Aristotle’s Ethics
Aristotle Lived from 384-322 BCE
One of the greatest philosophers of Ancient Greece Student of Plato Tutor to Alexander the Great
Founded his own school, the lyceum, where he contributed to nearly every field of human knowledge
Ethical Approach
Aristotle use a scientific or empirical approach to ethical problems On most topics, he was a rationalist
Common sense considers the “good” life to be one that is HAPPY. What is the “good life” for Aristotle?
HAPPINESS!
Happiness is not the end though; it’s a way of doing things
Classical Questions and Aristotle’s Answers
What is the good life for people? The good life is a life of happiness
How ought people behave? People ought to believe so as to achieve
happiness
What does it MEAN!?
There are various ways of living for different people What is good for one person may not be for another One cannot tell prior to actual experimentation, by reason
alone, which is the correct way of living for someone
The proper way for one to behave in the moral sense is in accordance with the mean Virtuous moderation is the goal
In order to achieve happiness, people must act moderately They must strive for the mean between two extremes
Doctrine of the Mean
Where excess and deficiency are both vices, the mean is the virtue
Example: Money Excess (vice): Extravagant and wasteful Deficiency (vice): Stingy VIRTUE (MEAN): Generous
Philosophy Question of the Day!!!
Character Traits = Traits that define you as an individual Examples: Honest, Trustworthy, Smart,
Selfish, etc…
If you could create a society, what character traits would you want that society to value? Pick 5 Character Traits that
would be the most valuable to a society and explain why
(what would be ideal?) What character traits do we
actually value here in the United States? Are they the same?