Incorperating Aristotle's Theory of Virtue



Incorporating Aristotle's Theory of VirtueRay KimberlyRegis UniversityProfessional Ethics in CriminologyCR 425Mathew JohnsonNovember 9, 2017Incorporating Aristotle's Theory of VirtueAristotle theory of Virtue and achieving the “Golden Mean” rests on an individual’s ability to find the middle ground between deficiency and excess in assimilating the cardinal virtues into one’s daily lives. Explanatorily, when an individual is perplexed by two stations, the middle ground is the correct answer. Accordingly, Aristotle believes that through continued use and incorporation of the cardinal virtues an individual can develop the character needed for achieving Eudaimonia, human flourishment. Despite some individual’s incapacity for accountability, all proficient individuals should adopt the characteristics of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance because the cardinal virtues can propel one’s life into a positive direction, and can help individuals make ethical life flourishing decisions.PrudencePrudence is a virtue of wisdom that permits an individual to judge right from wrong in any situation. According to Aristotle, n.d., in his book on Nichomachean Ethics, a prudent man is able to contemplate well “…about what is good and advantageous for himself…,” in all aspects of life including matters of health and strength, creating “…a means to the good life in general.?(p. 1140a).” Therefore, prudence is the most fundamental of all virtues as it allows an individual to make sound moral judgments. Consequently, without the wisdom of prudence one cannot grasp the necessary concepts for finding the means of the other three cardinal values. Accordingly, prudence can be used in everyday life from purchasing a car to raising children. Edward Sri, 2009, a professor of theology, writes in his article The Art of Living: The First Step of Prudence, “How well prudence is developed will affect every aspect of our lives (para. 3).” Consequently, it is prudence that allows us to understand our alternatives in every situation and make choices that are virtuous and beneficial to our welfare and the wellbeing of others. Additionally, an individual can develop the art of prudence by practicing its application in the everyday decision-making process. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Aristotle’s Ethics," 2001, “In order to apply that general understanding to particular cases, we must acquire, through proper upbringing and habits, the ability to see, on each occasion, which course of action is best supported by reasons (para. 1).” Accordingly, without prudence, it would be difficult, if not impossible to evade the overindulgences of “excess and deficiency.” CourageCourage is the golden mean that permits us to perform in light of fear and overcome obstacles. According to New World Encyclopedia, an entry titled Courage," 2013, “Aristotle defined the virtue of courage as a mean that “lies between the vices of cowardliness and rashness.?(para. 5).” Consequently, like all other virtues, one can have too little or too much Also, courage is only virtuous if it is done for the right reasons. Additionally, to be virtuous in courage an individual is reliant on prudence; it is the link that allows us to access situations and take appropriate action. Courage can be implemented in our daily lives by risking pain or failure. For example, remaining obligatory to our beliefs and values, following our heart, demonstrating perseverance in light of hardship, expanding prospects, and demonstrating resilience in the face of suffering. For example, moving to a new town or state, standing up to a bully, or going to college. According to Vanessa Baird, 2017, a journalist, in her article The Brave, writes that courage “…encourages; it is positively infectious, even in the worst, most hopeless seeming of situations (p. 19).” Thus, it is courage that provides the ability to move forward in the face of uncertainty and the threat of harm or failure. TemperanceTemperance is the ability to control desires for bad or overindulgence in pleasures. This means that a person who has acquired the temperance virtue will only hunger after pleasure at the right time and place, in accord with laws and rules. According to Michael Lacewing, 2015, author of Philosophy for A2: Ethics and philosophy of mind, “The temperate person will choose what is genuinely pleasant, and will only desire such pleasures if they don’t get in the way of pursuing other ends, don’t cost more than they can afford, and aren’t ‘unworthy’ of human dignity (p. 89).” In other words, temperance is the golden mean that keeps us in balance concerning our desires of appropriate goods and our excessive desire to possess them. Accordingly, the virtue of temperance is useful in our daily lives as it allows us to avoid self-indulgence related to bodily desires. For example, too much alcohol leads to alcoholism, too much food leads to obesity, too much work leads to workaholism, and too much sex can lead to numerous non-virtuous acts. Also, temperance allows us to spend our money proficiently, helps us to maintain life’s balance, and allows us to gain stature and influence for the sake of helping others. Additionally, according to Russell Shaw, 2015, journalist for the Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly, in an article titled “Temperance in the Modern World,” “regular, repeated acts of voluntary self-denial are classic means for acquiring the habit of temperance (p. 21).” JusticeJustice is a virtue, the mean between acting covetously and treating others with fairness, and equality. Aristotle had two arguments as to the meaning or justice, following laws and giving people their just due. According to Lacewing, 2015, “To be unjust is to seek to gain more than one’s fair share of something good or avoid one’s fair share of something bad (p. 103).” Therefore the virtue of justice is related to our ability to treat others with fairness and equality by giving them their fair due. Accordingly, there are many ways we can implement justice in our daily lives. Through the use of prudence and courage, we can stand up for those who are treated unethically. Moreover, we can practice treating everyone equally, respecting others, following rules, bringing awareness to those who are being treated unjustly. Through charity, compassion, respect, and a love of peace we can live a virtuous life of justice. ConclusionIn conclusion, Aristotle theory of Virtue and achieving the “Golden Mean” rests on an individual’s ability to find the middle ground between deficiency and excess in assimilating the cardinal virtues into one’s daily lives. Prudence is the most fundamental of all virtues as it allows an individual to make sound moral judgments. Courage is the golden mean that permits us to perform in light of fear and overcome obstacles. Temperance is the ability to control desires for bad or overindulgence in pleasures. Justice is a virtue, the mean between acting covetously and treating others with fairness, and equality. Although there are persons who are justifiably powerless for making prudent assessments, all capable individuals should adopt the characteristics of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance because these virtues allow one to achieve Eudaimonia, human flourishment or happiness. ReferencesAristotle (n.d.). Aristotle, nichomachean ethics (H. Rackham, Trans.). Retrieved from (Original work published n.d. )Aristotle’s ethics. (2001). Retrieved November 10, 2017, from , V. (2017). The brave.?New Internationalist, (500), 16-19. Retrieved from . (2013). Retrieved from , M. (2015). Philosophy for A2: Ethics and philosophy of mind. Retrieved from , R. (2015, June 24). Temperance in the modern world. Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly. Retrieved from , E. (2009). The art of living: The first step of prudence. Retrieved from ................
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