Notes for 11/29
Thursday 6 P.M. class
J. Costello

Aristotle & Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics- find characteristics of the ideally good person (vs. trying to find out what makes a particular
Act right or wrong)

No difference between moral person and person who lives well

Goal of morality = successful living

Endaimonia (Greek) book suggests translation as happiness; instructor suggests more accurate translation is
Human flourishing

Success = life of contemplation / intellectual activities (could include social life, health, good looks, and
money)

Human nature = rational animal
Animals nature = growth, reproduction, nutrition, and movement
Plants nature = growth, reproduction, and nutrition
Inanimate objects nature = sit there

Possible exam question – best possible translation of endiamonia is
Answer – successful living

Virtues = character trait = disposition to act in a certain way (behavioral habits)
Virtue is good behavioral habits, which lead to success.

Excess self-control deficiency
Sybarite temperance (moderation) repressed
Overindulgent appreciating and seeking pleasure asceticism
Gluttony workaholism
Drunkenness
Fool hardiness courage cowardice

Cowardice is more opposed to courage than foolhardiness
Virtue is found in a mean between the extremes.
Moral judgment is a skill, like any other skill, it is learned by practice to find the mean.

Bragging pride humility


Objections: there is no way to resolve disputes because intuition and practice find the mean
Reply: use common sense


Reading for next week: Ros. 398-399
Poj. 121-134

Extra Credit Question from exam 2 due final day of class

Second exam scale: A 30-35
B 26-29
C 20-25
D16-19
F 15 and below

Bishop and candlesticks

No analysis of morality of particular acts

Bishop has as virtues: faith charity hope trust courage