ETHICS

VIRTUE OR ARETE (by the Greek) – Achieving the highest purpose of a human
person concerns the ability to function according to reason and to perform an
activity well or excellently.

“For one swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day; and so too one
day, or short time, does not make a man blessed and happy”

 According to Aristotle excellence is an activity of human soul.

Human soul is divided into two:

Irrational Element – irritational element of man consists of the vegetative and

appetitive aspects. This part of man is not in the realm where virtue is exercised
because as the term suggests, it cannot be dictated by reason.

Rational Element – The rational faculty of man exercises excellence in him. One
can rightly or wrongly apply the use of reason in this part.

This faculty is divided into two aspects:

Moral – which concerns the act of doing

Intellectual – which concerns the act of knowing

Two ways by which can attain intellectual excellence:

Philosophical wisdom – it deals with attaining knowledge about the fundamental

principles and truths that govern the universe.

Practical wisdom – it is an excellence in knowing the right conduct in carrying out

a particular act.

 Therefore, rational faculty of a person tells us that she is capable of

achieving two kinds of virtue: the moral and intellectual.
 Moral virtue is acquired through habit. Being morally good is a process of
getting used to doing the proper act. The saying “practice makes perfect”
can be applied to this aspect of a person.
 Therefore, for Aristotle, a person is not initially good by nature.
 A moral person habitually chooses the good and consistently does good
deeds. It is in this constant act of choosing and doing the good that a
person is able to form her character.
 Character becomes the identification mark of the person.