Gonzalez, Jessika Dr. Jeffries Essay #1 09/28/12 What is happiness? There are many different definitions of happiness and happiness is determined by each individual. “The Aim of Man” by Aristotle and “The Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson both discuss the meaning of happiness means to them. By discussing their attitudes towards material and spiritual happiness as well as their attitudes toward political freedom and the need for possessions, Jefferson and Aristotle, wrote what they feel about happiness. Aristotle defines happiness as the final good which means, to live a good life, by doing good deeds and happiness depends upon us.
The overall direction of each of these philosophers, however, was quite similar, and all three are generally referred to as "Socratic". Aristotle's ethics is built around the premise that people should achieve an excellent character as a pre-condition for attaining happiness or well-being. It is sometimes referred to in comparison to later ethical theories as a "character based ethics". Like Plato and Socrates, he emphasized the importance of reason for human happiness, and that there were logical and natural reasons for humans to behave virtuously, and try to become virtuous. Aristotle focuses on courage and temperance as the two typical moral virtues which can be described as a mean, then discusses a whole range of minor virtues and vices which can be described as a mean, and only then discusses justice and the intellectual virtues.
He did not look up to him when that happened. Cologero did not think the beating was entirely wrong but he did not think that going to the extent that they went to was necessary. I could tell by the look on his face after it had happened. If I were put into this situation, I would have done the same thing as Cologero. There is not much I can do, except stand there and watch.
“What is the highest of all goods? It is happiness.” The great Greek philosopher Aristotle developed the normative ethical theory of Virtue Ethics and here argues that happiness is the highest good and what we should all strive to achieve. This theory focuses on the kind of person we should become rather than the actions we should do or avoid and is therefore aretaic. Aretai’ from the Greek essentially means virtue, and this is the heart of Virtue Ethics; that people should concentrate on practicing excellence and being virtuous in order to reach happiness, which is the highest goodness according to Aristotle. Morality is not simply about avoiding the wrong, but is also about doing what is virtuous.
He wrote in the 5th Century BC, some 200 years after Lycurgus is alleged to have lived. Such a large time span between the life of Lycurgus and Herodotus writing about him castes further doubt as the Spartan did not record history and everything was passed down orally. Herodotus' writings of Lycurgus are based around Greek writings of the figure and oral accounts from Spartans who retold the legend, yet Herodotus did not write what people said verbatim and everything he wrote about Lycurgus was mainly from his perspective. Also many modern historians’ especially historians such as A. Andrews who wrote The Greek Tyrant said “The very existence of Lycurgus is open to doubt" and H. Michael who wrote Dimensions of military History wrote "If there is a real Lycurgus, we know nothing of him". Many believe instead that he was just a fictional character made to fuel thoughts and strength of the Great Rhetra that is attributed to his name or that he is in fact was just a prominent figure in the forming of the Great Rhetra and other personalities have been merged to form the person that was written
According to Augustine, grace is given while reward is earned. Grace in its very nature is gratuitous, thus it is bestowed upon us irrespective of our works, whereas reward is a consequence of our actions. Grace is designed to be both complementary and independent to the free will, so that anyone can freely will to accept the grace and live a righteous life, Augustine explains. Our fate is shaped in our reception of these graces. The divine intercessions are graces, and Odysseus realizes this.
The virtuous person does not at all go through this deliberation process because he is not aware of the wrong decision. This explains that Aristotle, while he still thinks that the continent person is a better person then most of the rest, believes
How far is virtue ethics a satisfactory guide to moral behaviour? Virtue ethics is person rather than action based as it looks at the virtue or moral character of the person carrying out an action, rather than at ethical duties and rules, or the consequences of particular actions, unlike Utilitarianism or Situation ethics, which always look at the consequence of the action. Virtue Ethics was a theory first developed by Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC), Eudaimonia, or 'happiness', is the supreme goal of human life. Aristotle believed that everything has a purpose, Eudaimonia is the purpose for humans. Aristotle draws a distinction between superior and subordinate aims, believing Eudaimonia' is the end goal or purpose behind everything we do as people, and is desired for its own sake and therefore a superior aim.
Socrate Socrates was the son of Sophroniscus, an Athenian stone mason and sculptor. He learned his father's craft and apparently practiced it for many years before devoting his time almost completely too intellectual interests. Details of his early life are scanty, although he appears to have had no more than an ordinary Greek education. He did, however, take a keen interest in the works of the natural philosophers, and Plato (Parmenides, 127C) records the fact that Socrates met Zeno of Elea and Parmenides on their trip to Athens, which probably took place about 450 B.C. Socrates wrote nothing; therefore evidence for his life and activities must come from the writings of Plato and Xenophon.
He had such a high interest in philosophy and looked up to one of the greatest philosophers, named “Socrates.”Growing up, he was exposed to an environment of his family being very successful and hardworking (Wilhelm and Fisher 334). When Plato was younger, he had a passion for writing but he was limited to the resources provided. This affected his writings because he wanted to explore new boundaries and create dialogues. His dialogues were for not only individuals who admire Socrates as much as he did, but the works were created for other individuals who did not have an interest in philosophy. Unfortunately, Socrates was not able to see Plato’s success and how he broadened his knowledge of philosophy.