PHIL 1020 Test #1

Aristotle 3 Q2: What qualities must an act possess in order to be virtuous, according to Aristotle?

1)Done with knowledge, you know what you're doin. 2)Chosen for it's own sake, you chose it for your own reasons or to get something out of it. 3)Resulting from a fixed disposition of character, the action is one that you commonly do and reflects you.

Aristotle 2 Q2: What does Aristotle believe must be the features possessed by the highest good for human beings?

1)It must be final, when it's achieved we have nothing more to seek. 2)It must be self sufficient, it must not be more desirable with any additions. 3)It must be the end goal of all that a person or anything does

Socrates' Argument Q1: What are the three moral arguments that Socrates' makes?

1. That we are never to harm someone. (Disobeying the states commands harms the state.) 2. That we ought to keep our promises. (Socrates feels obligated to follow the commands of the state because the state has provided for him.) 3. We ought to obey or respect our parents and teachers. (Socrates has conflict between what the state wants ad what his parents want, is the state like a parent?)

Aristotle Summary

An important assumption Aristotle makes is that all things do have a purpose and that this purpose can be discovered by determining what they strive to achieve. Each thing has an individual important purpose. Aristotle is a 'teleologist'; one who believes that the good of things is decided by the ends they achieve.

Aristotle 1 Q2: It seems strange for Aristotle to bring politics into a discussion of ethics. Why does he do this?

Aristotle believes that humans are social beings. Politics, religion, and education are important for these humans to coexist. He thinks that political knowledge is key because everyone's life is effected by political influence (speed limit, costs of items). Political influence can determine if something is good or not.

Ring of Gyges Q1: What, exactly is Glaucon's argument? That is, what message does he want us to accept, and what material does he provide to support his message?

Glaucon's argument is "evil is greater than any good". He suggests that the injustice man is the happiest man. He also suggests that when given the freedom to act however man may like (either just or unjust) they will act unjustly without consequences.

Aristotle 1 Q1:How? According to Aristotle, can we decide what is good and find the highest good?

Good is the goal, purpose, or what they strive to achieve. The highest good according to Aristotle is happiness, and the true good of things are revealed by discovering the end goal and what that achieves.

Thomas Aquinas Summary

He argued that the most basic religious truths could be proved by logical argument. Relates a lot of things to god.

Thomas Aquinas 1 Q2: What reasons does Aquinas give for claiming that the goal which agents seek is always good?

He believes that the agents would not, by nature seek something that they view as not good. All of their desires aim at good. Intelligence beings do not act other than to attempt to achieve the good.

Aristotle 4 Q1: What does Aristotle mean by saying, "Virtue, then, is a kind of moderation..."?

He believes that you can do too little or too much but how much is too little or too much differs from person to person. Virtue isn't the same for everyone so it's hard to generalize. Intellectual virtue is trained.

Ring of Gyges Q2: Do you agree with Glaucon? What would have to be true for Glaucon's argument to be correct? If it's not correct, what would then need to be true?

I agree with Glaucon, like most people I would like to have the ability to do whatever I please. I also do believe that justice is greater then injustice. To make his argument correct he would have to get rid of the set (good and bad) images. It makes the situation unfair to say the unjust man is the happiest, when the unjust man can feel guilt and self hatred, while the just man can be silently proud, and more of a hero.

Socrates' Arguments Q2: Are you convinced by Socrates' arguments? What things do you have to consider to deceive whether Socrates' arguments are persuasive?

I am convinced because is credit goes against his morals, which the 3 arguments aren't based around a specific set or morals because everyone's morals are different. At this time Socrates put the state before himself and the people.

Ring of Gyges Summary

Illustration in Plato's Republic. The ring granted one the power to become invisible at will. Glaucon asserts that no person would act morally if there was no fear of being caught or punished.

Aristotle 3 Q1: How, according to Aristotle, is virtuous character formed?

It is important to note that Aristotle distinguishes moral from intellectual virtues—and will argue later that the intellectual virtues are higher in value. A virtuous character is formed by experiences and theoretical reasoning. It comes from training and habit. He believes by the time you reach maturity your morals cannot be reshaped.

Aristotle 2 Q1: What are some of the common views of the good life for human beings that Aristotle examines then rejects?

One of the common views of the good life that he rejects is pleasure. He says that pleasure is the life fit for animals, the good of human life must be higher than that of animals. He also rules out the life of honor because it can only be achieved in politics. And this cannot be the highest good because it's reliant on others and isn't self-reliant. Lastly, he rules out the life of virtue.

Socrates' Argument Summary

Socrates makes 3 arguments that make a moral person, these three arguments are moral yet Socrates is obliged to follow these commands of the state no matter how many people think they are unjust. He tries to use reason rather than values to determine weather an action is right or wrong.

Thomas Aquinas 1 Q1: Why does Aquinas say that every agent acts to achieve some end or goal?

a) Finite agents cannot perform infinite actions, and they must therefore have an end (goal). All movements must come to a halt, once they have reached the end.

Aristotle 5 Q1: What are the features of the correct conception of happiness according to Aristotle?

a) Only this meets the criteria of being final, sought for it's self, at the end of all that is done. b) The exercise must be the exercise of reason it's self, which is the noblest and most godlike part of our nature. c) We, humans cannot achieve this totally, but we should nonetheless keep it as our goal.

Aristotle 5 Q2: What reasons does Aristotle give for claiming that intellectual virtue is better (i.e., more excellent) than moral virtue?

a) They are allied with the lower, physical, part of our natures. b) They require material goods and good fortune for their existence. c) Animals cannot be happy, because they lack theoretical thinking.

Thomas Aquinas 2 Q1: What reasons does Aquinas give for claiming that the ultimate happiness of human beings is not found in this life?

a) Ultimate happiness is knowledge of god. b) Happiness if final, but human desires on earth never cease. c) happiness is the end, there is no further striving. d) It takes a long time to achieve, too long for human life. e) It must be entirely free of evil, which cannot happen in human life.

Aristotle 4 Q2: How, according to Aristotle, do we achieve moderation in our acts?

a) We must take into account the nature of the situation and our own nature. b) If our temperament tends to lean to one side or is extreme, then do the opposite. c) Anything involving pleasure is dangerous so be suspicious. d) If we are apt to overshoot, we should do so in the direction in which it's closest to.