Aristotle

In the Nicomachean Ethics, how does Aristotle describe the virtue of courage, liberality and friendliness? What vice of deficiency and excess correspond to each virtue?

A: (Excess - Virtue - Vice) 1. Courage: Men may exceed, in either absence of fear or in positive confidence (Rash - Courage - Cowardice) 2. Liberality: Giving and Taking wealth. (Prodigality - Liberality - Stinginess) 3. Friendly: Respecting what is pleasant in daily life (Flatterer - Friendly - Quarrelsome)

Why is a person who is painfully following his or her conscience not thereby virtuous, according to Aristotle? How would one imagine a saint or moral ideal being virtuous? According to Aristotle, would a moral ideal have to fight off temptation and struggle to be good?

A: Because they are having to work at it. Work hard enough it becomes second nature. Saints are inherently good, no second guessing =v irtuous. No, a moral idea would not have to fight off temptation and struggle to be good

"Men come to be builders, for instance, by building; harp-players, by playing on the harp." What does Aristotle mean by this quote and what is its significance to moral virtue (Nicomachean Ethics)?

A: More you practice, the more you are likely to succeed in becoming virtuous.

"The excellence of the eye, for instance, makes both the eye good and its work also: for by the excellence of the eye we see well." What is the excellence of Man (Nicomachean Ethics)?

A: The Excellence of Man is the function to reason/act in a reasonable (/Relook the idea of human function)

How is choosing the mean relative to the individual and not to be calculated by some arithmetical proportion (Nicomachean Ethics)? For example, how is picking the right amount of food relative to each person and not absolute?

A: The mean for everyone is going to be different. Everyone is different (Big guy needs to eat lots to be content while small guy eats less to be content)

If you have the misfortune to be brought up rude, inconsiderate and quarrelsome, is there any hope for you? According to Aristotle, if there is hope, what means can such a person employ to cultivate the virtue of consideration or friendliness?

A: Yes, there is, all those characteristics are considered moral/lack of moral virtues. They can recognize moral virtues in others and do what they do until it finally become second nature to them. (Edit)

What does Aristotle mean by "happiness" (eudaimonia)? What material goods or circumstances are also necessary for someone's happiness? What is the function of a human being? What is the ultimate end toward which all our actions are aimed?

Eudaimonia (happiness): Long term of well being. Necessary for Happiness: Health, wealth, and luck. The function of human being • the activity of contemplation (reasoning). • Imitates God, self sufficient done for it's own sake, and separate us from other beings. Happiness is our ultimate end toward which all our actions are aimed. ***Functional reasoning will help us reach it. (Stapler is good if it does the function of all staplers)

For Aristotle what is the difference between intellectual and moral virtues? What sorts of intellectual virtues are there and how do people come to acquire them? How do people cultivate moral virtues?

Intellectual Virtues: Excellence of Mind • Acquired by inheritance and education • Two Kinds: 1. Philosophical Wisdom (understanding nature and reality) 2. Practical Wisdom (knowing how to live life and achieve goals) Moral Virtues: • Examples: Courage, Modesty, justice, truthfulness, Friendliness • By repetition or practice. • Virtue is a habit, done naturally and easily. Intellectual virtues are about learning to be the best you can be by understanding the world and achieving goals. Moral Virtues are about doing the greater good and being a better person by learning from mistakes and doing what feels right naturally.

What characteristics did Aristotle recognize as virtues? How are these sets of virtues generally characteristic of and valued by certain groups of people?

Virtues 1. Courage 2. temperance 3. liberality 4. friendliness 5. moderation 6. pride mostly recognized by rich/wealthy and War Heros (See lecture notes for virtues). (incomplete)