PHI 220

Ethics
Fall 2015

Assignment 7: Virtue Ethics

Deadline: Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Assignments must be typewritten and delivered in hard copy.

Read the following excerpt:

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

Chapter 12 of The Ethical Life, pp. 123-134

and answer the following questions:

(1) What does Aristotle mean by the following argument: none of the moral virtues arises in us by
nature; for nothing that exists by nature can form a habit contrary to its nature? First, state the
premise and conclusion of the argument.
(2) Aristotle claims that matters concerned with conduct and questions of what is good for us have no
fixity. What does Aristotle intend to convey by this claim? Do you agree with his position?
(3) What is the difference between arts and virtues for Aristotle? State Aristotles conditions for a
virtuous person.
(4) Explain in detail what Aristotle means by the claim that virtue is a state of character, not a passion,
nor a faculty.
(5) State and explain Aristotles theory of the mean. Do you find any problems with it?