Ethics Naturalism Aristotle 384 322 B C Form and matter Potentiality Actuality o Example Seed to sapling to full grown tree Happiness An activity of the soul in accordance with virtue in a complete life Rational Perceptive Nutritive iii Rational taking abstract concepts from particulars and communicating 1 An activity of the soul a 3 Human capacities i Nutritive absorbs the matter of things ii Perceptive absorbs the form Sight them to others 2 In accordance with virtue a Greek word for virtue Aret b Aret means virtue and execllence i Doing the right thing and doing it well 1 2 1 Practical Reason a Common sense and science Learning i Side note Science was much smaller sect in Aristotle s time b Ethics and morality Habit 2 Theoretcial Reason a Metaphysics Logic Math conceptual relationships Common Sense Science Perceptive Rational Gain excellence through learning Ethics and Morality Take what you learn and make it a habit Perceptive Rational Perceptive Sophrosyne effortless self control Math Logic Metaphysics Acquired through years and years of learning but not for everyone Rational expansive has no ending bounds 3 In a complete life a Happiness is not a state of mind b It takes years and years to develop happiness c But it is a never ending process d Happiest those who have mastered common sense and ethics are free to live contemplative life Nichomachaean Ethics The Golden Mean boundaries Too Little Vice Cowardice Stinginess o Example learning to parallel park between two cones the cones act as Mean Virtue Courage Charity Too Much Vice Recklessness Extravagance 1 The Golden Mean is adjustable to different cultures Humility Greek Pride Self Abasement Christian Humility Vanity Pride In Grecian society taking pride for your accomplishment is a mean while in Christian society pride is considered a sin 2 Not all activities fit on a mean a Example Adultery There is no acceptable amount that can be considered virtuous b Example Murder It is not acceptable to murder a little or a lot Review Where Plato went wrong 1 All reality is of forms 2 All evil doing is the product of ignorance Form of the good Reality Truth Justice Beauty Philosophers Humans Animals Plants Sophists wanted to get rich physical possessions etc Obliteration Inanimate Objects Aristotle People can know what is good yet choose to do evil o You know what you should do but don t have the correct habits Two Types of Incorrect Habits 1 Morally Weak want to do good but cannot a Example Having a short temper and flipping out on people i Solution Rehabilitation Anger Management 2 Morally Vicious enjoy vices like doing bad things a Example a Pyromaniac loves to set things on fire i Solution Exile or Execution rehabilitation will not correct these people Either way they need to be removed from society Since these individuals lack rationality and perception they are technically not of human soul no humanity Lacking their humanity means there should be no quarrel about their exile execution
View Full Document
Unlocking...