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State and Explain Aristotle's theory of virtue ethics
Date Submitted: 10/30/2004 18:53:10
Category: / Social Sciences / Philosophy
Length: 2 pages (487 words)
Category: / Social Sciences / Philosophy
Length: 2 pages (487 words)
State and Explain Aristotle's theory of virtue ethics
Virtues, according to Aristotle, are those strengths of character that promote 'eudomania' (human flourishing). A good action is a product of these virtues. A person is virtuous in so far as he acts with the goal of human flourishing in view.
Aristotle's theory revolves around character rather than around the actions themselves. For Aristotle, Virtue is something practiced and thereby learned - it is habit (hexis) which
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which ends are worth striving for.
Finally, the context of the life of human flourishing is social. For Aristotle, there is no necessary dichotomy between self-interest and concern for others. Without society, in Aristotle's view, we cannot achieve happiness:
". . . without friends, no-one would choose to live, though he had all other goods; even rich men and those in possession of office and of dominating power are thought to need friends most of all . . ." EN, VIII, 1.
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