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Virtue/Character Ethics aristotle essay
example of Nicomachean Ethics
nicomachean ethics by aristotle essay
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The habits and actions of a person will instantly mirror his character, which sometimes it could be uncomfortable. Being like a transparent window through which anyone can see is not always what one might desire. Yet, Aristotle will claim that if one is unhappy with his character, he can change it into a better one, by deliberating well and making the right choice he would then be able to act in accordance with reason; and this will eventually help him reach a virtuous character. Although difficult to be put in practice, there is hope if the person really tries to correct his character. Throughout Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, specifically within his seventh book, he talks about the inner conflict that each person experiences when his desires and reason are battling one another. Aristotle makes the claim that depending on which party wins the battle, within each hostess, he is then able to recognize whether or not the actions taken upon the victory of either party, is a person that possess or doesn't possess self-control. However, not everyone experiences such battles, for the excellent characters are rarely heard of proclaiming such inner confrontations, since the excellent character is an impressive applicator of moderation to all given situations. And yet, although these three different characteristics express a great difference among each other, sometimes for an amateur eye some of them may look as if they are the same. The two characteristics that are often confused as the same thing are self-control and moderation. Aristotle's position regarding this common confusion between the two dispositions could be simply said that a self-controlled person is constantly hosting a battle among his reason and appetite, of which reason...
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...en it comes to her eating habits. Although at before she was feeling cravings for cigarettes and junk food, now she can't even smell the smoke or look at artificial food.
Flavia is a great example of a woman who transformed from a person who lacked self-control to a woman who now is possessing excellence in her eating habits. If even prior learning about her pregnancy, she was known that smoking and eating bad was not good for her she could not, not satisfy her appetite. Once he became pregnant, she progressed up the ladder to becoming a self-controlled person, letting her reason why over her appetite. Now as this eating style became as a second nature to her, Flavia is not a moderate person, because she doesn't feel pleasure for appetites that were once in disagreement with her reasoning, she now possesses appetites for healthy food and a smoke free environment.
In book seven of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle sets out his theory of akrasia, or weakness of will. Aristotle attempts to explain both how such actions are possible (contra Socrates), and how we can dissolve the puzzles (aporiai) generated by our most important (kurios) commonly held beliefs, which arise in response to the actions of the incontinent person. This paper will review book VII of the Nichomachean Ethics (EN), and attempt to resolve some of the remaining questions left open by Aristotle’s critique.
Concluding his third book, Aristotle deems that self-indulgence is the more voluntarily chosen vice than cowardice, since intemperance seeks pleasure, while the latter avoids pain; which can derange a person’s choice. He compares intemperance to childish actions; exactly how the child requires instruction, the desiring soul must be fed by rational mind. Man’s desire without the presence of the rational mind can dangerously become unquenchable.
Nicomachean Ethics is one of his most well known works, and discusses Aristotle’s views on the purpose of human life. It is named after his son, Nicomachus. This work probably consists of texts or notes from his lectures, and is sep...
Aristotle tries to draw a general understanding of the human good, exploring the causes of human actions, trying to identify the most common ultimate purpose of human actions. Indeed, Aristotelian’s ethics, also investigates through the psychological and the spiritual realms of human beings.
He uses fear, rashness, and courage to define what makes a man brave or a coward. It is each of these in varying degrees that create the description of a man’s actions. One with too much courage and rashness becomes foolhardy and takes unnecessary risks. One that might have too much fear and not enough rashness becomes the coward. For Aristotle, finding the mean of these values is what give the best measure of the man. If he has this balance then he is working toward the improvement of a situation without regard to himself. This might also be explained as; if a man has just the right amount of courage, rashness, bravery and fear, he will do what it takes to make things better for his fellow men. But, he does not make any actions that serve to create a better impression of himself to his peers. He does the things to “save the damsel in distress” but isn’t doing it to get approval from other men...
To begin with, in the Nicomachean Ethics Book 3, Aristotle evaluates a person’s actions and determines which category of action they fall under. Aristotle talks in terms of the voluntary, that which we’re responsible for, and the involuntary, that which we don’t feel responsible for. He considers two main ways in which things become involuntary, compulsion and ignorance.
In Book I of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states that the ultimate human goal or end is happiness. Aristotle then describes steps required for humans to obtain the ultimate happiness. He also states that activity is an important requirement of happiness. A virtuous person takes pleasure in doing virtuous things. He then goes on to say that living a life of virtue is something pleasurable in itself. The role of virtue to Aristotle is an important one, with out it, it seems humans cannot obtain happiness. Virtue is the connection one has to happiness and how they should obtain it. My goal in this paper is to connect Aristotle’s book of Nicomachean Ethics to my own reasoning of self-ethics. I strongly agree with Aristotle’s goal of happiness and conclude to his idea of virtues, which are virtuous states of character that affect our decision making in life.
Gakuran, Michael. "Aristotle’s Moral Philosophy | Gakuranman • Adventure First." Gakuranman Adventure First RSS. N.p., 21 May 2008. Web.
The purpose of this paper is to review the theory of self-regulation and how it can be applied to practice in health care settings to improve patient outcomes. According to Johnson (1997), more than 25 years of research has influenced the development of the self-regulation theory, which is about coping with healthcare experiences. Health problems have shifted from acute to chronic where it has been identified that personal behaviors are linked to over half of societies chronic health problems (Ryan & Sawin, 2009). As the modern nurse strives to provide specialized care and improve patient outcomes, the utilization of nursing theory continues to gain importance. This theory explains how patients use specific types of information to cope with health care events thus providing a rational for selecting information that can be expected to benefit patients. The concept of self-regulation has been a part of nursing practice in a circumlocutory fashion for years. It has been most commonly referred to as self-management creating considerable ambiguity and overlapping of definitions for that term and self-regulation (SR). For the purpose of this paper these terms will imply that people follow self-set goals introduced by their health care provider.
Aristotle’s Strength is his belief in moderation (Book480). Aristotle believes the ultimate goal in life is to be happy and people will do what makes them happy. He defined the highest good as “eudaimonia” (Chaffee 477). To a...
Aristotle. The Nicomachean Ethics. David Ross, trans. J. L. Ackrill and J. O. Urmson, revisions. Oxford World’s Classics paperback, 1998.
In Book II, Aristotle makes a distinction between two types of virtues; those which are considered ethical and those which are considered intellectual. Ethical virtues deal with actions of courage, generosity, and moderation. Intellectual virtues deal with wisdom and contemplation. Ethical virtues are created through habitual actions. Aristotle says that humans are not born with a natural capacity for virtue. He believes that education and cultivation as youth by one’s parents are pivotal in setting up humans’ ability in making virtuous acts habitual. He feels that humans have to perform virtuous actions as much as possible and through this humans can make a step in becoming virtuous. Aristotle also states that ethical virtues have to be attended by pleasure. He believes that humans cannot be pained when committing a virtuous action. If a human is pained by an action then it is not considered virtuous.
Ross, W.D.. "Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle." The Internet Classics Archive. Web Atomics , 2009. Web. 4 May 2014. .
Aristotle states in his writings that it is infact ethically justified to lie but only when it is the mean between the two extremes, meaning that every virtue has two opposites. The first being excess and the second deficiency. For example, in a situation that involves fear the person who falls under the excess category would be rash, the person under deficiency would be a coward, and the mean would be courageous. Aristotle stressed that it is important to be a person that is the mean between deficiency and excess. A person in the mean would be someone who is virtuous and someone who has the best character traits. The traits, good or bad, are created by one 's natural tendencies. Aristotle says, “Virtue lies in our power, and similarly so does vice; because where it is in our power to act, it is also in our power not to act...” He believes that everyone has the power of their own actions. The actions that they make will eventually become their natural tendencies whether they are good or bad. This means that in Aristotle 's eyes everyone has the opportunity to be a virtuous person if they make the right
Self-regulation is a theory of human behavior involving cognitive, affective, motivational, and behavioral components and it refers to self generated thoughts, feelings and actions that are planned and cyclically adapted to the attainment of personal goals (Boekaerts, Pintrich & Zeidner, 2005). Self-regulation is a continuing process that occurs both consciously and unconsciously that affect the ability to control responses (Strauman, Kolden, Stromquist, Davis, Kwapil, Heerey & Schneider, 2001). It is a skill that has overarching effects on an individual’s ability to tolerate unmet wants or needs, handle disappointments and failures, and work towards success. Hence, self-regulation refers to the