Aristotle
(384 - 322 B.C.E.)

Politics & Ethics

General: Politics is the master science or master art in that it determines the content of all other science and art (including ethics)

Ethics is thus subsumed by politics, i.e., ethics is a form of political inquiry

Specific: Aristotle bases his ethics on what is known by those with moral training

Politics determines both:

- Who receives moral training

- Content of the training

Ergo, politics determines the basis of Aristotle's ethics

•

An Elitist Ethic???

Who received formal moral training

–Origin = Greece

–Class = Rich

–Gender = Male

–Age = Old

•Starting from what is known by those with moral training

–Considers the elite minority

–Excludes  the vast majority

Teleology

Metaphysical

- Things have an inherent/internal aim/purpose/function

Ethical

- What is the highest good or end?

- Answer to the question (above) is used as the standard of evaluation

Combines Ethical & Metaphysical Teleology

Asks the ethical question, viz., What is the highest good or end? (= the teleological question)

Answers the question in terms of metaphysical teleology - the good is the inherent/internal aim/purpose/function (= the teleological premise)

Completes the ethical approach by using the metaphysical answer, i.e., the aim/purpose/function, as the standard of evaluation

 

Teleological Question: Highest Good?

Teleological Premise: Good = Aim

Aim = Happiness (live & do well)

Everyone agrees
Meets criterion: Final End, i.e., not a means but an end in itself

Happiness

Requires a "complete life": it needs to be enduring

Is pleasant/pleasurable

Requires external goods

Happiness = Exercise of Rational Faculty

Exercise done well = Excellence or Virtue

Virtue is an Activity of the Soul

Irrational

Rational

- Possess reason - intellectual virtues

- Listens/obeys reason - moral virtues

Moral Virtue

Activity of the rational soul

- the part of the soul that is rational in that it obeys/listens to reason

- voluntary 

Actions

Voluntary

- Originates with the person and

- Knowledge of the particulars

Involuntary

- Compelled - does not originate with the person or

- Lacking knowledge of the particulars

Performed Habitually

Pleasurable

Accords with Reason

= Doctrine of the Mean = Standard of Evaluation

Moral Virtue = Acting in accordance with the Doctrine of the Mean

Doctrine of the Mean
does not apply to:

Vice

- There can be no deficiency of vice

- Some things are bad in themselves and do not allow for moderation

Virtue

- There can be no excess of moderation
 

Virtues & Vices
(Means & Extremes)

•Courage: Foolhardiness/cowardice

•Temperance: Licentiousness/“insensibility”

•Pride: Vanity/humility

•Aspiration: Ambition/laziness

•Wittiness: Buffoonery/boorishness

•Liberality: Prodigality/miserliness

•Modesty: Bashfulness/shamelessness

•Gentleness: Obsequiousness/wimpishness