History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues, Essay Example

Aristotle is mainly known for his discussion of ethics. His themes usually involved exploring the theoretic questions of Socrates, as well as the works of Plato. Many social sciences looks to the works of all three philosophers, but Aristotle’s is the most widely considered individuals that gives an in-depth look at medieval philosophy that has been critical in the creation of modern philosophy, theology, and Western law. In looking at the famous works of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, it explores the correct approach in discussing what is just, what is beautiful, and politics and ethics.  In Book II, Aristotle looks to define virtue in which a virtuous character is developed through the means of making the right or moral decisions. I agree with Aristotle’s view in which a virtuous person will find pleasure in doing noble or morally right actions while a non-virtuous person will find pleasure in doing bad things. According to Aristotle, there are three conditions that must be met to be a truly virtuous person. This includes acting on a stable disposition, the actions must be chosen for their own sakes, and the actions must be knowingly done. A person must make virtuous actions without seeking praise, by accident, or to mislead others. In this regard, the actions of the virtuous person are ingrained in their soul, and through constant practice and habit.

In looking at Book II, Aristotle states that, “From this it is also plain that none of the moral virtues arises in us by nature; for nothing that exists by nature can form a habit contrary to its nature.” (Aristotle 124) As Aristotle argues in what makes a virtuous person virtuous, he says that a “mean” or a balance in doing good is required for individuals. Aristotle designates virtue as a character, characteristically not only from faculties and feelings, but from behaviors.  While the problem of not clarifying what dispositions or characteristics can be considered virtuous in these modern times, it is argument that can be made those behaviors that society deems as good or right are behaviors that make a person virtuous.  Looking at the point made by Aristotle,

“This, then, is the case with the virtues also; by doing the acts that we do in our transactions with other men we become just or unjust, and by doing the acts that we do in the presence of danger, and being habituated to feel fear or confidence, we become brave or cowardly.” (125)

By being good and doing good you acquire a habit in which you act morally right which will make you a virtuous person. In using his example of a builder, a builder becomes a building by building, much like in other jobs in which an actor becomes an actor by acting. According to Aristotle, all individuals are born with the predisposition be morally virtuous. However, it is by training ourselves and behaving in the right manner in which we learn to be virtuous. Not by thinking about it, but by practicing through actions and habits do individuals learn virtue.

Since handy circumstances differ an incredible arrangement, there are no total principles of behavior to take after. Rather, we can just watch that right lead comprises or something to that effect of mean between the extremes of inadequacy and overabundance. Case in point, bravery consists in discovering a mean between the extremes of defeatism and thoughtlessness. However, the proper measure of boldness differs starting with one circumstance then onto the next. A suitable mentality to pain and pleasure is a standout amongst the most critical propensities to create for good virtue. While an indulgent person may feel unseemly delight when given nourishment and wrong torment when denied of sustenance, a mild individual will pick up joy from refusing such liberality.  Vices and virtues come into play when looking at an individual’s natural behaviors. Aristotle demonstrates that a person’s mean is a balance between the two extremes of vices and virtues, with one being a deficiency, and another being in excess. Aristotle points out that individuals attempt to discover the center or something called the brilliant mean. An illustration of this is, in case an individual is attempting to shoot an arrow at the target. However, the aims goes too much in the opposite direction to the left, a bad habit on the overabundance. Whenever the shooter will attempt to alter their shot and endeavor to point somewhat more on the other side that is the inadequacy side, trying to hit the target to accomplish the brilliant mean. The choices that are made by individuals in attempting to accomplish a goal is term in which Aristotle refers to the good life. In being, virtuous is to live the good life.

Overall, Aristotle believes that an individual can only be good in one way while being bad in a number of ways. The trick to being good is to find a balance between the vices and the virtues in relation to the individual. In order to be a virtuous person, an individual must be good, perform good actions, and practice good habits. Even in these modern times were defining what is good and what is bad is an individual choice. What Aristotle does not do is convince the readers what is virtuous, but instead he provides the argument in which learning about virtue is obtained through proper training and habit. Only when individuals learn to be instinctively virtuous can individuals at any reasoned approval of virtue. In using Aristotle’s Doctrine of Mean, he provides that every virtue is a mean between the extremes of deficiency and excess. There is no particular measurement in which individuals can pinpoint where do people measure because it varies with each individual. However, if a person that is virtuous will be naturally inclined to choose the morally right behavior, thus find pleasure in doing the virtuous actions.

Works Cited

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics.Reprinted in Ethics: History, Theory, and Contemporary Issues Fifth Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, Inc. 2012.