How would you define happiness?
If you were to ask for 5 things that
would make you absolutely happy,
what would you choose?
Is happiness…
• About getting, or about being
• About long term, or about
short term
• About yourself, or about others
• About getting it by good luck,
or by taking control of it
• To describe the key features of
Aristotle's virtue theory
• To reflect on the connection
between virtue and happiness
• To explain and evaluate
Aristotle’s doctrine of the
mean
Aristotle & Virtue
Aristotle, b.380BC, was one of the greatest
ancient Greek philosophers. He studied under
Plato’s Academy, but later diverged from Plato,
and set up his own school, the Lyceum in
Athens, where he taught his own science-based
philosophy.
- He defined what things are, by looking to their proper function and purpose
- purpose of a pen is to write, purpose of a plant is to grow, purpose of
animals to procreate and flourish.
- To fulfil its function, is good. A good pen writes, a bad plant fails to grow.
- Man is distinguished from other mammals by his reason & his social instinct.
- So the proper functioning of man, is to act according to reason, as part of
society. This is how man can be happy, and flourish, and be a good man.
- Aristotle’s conception of the good life is teleological – it aims for success in
life, for well-being, flourishing, happiness = Eudaimonia
• So a good man attains eudaimonia, because he has
lived “a certain kind of life”, proper to a human, that
involves reason, at the service of society.
• What sort of actions are reasonable actions, appropriate to a
human living in society?
• actions, performed “with the appropriate excellence” ie
according to virtue.
• Doing such actions, is what makes a man “good”.
Happiness/ well-being
(eudaimonia)
 Properly human life according
to reason, at service to society
Goodness
 Well performed actions,
activity of the soul according to
excellence – or virtue *
*over an entire life – for “one swallow does not make a
summer, and not does one day, so too one day does not make a
man blessed and happy”
“Happiness turns out to be an activity of the soul in
accordance with virtue”.
The Nichomachean Ethics
Aristotle’s
important
work
on ethics,
after
his son,
Nichomachus.
2 kinds
1. Doesmost
your
character
play
a largenamed
role in
your
ethical
decisions?
Or
of person:
do you reason things out, eg by their consequences or divine
2.
– Those who do right, but don’t really care about doing the right thing.
right/ wrongness?
– Those who do right, because they want to. To be moral is part of their developed
character. They are judged to have a good character (activity of soul according to
How
do you deal with unfamiliar moral problems? Do you consult
virtue)
Aristotle’s
thinking the
distinguishes
who
simply
good
fromto
those
yourmoral
“instinct”,
sort of people
person
you
are?doOr
doactions,
you look
who have
a stable,
morally or
good
character.
Theythat
have could
excellences
of character
moral
principles
moral
people
guide
you? (virtues),
that lead their agents act rightly, and so enable them to fully flourish.
Not “what should I do?” but “what kind of person should I be?”
3. Is it true that happiness comes from character?
Do you agree?
• AIsvirtuous
knows what iscomes
the right
thinghaving
to do. They
have cultivated
4.
it trueperson
that happiness
from
a virtuous
character?
the skills of acting rightly and can apply them correctly in any situation. They
do not need to consult rules or other ethical principles.
•
A skilled tennis-player, musician, surgeon has obtained the necesssary
compentencies to deal with any situation in their profession. A good person, is
also a eudaimonic person – they have well-being because they have the virtues
and live according to them.
Read the extract from Aristotle’s
Nichomachean Ethics.
1. Summarise the stages of his
argument in a few short phrases
2. How does he think that we
achieve the virtue, by which the
soul must act, and so obtain
eudaimonia?
3. Is virtue enough by itself for a
happy life? If not, what else is
needed? 2 things.
• Eudaimonia
• Virtue
• Activity of the
soul
• Reason, society
• Ethics is character
based
Recap
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Eudaimonia
Virtue
activity of the soul
reason, society
Character
Virtue as skill
goodness
Tell your partner
something about each of
these terms from
Aristotle’s Ethics.
Aristotle’s Moral Virtues
Virtue
Happiness
“Since happiness is an activity of the soul
expressing virtue, we must examine
virtue.”
“arete” is the greek term for virtue. Aritstotle’s ethical
theory, is aretaic.
It employs terms such as excellent, admirable, rather than
“morally correct” or “morally wrong”, which belong more to a
rule-based ethics. Aesthetic.
• Acording to Aristotle, happiness, or eudaimonia, involves
3 aspects
• a life of reflection
• A life of freedom
• A life of enjoyment
• Group the
These 3 correspond to the three kinds of virtues, which it
will therefore be very important to develop as skills or habits: virtues
according to
intellectual, moral and physical virtues.
It may be difficult and undesirable to do so at first, but with
time, excercising these virtues becomes pleasurable. Like a
“sketch” that develops into a picture.
• What could physical virtues be, related to the body’s
physical life, to help us manage our passions ?
• What could moral virtues be, related to our use of
freedom towards others and ourselves?
• What could intellectual virtues be, that help us obtain
knowledge and insight for reflection?
whether they
are intellectual
or moral.
• What would be
some physical
virtues?
• Are any of the
virtues in
Aristotle’s list
surprising, for a
modern
person?
Nelson Mandela
What character traits typified Nelson
Mandela?
"I have walked that long road to freedom. I
have tried not to falter; I have made missteps
along the way. But I have discovered the secret
that after climbing a great hill, one only finds
that there are many more hills to climb. I have
taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of
the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look
back on the distance I have come. But I can
only rest for a moment, for with freedom come
responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my
long walk is not ended."
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s
chains, but to live in a way that respects and
enhances the freedom of others."
- Nelson Mandela
A character trait is some quality
which contributes to a flourishing
life – ie that fulfills the purpose you
define for yourself.
If to be a leader, is to lead by
example: what characteristics
should a leader have? Can you
think of leaders in your own
experience that show such ‘good’
characteristics?
Think of what Nelson Mandela’s
life-purpose was - and how he
displayed in his character, qualities
that made the fulfilment of that
purpose more likely.
Doctrine of the Mean
• To do this to the right person, to the
right extent, at the right time, with the
right motive, and in the right way, that is
not for every one nor is it easy;
wherefore goodness is both rare and
laudable and noble.” (Aristotle, Ethics II.9)
Read the extract from N.Ethics.
1. What examples can you think
of where either extreme lacks
virtue?
2. How could it be a lack of
virtue to act
- At the wrong time
- To the wrong person
- For the wrong reason
- In the wrong manner
3. What is excellence, according
to Aristotle?
4. What should be the deciding
principle, in acting rightly?
Concern
for others
Evaluate Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean.
Are there times when there is an objective
standard, no matter who/ what/ how/ when?
• To reflect on different
notions of virtue:
Jesus’ Beatitudes
• To identify strengths
and weaknesses of
virtue theory
• To evaluate the
importance of virtue
theory for ethics
Jesus’ Teachings on Virtues
Strengths and Weaknesses