Aristotles Doctrine of the Mean Essay - 1017 Words

Aristotles Doctrine of the Mean When we consider the questions of how we ought to live our lives, we often seek for some schematic that we can employ to help us categorize actions or qualities as good, bad, or indifferent. Such a means of organization would indeed make it easier to determine what the right thing to do is. Aristotle once attempted to formulate a similar plan. His ethics used a scheme by which characteristics could be measured and the right amount attained. Such an account is known as the doctrine of the mean. Aristotle’s doctrine is meant to illuminate the nature of eudaimonia, which can be briefly defined as succeeding or flourishing, the key to which is arà ªte. To better understand where ethics fit into†¦show more content†¦the mean relative to us, this being determined by a rational principle, and by that principle by which the man of practical wisdom would determine it† (Aristotle 106). We see here that virtue not only lies in a mean but is determined by a man with practical wisdom. But what is the mean relative to? Aristotle goes on to say, â€Å"Now it is a mean between two vices, that which depends on excess and that which depends on defect† (Aristotle 106). The vice of excess is having too much of a characteristic, the vice of defect is having too little of the same. Before we venture further it would be most helpful to consider one of Aristotle’s examples to better understand this doctrine. Since ethics is practical, he provides us with individual examples. The first is the virtue of courage. â€Å"With regards to fear and confidence courage is the mean† (Aristotle 107). We see that courage, being the mean is the virtue. If one were to have too much he would be foolhardy and rash. One with too little is fearful and cowardly. This however leads to an interesting question, what does one exceed in or fall short in? Is it that he has too much or too little courage? Some examination will show that this is not possible. It is not possible to have too much of the right amount, or to be too close the mean. This means that there must be something else that one can exceed or fall short of. This is a character trait. For our example, the trait is spirit. Having the right amount of spirit isShow MoreRelatedAristotles Doctrine of the Mean525 Words   |  2 Pagesand the false. But Aristotle shows that knowing the natural end of man enables to tell if it is true of false that an action is right or wrong. So, for Aristotle, what does the vituous life entails? What is his doctrine of the mean? What is the government type that further Aristotles virtue life? Is it a plausible type of society? Virtue is bringing something to perfection. There are two kinds of virtues: the moral virtues, perfecting desire (who submits to reason) for the action, and intellectualRead MoreAristotles Doctrine of the Mean1242 Words   |  5 Pages In this essay we will discuss and analyze Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean. This topic area can be found in Book II, page 888, 6—15, through 890, 25. The purpose for Aristotle touching on this subject matter was to discern the states of character which are virtuous from those which are not. By this, I mean he is attempting to categorize which virtues are causal of a human â€Å"to be in a good state and to perform their functions well†(888—15). In order to keep this paper orderly and comprehensibleRead MoreThe Doctrine Of The Me Underpin Aristotle s Account Of Citizen Virtue?899 Words   |  4 PagesTo what extent, and how, does ‘the doctrine of the mean’ underpin Aristotle’s account of citizen virtue? In order to answer the question ‘To what extent, and how, does ‘the doctrine of the mean’ underpin Aristotle’s account of citizen virtue?’ it is first important for me to define ‘the doctrine of the mean’ which was developed in Book II of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (II.2.1104a12-26) in the form of a medical analogy. ‘the doctrine of the mean’ is very often dismissed as being unhelpful andRead MoreAristotle s Doctrine Of The Mean1344 Words   |  6 Pagesdecision might be hard, and can be explained, however what is right and wrong when making a moral decision that is still a question today. This essay outlines how virtue ethics is not helpful as we hope when making a moral decision. Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean is a unique theory that is used for ethical views today. His main argument is basely on eudaimonia and how humans can attain that. Most of the time, happiness to humans is enjoying time with friends or loved ones, but to Aristotle happinessRead MoreAristotle Virtuous Character Analysis1284 Words   |  6 Pageshabituation. Aristotle’s theory of a virtuous character is developed by aligning with the Doctrine of the Mean. The philosopher developed the Doctrine of the Mean in Book II of Nicomachean Ethics to serve the purpose of conveying Aristotle’s concept on virtue ethics. A virtuous character can be considered as a person who acts in the right manner through habit and practice rather than reasoning. Aristotle writes, â€Å"Virtue, then, is a state involving rational choice, consisting in a mean relative toRead MoreThe Ethics Of Plato And Aristotle977 Words   |  4 Pagesindependent of anyone’s belief. This was how Plat o observed absolutism. Aristotle’s oversee on what is the ‘good life’ as he used an observed method to ethics. The ‘good life’ as Aristotle defines it as one which has happiness as a characteristic or ‘a life of happiness’. ‘Happiness is a motion of the soul in accord with perfect virtue’. ‘People ought to behave so as to achieve happiness’. I believe that Aristotle’s response will be everyone always ought to follow the middle passage between certainRead More1.In Your Own Words, Define The Term â€Å"Metaphysics† As Used1161 Words   |  5 Pagesphilosophy. Metaphysics is the study of reality. Metaphysicians ask themselves these type questions: what is reality? Does anything exist? Is anything that we see or believe in real? My examples of metaphysics from the book: I will be using Plato and Aristotle’s metaphysics examples. Interestingly enough, â€Å"Plato’s metaphysics claims that there are two kinds of reality† (Lavine 26). He believes in the material and immaterial word. The world of reality and the world of the senses. Plato’s metaphysics actuallyRead MoreExamining the Ethics of Plato and Aristotle Essay1063 Words   |  5 Pagesindependent of anyone’s opinion. This was how Plato perceived absolutism. Aristotle’s overlook on what is the ‘good life’ as he used an empirical approach to ethics. The ‘good life’ as Aristotle defines it as one which has happiness as a characteristic or ‘a life of happiness’. ‘Happiness is an activity of the soul in accord with perfect virtue’. ‘People ought to behave so as to achieve happiness’. I believe that Aristotle’s answer will be everyone always ought to follow the middle course betweenRead MoreAristotles Theory of Slavery1295 Words   |  6 PagesSome aspects of Aristotles theory of slavery Slavery -- natural or conventional? Aristoles theory of slavery is found in Book I, Chapters iii through vii of the Politics. and in Book VII of the Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle raises the question of whether slavery is natural or conventional. He asserts that the former is the case. So, Aristotles theory of slavery holds that some people are naturally slaves and others are naturally masters. Thus he says: But is there any one thus intendedRead MoreAristotle s Highest Good Theorem1037 Words   |  5 PagesPhil 100 A01 Essay 2 Aristotle’s Highest Good Theorem When Aristotle first published his work entitled â€Å"Nicomachean Ethics†, you can imagine that numerous philosophers, scholars, and ordinary citizens were deeply contemplating his idea of the Highest Good Through the actions of virtue and reason, the act contemplation satisfies Aristotle’s characteristics as the Highest Good Being a self-sufficient, and complete activity, the ability to understand our function as human beings through contemplation

Is Lying Bad Free Essays

Imagine the president of the United States telling everyone that if they spend all of their money until they go bankrupt, then the president will reimburse you, plus get an extra three million dollars. After everyone is totally bankrupt, they figure out that the president was lying and now there is an extremely slight chance that they will ever get their money back. Many people believe that lying is one of the worst things a person can do. We will write a custom essay sample on Is Lying Bad? or any similar topic only for you Order Now They view it as something that hurts everyone and eventually destroys or consumes the person that lies. Others believe that lying can be the best way to handle a situation. They view it as protecting someone’s feelings or calming a difficult situation. Many people in our lives share the belief that sometimes the truth isn’t is everyone’s best interest, but it should be. First and foremost, lying effects you extremely. If you tell a little white lie such as, â€Å"Does this dress make me look fat? † â€Å"No! â€Å", then you may have some guilt riding on your shoulders. If you tell a huge, important lie, then the guilt will be riding on your shoulders like a one thousand pound weight. For instance, what the president did. After a pointless lie, the whole nation is totally poor and most likely starved because of the lack of money for food and water. People lie everyday to, in someway or another, keep themselves out of trouble. Many teenagers will lie to their parents about what they are doing for the evening, how much of their homework they have done, or how that glass vase got broken while they were out of town. We even lie to our boyfriends or girlfriends about who that other boy was that called the house or what exactly we did with our friends last night. All anyone is trying to accomplish by this is to stay out of trouble when we know we’ve done wrong; but we never think of the effects of lying. Although we think we’re being sly, parents are usually smarter than we give them credit for! Eventually there will be no point in telling this lie any longer because be then, everyone has already found out! Then the problem becomes the issue of trust. If you lie, there is no trust. That can be one of the serious consequences of lying. You should never have to lie, or deceive any one. Lies are empty. Evil is simply hurting yourself or others, and lies can do that, even when you don’t think they are. Lying can also effect others in a negative way too. How about lying to impress other people? More common in children and teenagers, we lie to make others think we’re cool, and when you really think about it, that’s the part that’s not cool! Most young people care too much about what others think about them. If you tell even the littlest lie, it will harm you in the long run. For instance, your friend asks you if you want to hang out or maybe do something. You say that you can’t because you are too busy studying and drowning in school work. Even though, you are actually having the time of your life with some other friends at Golf World. About fifteen minutes late, you look towards the door and here comes your poor, lonely friend through the big glass doors. She spots you, stares sadly for a moment, and then leaves. That is all it takes. One small lie and there you go, one less trustworthy, good friend. To sum it all up, lying is always and entirely bad. Whether it is a small, white lie or a big, important lie it can still hurt you or someone else. Lying effects you in a negative way, making you carry guilt, losing trust, and lying for dumb reasons such as to impress others. Lying effects others in a negative way also, because others might think bad about them or you might just make them look ignorant. It is wrong because it is being deceitful to lie. White lies don’t benefit anyone but the person lying. It makes them feel better because they don’t want to confront the actual issue at hand. Imagine a world where no one ever told the truth. How would you ever find the truth? How would you deal with having to live in a life of lies? â€Å"Liars when they speak the truth are not believed. † —Aristotle. So why even lie at all? How to cite Is Lying Bad?, Papers

The Power of One

The Power of One- Music and Boxing Essay The skills of boxing and music are one of the most physically demanding activities a person can learn in their life. High levels of strenuous concentrations are required for these activities. Bryce Courtesan has used imagery and stressed the importance and commonalities between boxing and music. In the novel, the Power of One, many examples of imagery exist in the book, often contrasting music to boxing. The quote like a Mozart concerto shows that Doc is trying to elevate boxing from a sport, to an art. When sports, like Boxing, are elevated to a status of an art form, it gives it acceptability. This is a reflection of how society can use sport as a uniting force. In the novel, Doc mentions mostly, European composers such as Chopin, Mozart, Brahms and Beethoven suggesting a cultural gulf between Europe and South Africa. Bryce Courtesan presents South Africa as an uncultured in comparison to European societies. Perhaps Courtesan is trying to position the reader to understand that before South Africa can be cultured, the basic fundamental rights of the people need to be acknowledged . Courtesan presents South Africa as a country where people must be prepared to eight and die for their safety and survival. This is common to the idea of boxing in the novel where it is a sport where survival skills and instincts are crucial much like the lifestyle of the marginalia population of South Africa Its a medicine ball and it weighs fifteen pounds. When you can throw one of these over my head youll be strong enough to begin to box. Page 422 This quote shows the physically demanding nature of boxing. Courtesan presents music to be Just as demanding as boxing. Doc mentions to Peaky that he must first learn to love music ND then only would Doc teach him to play the piano. This quote implies the learning curve of music and how it is needed for Peaky to produce music of a high caliber. This learning symbolizes the idea of the Power of One and how it is also needed for South Africa to survive its problems and play its music. The Power of One stresses these contrasts and commonalities between music and boxing because it wants the readers to accept the vast cultural difference between the culture and lifestyle of Europe and the culture and lifestyle of South Africa. Bryce Courtesan is trying to also emphasize that no matter how tough, rigorous and head breaking they may be; they can be used to unite a nation and a race together. This unity is depicted in the movie, Peaky is depicted teaching all the tribes a song in Zulu, in Beaverton Prison a song that unites them as one. Courtesan once again brings the idea of The Power Of One and its requirement for Africa to survive the problems that it faces and one to survive in the sport of boxing. The Power of One- Music and Boxing By Cumbersomeness