VirtuesOUTLINE

1. Introduction2. Types of “Ends”3. Eudaimonia4. Function of Human Beings5. Virtue as the “Golden mean”6. Deliberation and choice7. Contemplation

INTRODUCTION

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics is

The Greek root “telos” means “end,” “goal,” or

“purpose.”

TELEOLOGICAL.

“Every art and every inquiry, every action and every choice, seems to aim at some good; whence the good has rightly been defined as that at which all things aim.”

- Aristotle

HAPPINESS

VirtuesHAPPINESS

=A person who lives a virtuous life will have a better chance at attaining

happiness than one who lives without virtue.

TYPES OF“ENDS”

ALL ACTIONS AIM TOWARD AN

END

TWO MAJOR KINDS OF ENDS:

Instrumental Ends Intrinsic Ends

INSTRUMENTAL END

INTRINSIC END

acts that are done as means for other ends.

acts that are done for their own sake.

SEMINARIAN

PRIEST

INSTRUMENTAL ENDS

INTRINSICEND

EUDAIMONIA

Aristotle explicates that the doctor’s art targets at health, and shipbuilder’s ability targets at safe trip. But these kind of ends have further end or good in view. But there must be some

end that is ULTIMATE. Men agree that this good is

FORMATORSEMINARIAN

OPRIEST

=•••

“ HAPPINESS ”

A right action is

one that promotes HAPPINESS

HAPPINESSA wrong action is

one that is opposed to the attainment of

THE ULTIMATE GOOD ISHAPPINESS

FUNCTION OFHUMAN BEINGS

Analyzing the human nature, ARISTOTLE suggests that we must discover its unique activity, saying, that our human end “is not merely life.” If this is the case, we don’t have any difference with plants according to Aristotle. He said that he wants what is peculiar to human beings. Then he came to an idea that there is life of sensation but then again, if this is the case, we have no difference with animals. So, he came up with the idea that human beings have soul that have in common with the soul of both plants and animals.

Rational part

Irrationalcomponents

Vegetative component

Appetitive component 1

Irrational part

“As at the Olympic games it is not the finest and the strongest people who are

crowned, but they who enter the lists, for out of these the prize-men are selected;

so too in life, of the honorable and good, it is they who act who rightly win the

prizes.”

VIRTUE AS THE

GOLDEN MEAN

aristotledefines virtue as aDISPOSITION

He said that

is something we have to develop. For instance, we are not born with COURAGE. So

you develop this by disposing yourself by doing

COURAGEOUS ACTS.

Virtue

“The Golden Mean”

EXTREME EXTREME

THE GOLDEN MEAN“EUDAIMONIA”

DELIBERATION

CHOICE--- & ---

Rational part

Irrationalcomponents

Vegetative component

Appetitive component 1

Irrational part

Rational part

TWO KINDS OF REASONING:1.) THEORETICAL

2.) PRACTICALIt gives us knowledge of fixed principles or Philosophical

wisdom.

It gives us a rational guide to our moral action under the particular circumstances in which we find ourselves.

VOLUNTARY ACTSINVOLUNTARY

ACTS

VOLUNTARY ACTSINVOLUNTARY ACTS

PRINCIPLE DISTINCTION

1. a person is not responsible of his action they are

2. done out of ignorance of particular circumstances

3. done as a result of external compulsion or done to avoid a greater evil.

Voluntary acts are those which a person is responsible for his actions

because none of the qualities of involuntary act is in force.

CONTEMPLATION

GOODGOODGOODGOODGOOD

GOODGOODGOODGOODGOOD

GOODGOODGOODGOODGOOD

GOODGOODGOODGOODGOOD

Contemplation

Activity!

IS THE BEST

TheEnd