ARISTOTLE'S

THEORY OF
VIRTUE
 REPORTERS

Shianne Anama Yuri Masdal Aelen Posadas

Reporter Reporter Reporter
Background of the Theorist
Aristotle was born in 384 B.C. in Stagira in northern Greece.
His parents were part of the medical field.
Mother - Phaestis
Father - Nicomachus
His parents died while he was young (about 13-14).
Proxenus of Atarneus became his guardian after his parents died.
His father, Nicomachus, served as court physician to King
Amyntus III of Macedonia.
Like his master, Aristotle wrote initially in dialogue form, and his
early ideas show a strong Platonic influence.
Background of the Theorist
One of his notable works was Eudemus.
According to Aristotle, the dead are more blessed
and happier than the living, and to die is to return
to one’s real home.
"If Plato's prose was silver, Aristotle's was a flowing
river of gold."
In Arabic philosophy, he was known simply as
“The First Teacher”; in the West, he was “The
Philosopher.”
The Nicomachean Ethics and the Eudemian Ethics
are two of the ethical works of Aristotle.
Aristotle's Theory of
Virtue
Aristotle's virtue ethics can be gleaned from his book
"Nichomachean Ethics" which was the first systematic
study of ethics in Western civilization. Its principle is to
guide people in attaining the GOOD LIFE.
 Ethics

moral evaluations of daily life

moral principles are immanent presuppose a GOOD LIFE,
in our daily activities and can which is independent of
be discovered only through a EXPERIENCE, PERSONALITY
careful study of them. AND CIRCUMSTANCES
 Ethics

moral evaluations of daily life

Aristotle begun his ethical presuppose a GOOD LIFE,
inquiry with an empirical study which is independent of
of what it is that the people EXPERIENCE, PERSONALITY
fundamentally desire AND CIRCUMSTANCES
Ethics

HAPPINESS
EUDAIMONIA
is the ultimate human good
Ethics

HAPPINESS
EUDAIMONIA
"The concept of happiness
considerably vary"
 Ethics
Plato and Socrates
"What kind of life should one live?"
Aristotle
How should one live?
-was concerned more about the nature of GOOD LIFE
"What is the nature of happiness?" or "What does
happiness consists in?"
He also questioned about the condition of its attainment
which led his to the discussion of VIRTUE
 Virtue Theory
Ethical theory that emphasizes an individual's character
rather than following a set of rules.
It is ultimately tied to a full understanding of the nature of
happiness as humanity's ultimate goal as well as the
concept of virtue.
What exactly does it mean
to be virtuous?
Having virtue just means during the right thing, at the right
time, in the right way, in the right amount, toward the right
people.
What exactly does it mean
to be virtuous?
"There's no need to be specific because you're virtuous, you
know what to do. All the time. You know how to handle
yourself and how to get along with others. You have good
judgement, you can read a room, and you know what's
right and when."
For Aristotle, Eudaimonia is
the highest human good,
whereas real happiness is
a state of feeling in
oneself.
 Aristotle argues that man
does not need to act to
commit a crime: omitting to
do something can be just
as unethical.
What is the distinction between
Aristotle's virtue ethics among
the other ethics in his time?
DEONTOLOGICAL ETHICS: It doesn't matter what happens,
following the rule is always the right thing to do."

TELEOLOGICAL ETHICS: If what you do leads to something

good, you did the right thing.

VIRTUE ETHICS: Based on the virtue of being human.

Learning Virtue
How can a person learn about virtue and the practices and
acts that can be considered as virtuous?

Aristotle claims that books are efficient sources of

information and learning, but learning virtues and how to
be virtuous cannot be learned through books. Instead,
learning and understanding virtue comes from
EXPERIENCE.

To Aristotle, virtue is a skill, a way to live life, and virtue

can only be learned through experience. Virtue aims to
attain moderate satisfaaction that can lead to eudaimonia.
 Virtue Ethics
The telos (goal) of Aristotle's virtue ethics is to understand
what it means and feels to live a life with morality and of
good character. By being able to practice characteristics such
as honesty, bravery, generosity, and etc., we are able to
acquire virtue.

Being virtuous is being able to exhibit both reason and good

character, as the character of a person reflects the reason as to
why the deed happened.
Habits in Character
The notion of habit plays a big role in honing a person
to be virtuous. If a person does something virtuous
repeatedly, the deed eventually becomes a part of
their routine - it becomes their habit.

However, before habitualizing an act, one must first

know if the deed leads to eudaimonia and would not
cause pain or discomofrt.
 The Ethics in Virtue
WHY IS THERE A NEED
TO FOLLOW THE VIRTUE
THEORY?
The main goal of virtue theory is to be able to attain
eudaimonia and a state of moderation in life. The
highlight of humanity is being able to achieve
eudaimonia since this is where a person strives
hard to achieve something difficult and earns
happiness once done. When a person lives this
way, he/she lives a eudaimonianistic life.
EUDAIMONISTIC LIFE
In a eudaimonistic life, hardwork comes before
success. However, once success has been achieved,
it does NOT mean that growth and development
ends there. Other goals and lessons would follow
after achieving one, and disappointments may be
encountered, but this will be driving forces to keep
pushing through.