...Thesis Statement: “ [N]o supremely happy man can ever become miserable…” (I.10, 1100b.30) This above statement is from the chapter in which Aristotle discusses “Can a man be called ‘happy’ during his lifetime?”. From the micro perspective, the whole chapter is about whether happiness should be defined as permanent or momentary. Starting with Solon’s words and opposed examples illustrated by Aristotle, Aristotle leads us to deeply develop the definition and understanding of happiness. In his opinion, “happiness has permanence and is not amenable to changes under any circumstances”. Another element, for instance, fortune has the power to influence one’s happiness and revolve many times in one’s lifetime; however, Aristotle shows fortune is not determinant for happiness and merely an accessory of human life. Furthermore, “the happy man will have the attribute of permanence, and he will remain happy throughout his life” because the happy man will choose to do activities in conformity with virtue. Aristotle concludes that “the activities determine a man’s life, no supremely happy man can ever become miserable, for he will never do what is hateful and base”. Based on the true meaning of happiness, Aristotle advocates that it is the activities that matter rather than the outcomes. Further analyzing the statement of “No supremely happy man can ever become miserable” from the macro perspective should be focused on three key words in the statement. First of all is the “happy”, which...
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...of the philosophers from either line of thinking has been distinct and different. This paper aims to examine the ideas of one eastern and one western philosopher – Confucius and Socrates respectively and compare the two for similarities and differences. One of the greatest philosophers from the eastern school of philosophy, Confucius was a just and righteous man, who adhered to ancient Chinese customs, ideals and conformed to the principles pre-laid by ancient sages. Because of his fame as a man of ideals, his counsel was often sought upon by kings. In his advice to emperors, Confucius stressed on the importance of examples. He believed if the emperor lead his subjects by leading an exemplary life, his subjects would follow and the state would be harmonious and prosper. His virtue of ethics was based on a simple rule – do not what you do not wish to be done to yourself. This is a powerful statement that underlines the aim of following virtuous acts – bad is something which you do not want for yourself, good actions are the ones which you wish to be returned to you. Through this statement, people could contemplate the impact of their actions on others and for themselves, decide upon what was right and what was wrong. In his advice to emperors, he preached for a rule of non-violence. Vadim Kotelnikov quotes Confucius on a website with regard to governance “Your job is to govern, not to kill” (Vadim Kotelnikov, http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/cultures_confucius...
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...Response #1 In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle defines virtue extensively, and thus relates that definition to the activity of happiness and leading a happy life. Firstly, Aristotle begins to discuss virtue in book two, chapter one, stating, “Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes both its birth and its growth to teaching (for which reason it requires experience and time), while moral virtue comes about as a result of habit, whence also its name(ethike) is one that is formed by a slight variation from the word ethos (habit)” (87). Virtue appears in two different forms, and that of moral virtue is not one decided by nature, but rather by our habits and how we live our lives. Furthermore,...
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...A View on Morals Introduction Most of the Greek philosophers agreed that virtue is a form of knowledge. They thought that self-testing leads to self-knowledge that then leads to a good life. Aristotle found the moral virtues are based on knowledge in a way that is "about us" whereas Confucius believed that the greatest virtue a person could have was respect for the rules of propriety, the ones governing the attitudes of society. Both Aristotle and Confucius deny the thesis that virtue by its self is enough for happiness, and while they would say that happiness comes about by a process of self-examination, they would not favor cross-examination. Both Aristotle and Confucius habituation, ritualization, and emulating moral persons are essential for the good life. Why Should One Be Moral? One should be moral since it can be very useful as it saves a lot of confusion and having to fight with oneself. Morals allow you to perceive rules clearly and to function well in a variety of cultures without conflict. People with moral standards sleep well at night. They take great pride in knowing that their intentions and actions are honorable. They also stay true to their beliefs, do right by others, and always take the high ground. They enjoy meaningful relationships based on openness, honesty, and mutual respect. When you have well moral character, people know that your character is dependable, your heart is in peace, and your word is good. They don't worry about embarrassment...
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...According to Aristotle in the excerpts from Nicomachean Ethics virtue is a mean between two extremes. A “mean” meaning your drive or emotion is not too constrained, or too unconstrained. A better explanation would be the emotion of fear. If you let your fear get too unconstrained it turns you into a coward, and if you let it get too constrained you become rash. To be virtuous you must be courageous, which is the mean of the two examples. However, the amount of virtue a person has or needs is dependent on the person, because everyone is different. To relate virtue to the Pythagorean women's concept of harmonia we must take what Aristotle is saying, and apply that to behavior. We need to understand that a person can be good, or too bad and we...
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...Lecturer: Dr. John I. Ebeh Introduction: Confucianism is the traditional philosophy of the Chinese people and also a religion, mainly an ethical system or moral philosophy, named after its founder, Confucius (K’ung-Fu-Tzu), who was born in 551 B.C and died 479 B.C. it is not based on any metaphysical concept like the Taoism; it is the least metaphysical and the more practical of the Eastern philosophies considered. Confucius was a contemporary philosopher and also a contemporary Buddha. Below are the basic tenets of Confucianism; 1. Confucius never aimed at teaching anything new or founding anything new to the system; his aim was to simply give a re-interpretation and transmit to posterity the wisdom of the ancients. Thus he says and I quotes; “I communicate and do not invent. I have faith in antiquity and consecrate all my efforts to its cause”. The center of Confucius teaching is the concept of Jen, which has variously translated as human-heartedness (Derk Bodde, Fung Yu-lan), that by which a man is to be a man(Chan), the virtue of perfect humanity (Wei), compassion (Lin Yutang), and man – to – manness (E.R. Hughes). Jen is that which distinguishes man from animas and all the virtues, like reciprocity, loyalty, trustworthiness and courage, are expressions of it. 2. Confucius was a great lover of tradition and have great reverence for the wisdom of the ancients 3. Confucianism liberates china from the period of socio-political upheaval and moral degeneration. This...
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...abstraction. His knowledge of geometry allowed him to introduce the gnomon in Greece. He created a map of the world that contributed greatly to the advancement of geography. He was also involved in the politics of Miletus and was sent as a leader to one of its colonies. Aristotle, who lived and taught in Greece around 350 B.C., contributed several basic ideas relating to learning and behavior that reappear many centuries later to influence the development of Psychology. These include Aristotle's conception of the life-force, "psyche," or "soul" that distinguishes the animate from the four "causes", and his ideas about the factors involved in memory. Confucius. The philosophy of Confucius is still prevalent in these modern times. He believed that the educated aristocracy and the rulers had an obligation to set a good example and that morals and good governance were essential for a healthy society. He believed that society should be ruled by compassion and persuasion rather than by threats of punishment. According to the teachings of Confucius a " good official" had to have five virtues which were good etiquette and manners, kindness and compassion, honesty and sincerity, righteousness and strong family values. Confucius' greatest contribution to the culture of China was in the field of education. In those ancient times only the...
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...What makes something morally right or wrong? This particular question is one that philosophers, thinkers, writers, and religious leaders have sought to answer for centuries. In China, Confucius (d. 479BC) emphasized morality and touted the principle of treating others well. This proper behavior towards others, Confucius believed, originated with sincere thought, which in turn originated with knowledge. In Greece, Socrates (d. 399BC), an Athenian philosopher, also focused on ethics, along with a unique method of teaching through asking questions. Aristotle, a later philosopher, elaborated that Socrates firmly believed that virtue was knowledge. Even cursory reading illustrates that these thinkers, separated by land, water and time, felt that knowledge was a key component upon which one should base one’s life. This sentiment could also be the reason why, in many cultures, learned peoples were elevated to lofty positions. For example, in Judaism, the Rabbi is the only person who can perform certain rites. Similarly, in Christianity, the Priest can conduct certain religious ceremonies that the layperson cannot. Moreover, in the religion of Islam, the Imam is needed to lead the daily prayers. The leaders of these three religions have at least one thing in common: knowledge. This writer too feels that classical traditional knowledge is what one needs before one can decide if something is morally right or wrong. If someone does not personally have the required understanding...
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...Assisted Suicide Assisted suicide is a form of self-inflicted death in which a person voluntarily brings about his or her own death with the help of another, usually a physician, relative, or friend. It is also a form of euthanasia in which a person wishes to commit suicide but feels unable to perform the act alone because of a physical disability or lack of knowledge about the most effective means (Medical Dictionary). Is Assisted Suicide ethical or unethical? Is it wrong to decide what we want to do with our own body or are we obligated to do what others say or tell us what to do? Who will suffer the most; will it be me, you, family or friends? We could say everyone will suffer in their own way but the real question is could we do what we want to do or do we need to think about others before taking action, who has more of the right to choose? We are born free, we are born to have our own opinions, and we are born to make choices for ourselves whether they were right or wrong for us at that time, at that moment or in our lives. We have the right to choose what we want done with ourselves not anybody else but us. There is no reason on why our freedom of choice is to be taken away just because someone wants to intervene. If we are the one who is suffering the most in pain and being miserable what happiness is there? Yes loved ones will be upset but the one who is hurting the most is the one who is suffering the most pain and being the most miserable. No happiness could...
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...different times; this is properly the scope of the history of civilization, and of ethnology. The history of ethics is concerned solely with the various philosophical systems which in the course of time have been elaborated with reference to the moral order. Hence the opinions advanced by the wise men of antiquity, such as Pythagoras (582-500 B.C.), Heraclitus (535-475 B.C.), Confucius (558-479 B.C.), scarcely belong to the history of ethics; for, though they proposed various moral truths and principles, they do so in a dogmatic and didactic way, not in a philosophically...
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...intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological and religious and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. Various research groups, including positive psychology, endeavor to apply the scientific method to answer questions about what "happiness" is, and how it might be attained. It's of such fundamental importance to the human condition that Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were deemed unalienable rights on the United States Declaration of Independence. Philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing rather than simply as an emotion. Happiness in this sense was used to translate the Greek Eudaimonia, and is still used in virtue ethics. Happiness is a fuzzy concept and can mean many things to many people. Part of the challenge of a science of happiness is to identify different concepts of happiness, and where applicable, split them into their components. There is a book named ‘Handbook of Emotion’. The editors and contributors are foremost authorities who describe major theories, findings, methods, and applications. In the 2nd Edition of the Handbook of Emotion, evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby say that happiness comes from "encountering unexpected positive events". In the 3rd Edition of the Handbook of Emotions , Michael Lewis says "happiness can be elicited by seeing a significant other, we are happiest when basking in the acceptance...
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...well-made piece of clothing. However, the “values” we are discussing here are, in fact, values that most people would agree have a moral or ethical aspect to them. In this sense, these values are actually much the same as what we mean by “virtues.” It’s just that we are approaching them from a self-motivated aspirational stance, rather than a judgmental or self-disciplinary position. The word “value” is both a noun and a verb; it has inherent in it only the concept of goodness–like “virtue”–but also the act of wanting, desiring, or personally “valuing” something.... “Much research has been done over time and across cultures [regarding people’s core values], and although differences do surface, what is important to remember here is that there is a great deal of commonality among the lists of moral or ethical values that most individuals identify as central, and that this shared list is rather short. For example, Rushworth Kidder describes the extensive areas of consensus on core values he finds in his own cross-cultural surveys, as well as in the research of others. The influential psychologist Martin Seligman writes: “There is astonsishing convergence across the millennia and across cultures about virtue and strength....Confucius, Aristotle, Aquinas, the Bushido Samurai Code, the Bhaghavad-Gita, and...
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...Experiencing the learning process of ethics has been a fascinating journey for my mind. I have broadened my horizons to the ideas and thoughts of great values from this class.To dissect the mind of great achievers from the past has changed my way of life. We can learn to appreciate and characterize persons way of life through their distinction of values. Since the first week of this class I have managed to grow in the way I think about ethical decision making. After reading and analyzing different theories my views have been focused on Aristotle and Confucius. I noticed a lot of the ideas they had were already instilled in my life. The way my family grew me up with such a balanced foundation made me the person I am today. To focus on life's true virtues and the backbone of a family has made me a stronger individual.I take these values with me everywhere I go and in everything I do. I strongly believe you are what you think. Whatever you are doing,whatever your feel, or want are determined by the quality of your thinking. With ethics I have leaned to control this process and open my mind to new ideas. Thinking effectively gives you greater control of your life and the world around you.You can use your mind to achieve your goals as well as enhancing your life. Everyday work and life is a sequence of ideas, values, and thinking. Ethics helps to raise your decision making abilities by creating a pattern of conscious choices. These choices and value can have an impact in...
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...acting so that they can bring real consequences. Aristotle is the father of the virtue ethics, and he concluded that the people who have ideal character traits were virtuous. However, once these characters are established, they need to be nurtured so that they can become stable. For instance, a moral person is kind in very many circumstances during his or her lifetime because that’s how her personality and will simply do her duty without expecting any favors. Virtue ethics shows focuses on how people should live, which the real social are and the family value and also what the best life to live is. The show Sons of anarchy is very interesting because of the way William Shakespeare Hamlet has inspired it. For instance in the play, Jackson has virtue values whereby he is trying to maintain peace with the violent gang. The virtue ethics values have three main categories that include; the care ethics, eudemonism, and the agent-based theories. The human ability to perform the distinctive functions well is equated with human flourishing that is based on eudemonism. Eudemonia means happiness and the well-being of the human. Human will always revenge to get their happiness. For instance in the show Sons of Anarchy, the retaliatory sense becomes a menace to the peace in the society. Jax is called for a talk by the county Attorney Tyne so they can talk about a political order that claims use of violence. According to Aristotle, virtue is not always sufficient but it is very necessary...
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...13-Antonakis.qxd 11/26/03 5:38 PM Page 302 CHAPTER 13 Ethics and Leadership Effectiveness Joanne B. Ciulla T he moral triumphs and failures of leaders carry a greater weight and volume than those of nonleaders (Ciulla, 2003b). In leadership we see morality magnified, and that is why the study of ethics is fundamental to our understanding of leadership. The study of ethics is about human relationships. It is about what we should do and what we should be like as human beings, as members of a group or society, and in the different roles that we play in life. It is about right and wrong and good and evil. Leadership is a particular type of human relationship. Some hallmarks of this relationship are power and/or influence, vision, obligation, and responsibility. By understanding the ethics of this relationship, we gain a better understanding of leadership, because some of the central issues in ethics are also the central issues of leadership. They include the personal challenges of authenticity, self-interest, and self-discipline, and moral obligations related to justice, duty, competence, and the greatest good. Some of the most perceptive work on leadership and ethics comes from old texts and is out there waiting to be rediscovered and reapplied. History is filled with wisdom and case studies on the morality of leaders and leadership. Ancient scholars from the East and West offer insights that enable us to understand leadership and Author’s Note:...
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