Aristotelian Ethics
Teleology and Virtue
Aristotle (382-322 B.C.E.)
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Student of Plato in Socratic
tradition
Originally a botanist
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Scientific, analytical mind that
categorizes and systematizes
Writes several extended essays
on areas of philosophy
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Eg. Politics, Poetics, Ethics
Nicomachean Ethics
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Written for his son, Nicomachus
Organized in order of predominant virtues
and building to study of highest human
goal = happiness
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1st: Practical virtues (courage, temperance,
justice, and prudence)
2nd: Friendship
3rd: Pleasure and happiness
Teleology
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Aristotle grounds his ethical theory on the
assumption that all things have an
essential purpose, goal, end
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Telos = the final cause, or goal, of an object
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Most natural objects have at least one end
Ethics is determined by using all natural
objects toward their intended or proper end
Teleology (cont.)
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The telos of human beings is: eudaimonia
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= happiness or complete well-being
Is an end in itself without further end
Recognizing objective characteristics of
the human being, there are objective
elements to happiness
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Not just happy b/c you think you are
Must be rightly ordered within - virtuous
Virtues and Character
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As ethos is character, we must ask “How
does one build character to do the proper
act that leads to happiness?”
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Must acquire virtues = good habits
Avoid corruption of person in vices
Cardinal virtues are: 1. fortitude
(courage); 2. temperance; 3. justice; 4
prudence
Virtue Acquisition
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Acquiring virtues requires first that we
“know thyself”
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words on oracle’s Temple at Delphi
Human beings are made up of 3 parts:
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1. rational – mind
2. appetitive – emotion
3. vegetative - physical
Virtue Acquisition (cont.)
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We learn by doing virtuous deeds
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Cf. recursive nature of ethics
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Jump into the cycle and do it
“The just man justices. . .” G.M. Hopkins
Virtue is often the “golden mean” or the
average of extreme behavior
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Although relative to each person, look to
examples for balanced behavior
Character Types
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Spectrum of Virtuous
Character
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Questions of if one can:
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A. judge right from wrong
B. put appetites in line
with reason
C. do the right thing
In the most vicious cases,
reason is so corrupt,
cannot understand virtue
Virtuous
Continent/Enduring
Incontinent/Soft
Vicious/Self-Indulgent
Aristotle and Christian Ethics
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Foundation of much teaching today
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Christianity believes all humans and creation
have telos in God
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St. Thomas Aquinas comments on Ethics and uses
Aristotle’s method for own Summa Theologiae
Seek eternal communion with Creator
Ties to Natural Law theory
Virtue celebrated in scripture
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E.g. Beatitudes, parables, Wisdom, Proverbs
Aristotle and Christian Ethics
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Aristotle differs on a number of points:
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Does not ground ethics in a loving, personal
relationship with God or divine being
Virtuous person is not to live “humbly”
Not universal call to virtue, but best life and
eudaimonia reserved for elite characters