Ara Jane T.

Pinili BS- Accountancy II

How can you apply Aristotle’s ethics in improving the current state of your
country?
Aristotle created an ethical theory as a field distinct from the theoretical
sciences. Its methodology must match its subject matter—good action—and must
respect the fact that in this field many generalizations hold only for the most part.
We study ethics in order to improve our lives, and therefore its principal concern is
the nature of human well-being. Aristotle follows Socrates and Plato in taking the
virtues to be central to a well-lived life. Like Plato, he regards the ethical virtues
(justice, courage, temperance and so on) as complex rational, emotional and social
skills. But he rejects Plato's idea that to be completely virtuous one must acquire,
through a training in the sciences, mathematics, and philosophy, an understanding
of what goodness is. What we need, in order to live well, is a proper appreciation
of the way in which such goods as friendship, pleasure, virtue, honor and wealth fit
together as a whole. In order to apply that general understanding to particular
cases, we must acquire, through proper upbringing and habits, the ability to see, on
each situation, which course of action is best supported by reasons. Therefore
practical wisdom, as he conceives it, cannot be acquired solely by learning general
rules. We must also acquire, through practice, those deliberative, emotional, and
social skills that enable us to put our general understanding of well-being into
practice in ways that are suitable to each situation. In the current state of the
country Philippines today, there is badly a need for applying Aristotle’s ethics.
Each of us in the country has a lot to improve in order for us to achieve unity and
peace because the problem starts within us. To improve one must be able to
develop these virtues which are; respect, honesty, justice, do no harm, and good
intent.
First is respect. Respect nowadays is very hard to obtain especially with the
new generation. One is that we have this mindsets of stereotyping that’s why it’s
hard to be accepted in the society and second bullying, and discrimination have
become casual things. We have an obligation to respect the independence and
decisions of other people especially concerning their own lives so we need to offer
them basic human dignity and empower those whom we have responsibility over.
Second is honesty, we should be honest with those we interact with, this means we
keep promises and in not making promises we can’t keep. Surrender yourself if
you have ever done wrong. In the present government, the corruption of money is
still there. In doing work, we should apply honesty especially when you’re a
politician you are dealing with the money of the country’s people. You have no
Ara Jane T. Pinili BS- Accountancy II

right to obtain any amount because in the first place, it’s not your property.
Thirdly, justice. One of the problems we are facing today is the discrimination of
race or racism. Racism is seen in almost every aspects of the society. It’s hard to
attain justice in this society if you are poor when sometimes wealth is more valued
than the truth. Another problem in our society is that even the trusted officials
whom are the policemen, some of them are even the ones who protect the drug
pushers or drug addicts. The thing is we should provide others with what they are
owed and or what they deserve, without seeking reprieve. We should treat them
fairly and try to be impartial and refrain from being unfair. Fourth, do no harm.
Abuses, killings, murder and other incidents is always present in the society.
Innocent people are being affected and their dignities are stepped down. Now,
walking in the streets late at night is dangerous. We have an obligation to do no
harm. If harm cannot be avoided then minimize the harm you do. Don’t increase
the risk of harm to others. Don't waist resources that could be used for good.
Consider respect when thinking about doing harm to others. Lastly, develop a good
intent at all times. Your thoughts, actions & decisions should have the intent to do
good things with those you interact with. Respect and love yourself.
In this world, we are living in, it’s really hard to deal with people who lacks
virtue. Every move or action we make, others will always have something to say.
Even if the act that you are doing have good intentions, they will find the bad in
you. If only love and respect for the humanity will prosper from each one of us in
the society, if only people will refrain from stepping down the rights and dignities
of others, if only people will give fair judgments to others, and if only people will
show kindness and goodness to the humanity then what a wonderful and peaceful
country we would live in. The problems in our country will only be resolved if we
solve the problems within us and that’s what matters most.