Contemporary Moral Problems

Book Review Chapter 1: Ethical Theories:

Aristotle: Happiness and Virtue

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233793391&sr=8-1

Quote:  “all human beings seek happiness, and that happiness is not pleasure, honor, or wealth, but an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue”

    This is somehow true. Although, some people mistakenly think of happiness as a pleasure and wealth. Although I do not think that is how it’s supposed to be but I think with the people today, it really depends on them. But I do agree with Aristotle that happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

Learning Expectation:

    This chapter will be talking about Aristotle’s philosophy on Happiness and Virtue. So, I want to learn on what Aristotle has to say about Happiness and Virtue. We all have our different views and insights regarding happiness and virtue, but it is very interesting to find out or to know how philosophers like Aristotle sees.

Review:

    Aristotle is not a name that sounds esoteric to us because Aristotle is really a popular philosopher and we always here his name. To give you a brief background, Aristotle made important contributions to all areas of philosophy, including the formulation of traditional logic. Along with his teacher Plato (who is also popularly know to most people), Aristotle is regarded as one of the founders of Western philosophy.

    Aristotle argues that all human beings seek happiness, and that happiness is not pleasure, honor, or wealth, but an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. As we have discussed in the previous chapter that happiness is the one thing and the only thing desirable. I think that it somehow relates with the happiness Aristotle is pointing out. Aristotle also pointed out that there are two kinds of virtue, which is moral and intellectual.

    Aristotle explains moral virtue, which comes from training and habit, and generally is a state of character that is a mean between the vices of excess and deficiency. One example of Aristotle would be courage, as a mean between extremes of rashness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency). So, this is what Aristotle means by a moral virtue. These are things that we believe in and are based on how we were raised as a person.

    So basically, this chapter is all about how Aristotle makes his point regarding happiness and virtue, in which Aristotle said that they are connected.

What I’ve learned:

    I have learned that happiness is happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. Moreover, I have learned that happiness and virtue is related and that there are two kinds of virtue, which is the moral and intellectual.

Questions:

1.    How many people actually believe that happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue?

2.    What do other philosophers say?

3.    Why can’t people see this truth?

4.    Why does even one take happiness as pleasure?

5.    Is it a sin to take it that way?

Citation: (James E. White, St. Cloud State University, 2003)