More handpicked essays just for you.
The theory of justice by plato and aristotle
The theory of justice by plato and aristotle
Examine Aristotle views on citizenship
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Throughout history, philosophers, theologians, and various members of international intellectuals have tackled the question of what makes a good person. The man of focus, Aristotle, was a Greek philosopher and student of Plato. Through his dialogues, the Nicomachean Ethics and the Politics, Aristotle expresses his views on what makes a good man and how that translates into being a good citizen. The most prominent place he expresses these views is in Book V of the Ethics during his discussion on justice. He says, “Perhaps it is not the same thing in every case to be a good man and to be a good citizen” (Nicomachean Ethics, para. 1130b line 28-29). Things like magnanimity, generosity on a large scale in benefit of something like the city, would …show more content…
Individual virtues, while they require other people to work, focus mainly on the person and their overall character. The civic virtues place emphasis on living and having a relationship with one another in a community (Nicomachean Ethics, Book IV, lines 1125b-1128b). In fact, a city built upon certain individual virtues might crack around the foundations. This is not to say that all individual virtues would bring the society to its knees, but if it lacks the set of civic virtues as well, it can only bring about ruin. For example, one would not want a city full of magnanimous men. For one, all they care about is receiving honor, but not giving it (Nicomachean Ethics, para. 1123b line 22). They give grandiosely and extravagantly in order to garner the admiration and good reputation from their peers. As an individual goal to strive for, it is fine. There is a need in the city for a few men to lavish generous donations upon it for the betterment of the society. However, if there was to be a city full of the men, no one would be available to heap the praise upon them and the donations would cease to exist. A city full of courageous men who are willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of their city would be alright until all they care about is
To be able to have these virtues are main factors building into a just person and having a just city. “ But are we to say that justice is this thing, namely to speak the truth and to give back what one has taken from another? Or is is possible for actions of this very nature to be sometimes just and sometimes unjust?..” (Cahn, 2005, p. 33). More to justice is dealing with the nature of the environment that they are in. That is being able to justify how a just person who may see the good in things compared to unjust who will see the negative things dealing with
In Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, he writes on the principle of the good. Every action or choice that a person makes is aimed at some good, and
In the reading “The Way of Reason” Aristotle tries to define the good that is within mankind. He moves through a variety of exercises that narrow down and simplify the ideas that man is inherently good and that his tendency for it is deliberate and pre-destined. He looks at different activities, then breaks them down and finds the part that leads toward the final happiness. He feels that if man is truly good within his soul that he will be happy. Not necessarily happy as joyful, but, more like content or satisfied.
Aristotle develops his virtue ethics by first considering ends and goods. He claims that “every action and decision, seems to seek some good” (Shafer-Landau 2013, 615). Aristotle states that we pursue certain things because of the benefits it brings itself and other consequences it may bring. Aristotle suggests that this is the same for goodness. We must pursue what is good for good itself and for any other benefits it may bring. Furthermore, Aristotle suggests that through pursuing the good, we are able to determine the best way of life (Shafer-Landau 2013, 615).
In consideration to Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle’s view of the great-souled man is that of an individual that represents happiness and obtains the five virtues: wisdom, justice, bravery, self-control, and the overall goodness within an individual (happiness). The magnanimous person is very complex and displays the proper virtues at the proper time, and in the proper way. In addition, the great-souled man accommodates to his surroundings where he is honorable but not boastful in his actions. Aristotle believes that it is only possible to attain happiness within a political organization because happiness represents living well without being concerned with others, they solely live for the truth and not approval.
Doing good deeds makes one a good person, right? One definition of a good person is someone who does good acts but doesn’t truly mean and feel it in their heart. Lane A. Dean Jr. is an example of
Individuals are not born with an ability to understand moral values and apply moral standards. As people mature, their physical, emotional, and cognitive abilities develop and so does their ability to deal with moral issues. Aristotle, an early Greek thinker who proposed one of the most influential theories of ethical thinking in the West, argued that our moral abilities which he called virtues or morally good habits, develop solely through constant practice and repetition, in the same way, he argued, humans acquire their moral abilities and when they are taught and habituated by their families and communities to think, feel and behave in morally appropriate ways. Such vitally important human values as courage, generosity, self-control, temperance,
When you think of a good citizen what do you think of? Naturally we think of someone who is active in their community, and takes responsibility for their actions. So what is a good citizen on a global level? What is Global Citizenship? Well, opendemocracy.net states that,
17, No. 3, p. 252-259. Urmson, J.O., (1988). Aristotle’s Ethics (Blackwell), ch.1. Wilkes, K.V., (1978). The Good Man and the Good for Man in Aristotle’s Ethics. Mind 87; repr.
What makes a good person good? According to WikiHow, "We should learn to define our own morals ourselves. One of the simplest ways to do so is to love others, and treat them as you would like to be treated. Try to think of others before yourself. Even doing small things daily will greatly enrich and improve your life, and the lives of others around you." This quote shows us what we need to do in order to be what society thinks as, “good". In order to be a good person, you have to do good and moral things in your society consistently. However people might think that by doing one good thing once in a while will automatically make you a “good person”, but in reality it doesn’t.
In The Republic, a truly just state contains four cardinal virtues, which can also be found in a just individual. Justice is the fourth cardinal virtue, but can only be reached once three other virtues are achieved. The first cardinal virtue necessary for justice is wisdom. In an individual, wisdom stems from the prevalence of reason in one’s rational mind, which in turn leads to knowledge and a good sense of judgment. When extended to the just state, the members of Socrates’ utopian society who embody wisdom are the ruling class of philosopher kings (Plato, Republic, 428e). In fact, wisdom is so important to Socrates that he believes in a extremely rigid and structured education for these members of society, so as to develop the rational part of their brain (Plato, Republic, 428e). Courage is another virtue necessary for justice, and occurs when an individual’s wisdom is “backed up” by his or her spirit, unflinching in the face of “fears and desires”(Plato, Republic, 429d). Without courage, wisdom and reason will not be the dominant forces is one’s mind. This reasoning certainly applies to the importance of auxiliaries in a perfect society, where the values and beliefs integral to its well being are constantly imparted on public servants through education and training (Plato, Republic,
In Nicomachean Ethics, generosity is the third virtue Aristotle examines. He directly addresses the idea of generosity to be the mean of wealth, meaning anything whose worth is measured by money. As presented by Aristotle, generosity is the intermediate of wastefulness and ungenerosity, wastefulness being the excess and ungenerosity being the deficiency. This virtue however, does not come naturally; generosity can arise through habit and takes experience as well as time. While generosity appears to be an important virtue, it is not the most essential virtue to one’s well being.
...is own desires rather than his subjects needs is not virtuous. Second, a person in the military, who is supposed to be courageous may desert his fellow troops in fear. Third, many common people commit crimes, and create conflict within the community. None of these people are virtuous. However, this is exactly what Plato was getting at. Plato believes that when each of these classes performs its own role and does not try to take over any other class, the entire city as a whole will operate smoothly, showing the harmony that is genuine justice. (ln 433e) What makes the Republic such an important and interesting piece of literature is that by examining what brings true justice and harmony to the world, we can therefore understand all of the virtues by considering how each is placed within the organization of an ideal city.
The theories of Aristotle, Kant, and Mill have influenced how we view morality. Each philosopher has their own vision as to how their theory of morality influences one’s culture and behaviors. The philosophers sought to explain the difference of what is right and wrong in terms of morality. Aristotle characterized his theory as virtue ethics, or what virtues make a good person. According to Kraut (2014) Aristotle felt that we must go beyond learning general rules and practice deliberative, emotional, and social skills that allow us to use our understanding of well-being, and practice in ways that are appropriate to each occasion. In other words Aristotle asks
The good man and the good citizen are not one and the same. What can be said about one cannot be necessarily said about the other. It is essential for the good man to be a good citizen. It is not, though, vital for the good citizen to be a good man. This distinction is important to make, because it helps one understand that the qualities a good man possesses far supersede those of a good citizen. A good citizen does what is best for the community, his city. As long as he is no harm to his surroundings, and cares for the improvement and betterment of his city, he is a good citizen. Who a person is doesn't greatly affect what kind of citizen he will be. What if a man is a secret murderer? If we were to say that he only kills people outside of his city, would he be affecting the city in any way? If he was a great politician and lived this secret life as well would he still be a great citizen? The answer is yes. This is because the good citizen doesn't have to care about others. He can allow his desires to overpower his calculating. He doesn't have to have a well-ordered soul. In other words, he doesn't have to be a good man. Aristotle chooses to search for the difference between the good man and the good citizen by examining and analyzing their virtues. He concludes that, "Hence, the virtue of a citizen must be suited to his constitution.