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What does Aristotle mean about this quote?

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 1
LESSON

VIRTUE ETHICS
(PART B)

Aristotle and Virtue Ethics

GE - Ethics

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 OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:

Discuss virtue ethics in

the perspective of
Aristotle

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 ARISTOTLE
• 384-322 B.C.

• Student of PLATO (Aristocles)

• Father of many sciences (Logic, Biology, Ethics, Aesthetics)

• Known as:
• “The First Teacher” in Arabic Philosophy
• “The Philosopher” in the West

Reference: http://www.history.com

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 ARISTOTLE
Born: Stagira in Northern Greece

Father: Nicomachus
Physician of King Amyntus III
of Macedonia (Grandfather
of Alexander the Great)

Became Alexander the Great’s tutor.

Reference: http://www.history.com

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 ARISTOTLE

17 years old
Went to Athens to enroll in the Academy of Plato

Spent about

20 years
Studying and teaching in that school.

Reference: http://www.history.com

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 Aristotle became a great critic of Plato’s
Philosophy.

Reference: http://www.history.com

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ARISTOTLE AND VIRTUE ETHICS

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 HAPPINESS
“SUMMUM BONUM”

According to Aristotle, the goal of human life is to attain the Highest Good (happiness, good life, well-being).

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How do we achieve happiness?

WEALTH

HEALTH

VIRTUE

TRUE FRIENDSHIP

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 Element of Happiness

For Aristotle, true wealth is the available stock of useful things.

He says that wealth-getting that aims at use-value is legitimate.

Use-value or true value involves goods that are necessary for life
and for the household or the community of the city.

It is not against nature when individual households mutually

exchange surpluses to satisfy the natural requirement of self-
WEALTH sufficiency

Reference: Younkin. (2005). Retrieved from: http://www.quebecoislibre.org)

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 Element of Happiness

Health, according to Aristotle, indicates that all organs (body or

society) are functioning well and cooperating with one another.

HEALTH

Reference: Preus, A. (1986). The Monist. Volume 69, Issue 3, Pages 416–433.
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 Element of Happiness
For Aristotle, it is right behavior (disposition), and it serves as the
mean between excessiveness and deficiency.

Example, courage (moderation) stands between rashness

(excessive courage) and cowardice (deficient courage).

The middle ground, for Aristotle, is what is right and good. He

believes that everyone is born with the knowledge of the middle
ground; thus, it is human nature to know what is good and right.
VIRTUE The mean depends on the individual and the circumstance.

Reference:
Spark Notes. (n.d.). Nicomachean Ethics: Book I to IV. Retrieved from www.sparknotes.com.
Lander. (n.d.). Aristotle’s Ethics. Retrieved from www.philosophy.lander.edu.
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 Element of Happiness
Aristotle states that humans are social beings (we live by forming relations).

Three types of Friendship:

Self-interested Friendships for True/Perfect

Friendship Pleasure Friendship

Using others Merely to acquire Appreciating the

FRIENDSHIP (utility) for
self-gain.
pleasure from
others.
other person for
who they are.

Reference: https://exploringyourmind.com/3-types-of-friendship-aristotle/
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CONCLUSION

VIRTUE ETHICS All elements must be present to live a happy life.

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