ETHICS

DR. LIONEL E. BUENAFLOR

Head-Social and Behavioural Sciences Department
Head-Batangas Heritage Center
University of Batangas
 The Virtue Ethics of Aristotle

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle
• Aristotle was known for the following:
1. He was the Creator of the first important
library;
2. He tutored the greatest ruler of the ancient
world, Alexander the Great;
3. He invented Logic; and
4. He shaped the thinking of the entire culture.
• He was deeply influenced by the philosophy of
Plato.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle
• As a reaction to Plato, he held that a thing would
undergo change only insofar as the nature of such
thing permits it to be such. There must be a
principle within such a thing to allow for the
change.
• Although the principle vary according to the kind
of change involved, in general, they can be referred
to as the principle of actuality and the principle of
potentiality. This teaching is called the
hylomorphic doctrine.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle
• Man is composed of a body and a soul. However,
the soul and the body are not separate entities (for
Plato, the body is different from the soul.)
• The soul forms the entelechy, the definite form of
the body.
• The human mind is a tabula rasa.
• A human person could only be considered good if
and only if he is functioning as a human person.
• Everyone must be able to discover first the ergon,
i.e., the distinctive function of everyone in order to
obtain the kalon, or the good.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle
• But what is the function or purpose of the human
person?
• The function of man is an activity of the human
soul, which follows a rational principle.
• Every human person is naturally seeking towards
the attainment of the eudaimonia, or the perfect
happiness.
• Happiness should not be connected with pleasure.
A life devoted solely to pleasure is a life fit only for
a cattle.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle
• Pleasure is not the goal of life; nor is the
acquisition of wealth. He also rejected fame and
public success as leading to eudaimonia because
he believed that the more self-sufficient we are,
the happier we will be.
• There is greater peace of mind and satisfaction in
knowing that I can provide for my own needs than
there is in depending on others.
• A morally virtuous act consists of a measured
activity, following the rule of the mesotes or the
Just Middle.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle
• A virtuous act is that which proceeds from the
habitual state or disposition acquired through
constant practice.
• A virtuous act is that which proceeds from the
right intention.
• In order for man to be sure that his action is done
in permanent disposition, said action should be
done in the act of contemplation.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle

• Whenever an action is performed based on

contemplation, such action is said to be coming
from phronesis, or practical wisdom, the practical
intellect that properly decides to act.
• Contemplation is to engage in the highest, most
perfect type of reflection, the way it is in God as
the Highest Intellect.

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle
Man

Body Soul

Irrational Soul Rational Soul

Vegetative Sentient Phronesis

Contemplation

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor

 The Philosophy of Aristotle

What is the function of the

human person?

How can a human person

know whether his action is
morally good or not?

Dr. Lionel E. Buenaflor