November 27, 2001
Jennifer Vogel

Class Notes


Aristotle On exam w/moral skepticism
Virtue ethics—what makes Ideal person
Who would do the right action

Greek arête—meaning excellence—characteristic (which will make you a successful human being)
Excellence and virtue –same thing
Characteristics of person

Characteristics of a good knife, sharp…. Point to cu

Evadaimonia—flourishing

If you are a flourishing person happiness will come with this

Purpose—Aristotle would say everything has a purpose, (knife to cut), if something does its purpose well—it is virtuous

Man=rational animal

Hierarchy of Aristotle, natural philosophy

*Man—rationality, growth and reproduction, movement
*Animals—growth and reproduction, movement
*Plants—growth and reproduction
*Inanimate objects

Human purpose is to use reason, rationale to its full extent

Using your reason to full capacity is the purpose of humans and doing so makes you virtuous
The life of contemplation is the ideal life
Ideal life—a philosopher’s contemplation
Truths of philosophy don’t change

Also social animals-we are

Life of contemplation important


Objections:
1. No way to settle disagreements
2. Aristotle’s idea of “purpose” of human beings—maybe we don’t have a purpose or maybe different for each person
3. Humans aren’t that great at being rational—not our nature or purpose