how do we become happy?So, how do we become happy?

Virtue is important to happiness; it is a Virtue is important to happiness; it is a necessary ingredientnecessary ingredient

One virtue, moderation, plays a very One virtue, moderation, plays a very important roleimportant role

Whatever is happiness, it must be final (not Whatever is happiness, it must be final (not done for the sake of something else) and it done for the sake of something else) and it must be self-sufficient (if you have it, you will must be self-sufficient (if you have it, you will not need anything else)not need anything else)

We can define happiness or We can define happiness or eudaimoniaeudaimonia more precisely if we can discover the unique more precisely if we can discover the unique qualities of human nature. qualities of human nature.

OutlineOutline

Humans share with other animals a nutritive power Humans share with other animals a nutritive power (psyche or soul) that makes nourishment and (psyche or soul) that makes nourishment and growth (biological life) possible.growth (biological life) possible.

Humans also share with other animals a sensitive Humans also share with other animals a sensitive power (soul) that makes movement, desire, and power (soul) that makes movement, desire, and sensations possible.sensations possible.

Unique to the human animal is a rational power Unique to the human animal is a rational power (soul) that makes theoretical and practical (soul) that makes theoretical and practical knowledge possible. knowledge possible.

Nutritive Appetitive Rational

Moral Virtue Practical and Intellectual Virtues

Intellectual VirtuesIntellectual Virtues

The intellectual virtuesThe intellectual virtues There is a virtue or excellence (There is a virtue or excellence (aretearete) )

associated with theoretical capacity and it is associated with theoretical capacity and it is called called sophiasophia or wisdom. or wisdom.

There is a virtue associated with the There is a virtue associated with the practical capacity called practical capacity called phronesisphronesis prudence prudence or practical wisdom). or practical wisdom).

Intellectual VirtuesIntellectual Virtues

The intellectual virtues make it possible for The intellectual virtues make it possible for humans to know what is right or good in general humans to know what is right or good in general ((sophia sophia ) and to decide in specific situations ) and to decide in specific situations ((phronesis phronesis ) what is the best thing to do.) what is the best thing to do.

In order to live the good life, we must not only In order to live the good life, we must not only know the good and choose the good, but also do know the good and choose the good, but also do the good. There must, in addition to the the good. There must, in addition to the intellectual virtues, also be moral virtues. intellectual virtues, also be moral virtues.

HappinessHappiness

We are now in a position to We are now in a position to definedefineeudaimoniaeudaimonia more precisely. Since it more precisely. Since it is clear that happiness for the human animal is clear that happiness for the human animal (as for others) is realizing the full potential of (as for others) is realizing the full potential of its nature, it follows that the good life and its nature, it follows that the good life and hence happiness centers on cultivating and hence happiness centers on cultivating and living in accord with the intellectual and living in accord with the intellectual and moral virtues.moral virtues.

Moral VirtuesMoral Virtues

But what precisely are the moral virtues?But what precisely are the moral virtues? They are a mean between two extremes They are a mean between two extremes

(excess and deficiency) with respect to both (excess and deficiency) with respect to both feelings and actions. For example, with feelings and actions. For example, with respect to confidence, courage is the mean, respect to confidence, courage is the mean, rashness is the excess (too much), and rashness is the excess (too much), and cowardice the deficiency (too little). cowardice the deficiency (too little).

Moral VirtuesMoral Virtues

The mean will vary with the individual.The mean will vary with the individual. They are developed through practice until They are developed through practice until

they become habit.they become habit.

Moral VirtuesMoral Virtues

Humans are not virtuous by nature and so Humans are not virtuous by nature and so good role models must be provided early in good role models must be provided early in their education to form moral character.their education to form moral character.

Some actions have no mean (e.g., murder).Some actions have no mean (e.g., murder).

Moral VirtuesMoral Virtues

What are the excesses, deficiencies, and What are the excesses, deficiencies, and the means with respect to (1) feelings of fear the means with respect to (1) feelings of fear and confidence?and confidence?