Virtues and Vices Part 1

Virtues and Vices Seven Deadly Sins and corresponding Virtues Lust – Chastity Glutton – Temperance Greed – Charity/Generosity _____ Sloth – Diligence Wrath – Patience Envy – Gratitude Pride – Humility Normative Ethics Three Dimensions of the Moral Universe We speak of the moral worth or value of … (1) A Person’s Character (as virtuous or vicious) [> Aristotle’s virtue ethics] (2) The Way the World Is (as good or bad) [> Mill’s utilitarian ethics] (3) An Action (as right or wrong) [> Kant’s deontological ethics] Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics School of Athens Raphael (1483-1520), Scuola di Atene (1509-1510) Xenophon Plato Aristotle Socrates Hypatia Parmenides Epicurus Heraclitus Pythagoras Diogenes Euclid School of Athens (detail) Raphael (1483-1520), Scuola di Atene (1509-1510) Plato Aristotle Aristotle, Virtue Ethics “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.” [Nicomachean Ethics, Book One, Ch. 1] [ Ἠθικῶν Νικομαχείων ] (384-322 BCE) A Few Greek Terms Ethika: matters to do with character. Arete: virtue / excellence. Eudaimonia: happiness / human flourishing / human well-being. Reading the Text (1) What does Aristotle mean by ‘good’? [Bk. 1, ch. 1] (2) Is there a highest good? [Bk. 1, chs. 2, 4] (3) What is the function of human beings? [Bk. 1, ch. 7, para. 5] (4) What are the parts of the soul? [Bk. 1, ch. 13, para. 2-5] (5) What are the kinds of virtues? How do we get them? [Bk.1, ch. 13, last para. + Bk. 2, ch. 1, para. 1] Aristotle on the Good Good → Being Good → Function → Parts of the Soul → Reason → Virtues Instrumental Good: Something desired for the sake of another. Final Good: Something desired for its own sake. The Highest Good: Something desired for its own sake, and never for the sake of another. [Bk. 1, chs. 1-2] Aristotle on the Good Good → Being Good → Function → Parts of the Soul → Reason → Virtues Instrumental Good: Something desired for the sake of another. Final Good: Something desired for its own sake. The Highest Good: Something desired for its own sake, and never for the sake of another. Question: Is there a highest good? [Bk. 1, chs. 1-2] Aristotle on the Good Good → Being Good → Function → Parts of the Soul → Reason → Virtues Instrumental Good: Something desired for the sake of another. Final Good: Something desired for its own sake. The Highest Good: Something desired for its own sake, and never for the sake of another. Question: Is there a highest good? Obvious answer: Yes, and it is happiness. [Bk. 1, ch. 4] Aristotle on the Good Good → Being Good → Function → Parts of the Soul → Reason → Virtues What is Happiness? Everyone agrees it is our highest good, but each understands it differently, depending on whether they favor the life of … (1) Enjoyment (pursuing pleasure). (2) Politics (pursuing honor). (3) Contemplation (pursuing truth). [Bk. 1, chs. 4-5] Aristotle on the Good Good → Being Good → Function → Parts of the Soul → Reason → Virtues What is Happiness? Everyone agrees it is our highest good, but each understands it differently, depending on whether they favor the life of … (1) Enjoyment (pursuing pleasure). (2) Politics (pursuing honor). (3) Contemplation (pursuing truth). To decide between these lives, we need more clarity on “when a thing is good.” [→ ch. 7] [Bk. 1, chs. 4-5] Aristotle on Being Good Good → Being Good → Function → Parts of the Soul → Reason → Virtues Being Good = good as a certain kind of thing. X is a good A = X excels at A’s function. The function (ergon) of A = what A alone can do, or what A does best. Ex: The function of a butter knife is to cut and spread butter (sharp, but not too sharp, rigid, etc.) So: a good human being is one who excels at the function of being human. [Bk. 1, ch. 7] Aristotle on Being Good Good → Being Good → Function → Parts of the Soul → Reason → Virtues Being Good = good as a certain kind of thing. X is a good A = X excels at A’s function. The function (ergon) of A = what A alone can do, or what A does best. Ex: The function of a butter knife is to cut and spread butter (sharp, but not too sharp, rigid, etc.) So: a good human being is one who excels at the function of being human. [Bk. 1, ch. 7] Question: Do humans have a function?