Can a Child be Virtuous?
In this paper I will argue against Aristotle and his idea that children cannot be virtuous, as we discussed in class. I will do this by giving concrete examples that a certain widespread religion believes in this virtuosity of a child. I will also use a more common example that occurs all the time in America.
Aristotle says that children cannot be virtuous because virtues are something that, to be acquired must be practiced over and over again. A child has not had enough practice, time or understanding of what he is doing to be considered virtuous. However, I think that there are virtuous children, and that not only “Athenian gentlemen” are virtuous, but some other people also, these including children.
For my first example let us consider the religion of
Tibet. These people elect a child, in fact a newborn to be in charge of their entire religion, this child is the Dali
Lama. They think that this child is holy, and pure.
Obviously they think that he is good, and virtuous. He has the most power in their entire religious system of beliefs.
There are many many people who believe in this religion, and have done so for centuries. This child is trained from a very young age on and is selected to lead a virtuous life.
He practices things that Aristotle would view as virtuous, for example, courage, pride, justice, and temperance. This child could easily get in more “practice time” of virtuous activity than the average person, even more than a person who is on their way to being virtuous who is an adult.
According to Aristotle’s own beliefs, there is a certain amount of virtuous activity that must be done to become a virtuous person. This child could easily do as many virtuous activities by the age of 10 as say someone who is 20 in another situation. That is one problem with Aristotle’s theory, when does the virtuous activity start adding up so that one may become a virtuous person? How long is someone considered a child? Do his activities not count until he reaches a certain age, and then suddenly there is a breakthrough and they start to count? I think not. A good act is a good act no matter what the age, if the intent is correct. Those who wish to support Aristotle could in a certain context use the Christian religion to counter the Dali Lama example. Christians believe that all “men” are born sinful and not good. There is no way that a child is any better than anyone else. The Dali Lama would be considered just
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