Aristotles Virtue Ethics Good Character: With virtue ethics we move from a concern with good actions to a concern

with good character. We do not ask What should I do but rather What kind of person should I be? The virtue theorist says that we should be good people and have morally good characters. Forms or Essences in Things: Unlike Plato, Aristotle thought that the forms of things existed in the particular concrete things of the world, not in some special place independent of the physical world. According to Aristotle, a particular table has its form in itself in its matter. Forms cannot exist independently of matter. You cannot find matter without form or form without matter. If the form of the house were to leave the house, then the house would become just a pile of wood or bricks. It would no longer be a house. Aristotle would say that the form of a person is the soul of that person. If a persons body loses its soul, then the body is no longer a person. The form of a thing is also called its essence or its essential nature. The Form or Essential Nature of a Thing Determines Its Proper Purpose or Function: The form of a hammer determines its proper purpose. If you build a house, you want the house to have the proper form, a form that will make the house function properly as a house to provide shelter, etc. The form of an oak tree determines an oak trees proper function or purpose as an oak tree. The soul, being the form or essential nature of a person, determines the proper function or purpose of a human being. Essences Are Built-In Goals or Ends to Be Actualized: The form of the oak tree exists potentially in the acorn. The form of an oak tree is a built-in goal or end that the sapling slowly actualizes as it grows up. The sapling grows into an oak tree and realizes its essential nature, its natural end. Likewise, the essential form of a human being, the properly functioning human soul, exists potentially in the embryo. This essence is a built-in goal or end that is slowly actualized as the embryo develops into a human adult. The embryo grows into a human being and its guiding essential nature is slowly actualized. But unlike an oak tree, a human being does not automatically actualize its essential nature. It is more difficult than that. Humans Are Essentially Rational Animals: The essential nature of person is realized when the persons soul functions properly. Essentially, human beings are rational beings. A properly functioning soul is a rational soul. A properly functioning human being is rational. The soul has a rational part (reason) and an irrational part (desires and appetites). The human soul realizes its proper essential nature when the rational part of the soul governs the irrational part. Happiness as Human Flourishing: The ultimate end of all human activity is happiness understood as human flourishing, or as being a successful and entirely full human being. Human flourishing occurs when a person realizes his or her essential nature as a rational being. Virtuous Action Follows a Rational Principle: When you actualize your essential nature as a rational human being, you become a virtuous person, a good person who behaves with the right character. You have a soul that actualizes conduct in accordance with reason. Virtuous action is an activity of the soul that follows a rational principle. You then attain happiness. So Aristotle says that happiness is rational activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

Become a Good (Virtuous) Person by Realizing Your Essential Nature: One must strive to be an excellent example of the human species. One should strive to be a good human being by fulfilling or realizing ones function or essence as a human being. This takes work. People are not born good people. It is like being a good piano player. You have to practice to become a good piano player. Likewise, one has to practice hard to be a good human being, to be able to play your nature well. Virtue as Habit: To be a good person requires practice so that one acquires the habit of being a good person. One has to practice virtuous action to become virtuous. When the habit becomes second nature, then you truly come to have virtuous character. Virtue is a good state of the soul acquired through habit. No Rules or Ultimate Standards: Virtuous action is an activity of the soul that follows a rational principle. But there is no one ultimate standard. One has to learn to be virtuous through practice and observation of role models or people who are virtuous. Each situation is different and requires a new principle of action, so you just have to acquire what is called practical wisdom. Practical Wisdom: You have practical wisdom when you know the mean between two extremes in particular situations. You have the smarts to make the right decision and avoid improper excesses. Virtue Is a Disposition Toward a Mean: Moral virtue is a MEAN between two vices (one in excess, one in deficiency) Excess Recklessness Self-indulgence Boastfulness Buffoonery Obsequiousness Vanity Short temperedness Bashfulness Vulgarity Extravagance Envy Virtue Courage Temperance Truthfulness Wittiness Friendliness Pride Good temper Shame Magnificence Liberality Justice Deficiency Cowardice Insensitivity Self-depreciation Boorishness grouchiness Small mindedness Apathy Shamelessness Stinginess Stinginess Spite

Life of Contemplation Aristotle claimed that the life of contemplation and theoretical wisdom is the greatest of human virtues and the highest form of happiness. Aim of the State is Virtue: The aim of happiness always includes the well being of the entire community. The state aims for the good life. The state aims to form virtuous citizens, good men and women, and communities. A state does not exist for the sake of mere alliance and security from injustice, or just for the sake of exchange and mutual intercourse. This is not sufficient to make a state. A state is a community of families and villages in well-being, for the sake of a perfect and self-sufficing life, a happy and honorable life brought together through friendship, brotherhoods, common sacrifices, family connections, etc.