Aristotelian Ethics

Aristotelian Ethics

1. BY: Vivian González

2. What does it mean to be happy and to live a good life? How do we focus on what matters and live up to our own potencial?

3. 3 basic things

   • Eudaimonia
     • It is Greek and translates literally to "having good demons". Many authors translate it as "happiness"
     • According to Aristotle, all humans seek to flourish. Its the proper and disired end of all of our actions.
     • How do you get four different aspects out of "rational creature who lives in societies?"
       • Two are determinated by the type of thing we are - that is, we are animals.
         • We are physical beings (because we are animals)
         • We are emotional beings (because we are animals)
         • We are social beings (because humans live in groups)
         • We are rational beings
   • Virtues
     • A virtue is a trait of character that enables a person to flourish.
     • This is a key phrase to understand Aristotle
     • The virtue of bravery lies somewhere in between the deficiency of bravery (cowardliness) and the excess of bravery.
       • Temperance
       • Wittiness
       • Spiritedness
       • Indignant
       • Benevolence
   • That we become better persons through practice...
     • Some ideal version of humanity, but rather looking at the specific things that make us the specific kind of being we are
     • This princile plays out in ou everyday lives when we see people who are so emotionally stunted that they can't function well in society...or who are so obese that they can't enjoy life... or who are socially inept that they can't fit into the type of society that would develop their intelligence.