Aristotle's Ethics / The Golden Mean

If the general opinion is correct, it should fit certain criteria that the goal of life should have. What are these criteria?

"to sufficiently satisfy the nature and longings of a human being" and happiness does, in fact, meet this criteria.

What is the just thing? The temperate thing? The courageous thing? Can these things be exactly predicted? Why?

1) Ability to control the amount one consumes based on need, not want. 2) Ability to face fear with a stoic attidue of not letting anything get in the way of reacting. 3) Treating others with respect that you would like to have them treat you with. 4) Cannot be predicted because of all changes that occur in life. However, Aristotle says that in general, "the virtuous person, the person of excellence, acts prudently, temperately, justly, and courageously".

What are Aristotle's tips at achieving the mean?

1) Depart from that extreme which is more contrary to the mean. 2) Take the second best course; choose the lesser of two evils, and avoid the things we know we are prone to weakness in.

1) Nature of the "golden mean." 2) Mean sits between...

1) Determined by reason, or as a prudent (wise) man would determine it. 2) Between two vices: deficiency and excess, offering the correct "middle" option.

How can para. 6 be read to give Aristotle's answer to what the general goal of life is? How does this answer fit in with the idea that the secret of happiness is living in accord with one's conscience? How is Socrates in his trial a good example of this answer of Aristotle?

1) He talks about self-knowledge -> can be read as general goal of life 2) Self-knowledge and having a strong conscience are interrelated and therefore connected to idea that living in accord with one's conscience is the secret of happiness in life 3) ...

What is the relationship between the young and the study of ethics?

Aristotle says young people are not proper students of ethics because of lack of experience and also because they tend to follow emotions instead of just looking directly at the facts. -Requires a competent judge with great education and great amount of life experiences. -young: intemperate.

How does nature give us virtue? How do we achieve virtue on the basis of what nature has given us? Analyze the examples of justice and courage and temperance to make Aristotle's point.

Allows us to receive virtue and make it a habit. By practicing these virtues daily, will be able to possess virtue habitually. Ex) by doing temperate acts daily, we become temperate; by being courageous, we become courageous.

From the POV of the highest good... what is virtue?

An extreme.

How does Aristotle define virtue? How is wisdom central to the practice of every virtue? What is the mean?

Aristotle defines virtue as "a habit of the self in which, when it has to choose among actions and feelings, it observes the mean relative to us, this being determined by such a rule or principle as would take shape in the mind of a person of practical wisdom and experience". This shows that wisdom is central because without it it would be difficult to figure out which virtue is good to follow and practice in everyday life. The mean as stated by Aristotle refers to the idea that too much or too little of something can be the same amount of bad. Citing exercise as an example, too much or too little can be bad and make a person sick, a balance is necessary and that balance will be different from person to person. 1) Virtue: A habit of the self that observes the mean relative to us; determined by a rule or principle that would take shape in the mind of a person of practical wisdom and experience. 2) Wisdom leads to choice of virtue 3) Balance is necessary

Which is the greater good, that of the individual or of the state for Aristotle? How could you agree with him? How would Socrates answer these questions?

1) The state is the greater good 2) Survival of the state = stability and progress for whole civilization instead of just one individual 3) Socrates would have an opposite view: individual = greater good because one could spread knowledge to others

What are three practical guidelines for achieving the mean?

1) avoid the extreme that is more against the mean. 2) be aware of your natural inclinations: keep in mind your strengths and weaknesses and act according to them. 3) beware of immoderate pleasures whether it is (food, drink, or sex) as they may lead to a downfall.

What does every human aim action at? So how does Aristotle define good? Does he mean "moral good" here? Explain.

1) pleasure. 2) "good" = aiming for mean and achieving virtuous lifestyle. 3) Yes; believes virtue has to do with action and emotions.

What is the function of a human as rational and emotional? What good habits perfect this function? Analyze two virtues to show specifically how they perfect this function.

1)The human function as defined by emotional and rational reasoning is act temperately and courageously. 2) To achieve this one practices habits of acting intelligently when subject to emotional longings of food, drink, and sex because too much of these things will cause a person to "go wild" per se. 3) It is true that our rational behavior should dictate our emotional behavior because one can go overboard with our emotional behavior aforementioned if our rational behavior does not keep it in check. To analyze this further we can look at temperance, the virtue which can be said to allow us to limit our emotional needs for food, drink, and sex. Another virtue is courage. Courage is important because without it we can allow fear to consume us, especially in emergency situations.

From the POV of its essence... what is virtue?

A mean state.

When is a person truly good as a person (that is, morally good as a person)? Relate this last answer to the statement that the secret of happiness is living in accord with one's conscience?

A person is really, morally good when they practice virtue as an everyday lifestyle or habit which will help them achieve their function.

Outline Aristotle's basic argument in ethics. Is the argument valid, that is, if the premises are true, must the conclusion be true?

A person must perform actions and activities "of a good and noble kind" in accordance with complete virtue. Complete: believes it can't be achieved overnight; must be a lifestyle. ---aka: perform good-moral activities with complete virtue, which cannot be obtained overnight and is instead practiced over a long period of time.

How does Aristotle define "virtue"?

A state of deliberate moral purpose consisting in a mean that is relative to ourselves, the mean being determined by reason, or as a prudent (wise) man would determine it.

Is Aristotle's ethical theory empirical (experiences) or teleological (final designs/results)?

Both. By learning from experience and knowing what traps (sins) there are, we can avoid them. Also, Aristotle believes that the mean is the secret to living virtuously: there is a plan/purpose, making it teleological.

What kind of accuracy does Aristotle seek in ethics? Why?

General accuracy; "an education person will expect accuracy in each subject only so far as the nature of the subject allows." It would be wrong to expect the same degree of accuracy in all aspects of life - some are noble and diverse; by nature.

What is "happiness"?

Choosing the mean and practicing virtue: hitting the mean = "attaining excellence."

How is courage a mean?

Courage is a mean to fear and confidence, because when either is in excess and deficient, the person will either be foolhardy or a coward. The balance courage gives makes the person virtuous.

How would Aristotle respond? What arguments does Aristotle offer for the truth of his premises?

Deflect argument by saying virtue cannot be discovered, developed, and change a person overnight. Virtue takes time to be nourished and lived out.

What is the point of the example about justice?

Ethics, morality, and justice are closely intertwined; easier to relate to justice than ethics when discussing morality and "doing the right thing."

If we always desire things for the sake of something else, how long would the process of describing things go on and what would be the effect upon our desire?

Forever; desire would become useless and unimportant.

How does Socrates' Argument and life show that rationality is best developed in a context of justice in which each individual's longing to be one's own self by one's own questions and one's own answers is properly respected and affirmed?

Friendship is best developed through dialogue because it allows the person to keep their own questions and answers in mind while conversing with their friend, allowing a certain longing to be one's self and keep true to one's self. Conversation is a good tool for reflection and thus helps with the rational aspect of life. Conversation -> reflection -> rationality.

What does Aristotle mean by the function of a human? What is his persuasive argument that a human does have a function? What is the function of a human?

Function of a human is the life of reflection and choice. Humans have this specific function for the same reason a knife or a performer have a function and by having a function, the person is allowed to achieve happiness, the supreme good. The argument of why humans have a function is because every part of them: eyes, ears, etc. has a certain function and in order to contribute to the goal of happiness humans must have a function as well.

What is the virtue/excellence of a human?

Hitting the mean by keeping from going into excess or deficiency AKA Hitting the mean (the "perfect balance") by staying away from the excess/deficiency extremes.

Why is a commitment to self-knowledge needed in order for this discussion of the goals of the human self to be helpful to the individual?

If one doesn't commit, they will act on emotions and will not be able to rationally and maturely progress.

What is Aristotle's analysis of murder? Does the disagreement which people have over the morality of abortion show that Aristotle's view of murder is inadequate? Explain.

If we define murder as the killing of an innocent person then Aristotle believes it is immoral mainly because it is immoral to the victim because they did not get to "fulfill their humanity in reasonable and free actions". The complex case of abortion still does not deter the correctness of Aristotle's belief under the aforementioned definition of murder. -"Killing of innocent person" => immoral because the person did not get to fulfill humanity in reasonable, free actions. -Does not sway away from Aristotle's belief.

Why is it so hard to be virtuous? Explain.

It is difficult to find the mean in anything. Also, Aristotle says that it is easy to get angry or to spend money and that is why he says it is rare and laudable (praiseworthy) and noble to do well. -people can get easily frustrated; mean can be hard to find

What are the two types of virtues?

Moral: temperance. Intellectual: wisdom.

Does the common opinion make sense when examined by these criteria?

No, because living and doing well is not the same thing as being happy. The common goal seems to be more of absolute goodness rather than happiness.

Does Aristotle state what the end of human action will be? Is there an ultimate end to action?

No, he never says what end will be; however, hints that becoming virtuous or excellent = main goal of humanity.

Does every emotion admit a mean state?

No; as seen in courage.

Does every action and feeling have a mean?

Not every action has a mean, bc some actions in their mere name imply badness, such as adultery or murder. Some actions are so wrong that there is no mean.

Are the extremes equally opposed to the mean?

Not necessarily. Ex) in the example of courage, cowardice is more opposed than the excess of foolhardiness.

Why are these criteria appropriate?

Partially appropriate because can't be sure of a streamlined thing that makes all humans equally happy; however, for purposes here the criteria is appropriate. --- AKA: There is no sure thing that one principle will make everyone happy, but we are saying that yes, the criteria is appropriate.

What are the premises of the argument? What arguments can be made against the premises?

Premises: A person cannot live virtuously for merely a day and expect to be completely happy; it must be a lifestyle. Argument: People can change and may be able to experience a rapid change in nature.

What is the function of a human as rational? What good habits perfect this function?

Reflexive and is perfected by habits of math, science, philosophy, and using these to make free choices after reflection.

How does Socrates' argument and life show that rationality is best developed in a context of justice in which each individual's longing to be one's own self by one's own questions and one's own answers is properly respected and affirmed?

Socrates shows that rationality is best developed under a circumstance of justice because it allows one to reflect on another's opinion and question is while still respecting their own questions and answers. However by having their actions and beliefs questioned by another person it allows them to strengthen what they truly believe in because it is being questioned and they have to defend it. This type of probing only strengthens them as a person. -Defend own beliefs -> strengthens them as a person

Consequently, what kind of happiness is worth processing? How does your answer to this last question fit in with Aristotle's answer to what is the general goal of life?

The eternal one: humanity's life-time goal to be happy. This fits in with Aristotle's belief because he also translated living and doing well to mean to be happy. Reaching an individual's end-goal is the way to truly be happy and sublime.

What is the general opinion about the goal of life?

The goal of life = happiness. To achieve this, one must live and do well.

What is the function of a human as social? What are the virtues that perfect this function?

The human function as defined by social behavior is to value others' rationality and freedom as we value our own, think of the Golden Rule. It is perfected by having a sense of justice; that is, treating others fairly in situations by responding intelligently and fairly. Also, friendship is important because it establishes camaraderie. -Golden Rule; Justice; Friendship

Give the argument that distinguishes between feeling happy and being happy.

To be happy is to achieve the sublime and is almost considered to be the goal of humanity, therefore is final and means eternal satisfaction. Feeling happy, however, is a temporary sensation: happy because you ate a tasty pie. But that feeling is not infinte. To be happy, is similar to living or doing well.

Explain how virtue is a mean state.

Virtue has to do with emotions and actions; here, excess is an error and deficiency a fault, whereas the mean is successful and laudable (praiseworthy), and success and merit are both characteristics of virtue. Error and deficiency are evils; want to succeed by retrieving the mean. Mean = success = virtue.

Can a person choose the right thing to do by use of the mean?

Yes: the polar opposites of the mean, deficiency and excess, are what NOT to do

Does every action admit a mean state?

Yes; each action can be done in deficiency or excess.

Is the mean simply a middle of the road position? Explain.

course of action in a given situation Avoid two extremes; "high point of practical wisdom."

The essential elements of moral virtue are...

emotions and actions