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Aristotle

Aristotle


According to Aristotle, all things possess a characteristic function that they often use in their behaviors and actions. The chief aim of human beings should be the attaining of genuine virtue or excellence. Aristotle says that human beings must attain a virtue through their behaviors that confirm with their rational natures. The fulfillment of desires and the acquirement of material goods are not significant as the achievement of virtue according to Aristotle. A happy and contended person will possess a personality that is properly balanced between reasons and desires. As per the opinion of Aristotle, virtue is the reward of everything. True happiness would come only by the development of the virtues that make life of human beings genuine and complete.

For Aristotle, ethics is not just a theoretical study. Virtues are a typical way of behaving in response to similar situations (that is the habit of behaving in a typical way). In short, good conduct comes up from habits which are acquired by continuous and repeated action and correction (considering ethics as an intensely practical discipline.) Aristotle says that the virtuous habit of action is a typical state between the excess and deficiency. He says that too much and too little are not good. Aristotle's ethical doctrine recommends avoiding extremes of all sorts and seeking moderation in all things. Aristotle says that like the health of the body, health of the mind or character and virtue of the soul are also habits that can be acquired by making the right choices. He says that good habits can be acquired by engaging in proper conduct

But doing the righteous thing and behaving well is not always easy, though some people manage to develop vicious habits.

Aristotle considered friendship (fellowships and human relationships) as a crucial element in the good life. Life without friends is a life without ant cheer. Friendship becomes a pleasure when two people find that they have common interest in some works that they perform together. Friendship becomes good when two people engage in common activities solely for making overall goodness of the other. Aristotle has a very different opinion about the achievement of true happiness. Pleasure is not a good in itself and all worthwhile activities will be accompanied by pleasures. In Aristotle's opinion, true happiness is hidden in activities that lead to virtue or morality.

Aristotle's concepts of character and virtue are not applicable in the lives and experiences of many human beings. Human beings do acquire specific character sets and virtues according to the situation where they are brought up and according to the experiences (good and bad) in their lives. For example, the character Wade Whitehouse, the protagonist of the film Affliction exhibits a different set of values, characters and behaviors as a result of the way he was brought up. Wade Whitehouse was always haunted by abuse as he suffered (as a child) in the hands of his psychotic father, Glen (James Coburn). All these sufferings and assaults reflected in his life and produced a set of values and ethics in him. Life of Wade was confronted with problems and all these brought strange values, ethics and characters in him. Wade had to face the fact that his ex-wife would never return to him, and that his unpredictable and strange behavior has alienated his daughter. His mother's sudden death, the horrendous toothache and various other problems induced odd behaviors and ethics in him. Wade and his brother Rolfe suffered so much from their alcoholic father. Wade was highly afflicted and could never rescue himself from the shock of his experiences. The child abuse nightmare continued even in his adulthood produced extraordinary characters and ethics in him. Wade developed characters, values and ethics in the background of his experiences. Wade aimed certain values however he ended up acquiring different set of values and characters. It is nothing but circumstances and experiences that generate character, values and ethics in a person. Deliberate attempt to cultivate good values is not successful in the lives of every human being. Wade's life does not agree with the principles of Aristotle.

There is no exact path towards the achievement of values, virtue and character. Morality or virtue can seldom be defined by a society or a group of people. Practice or deliberate attempt does not always bring good results as far as virtue is concerned. Situations brought up, experiences, sudden incidents, unexpected twists and turns and various other factors can induce set of characteristics and values in people. Moreover, one act that is supposed to be moral in one society may not be moral for another society. One act which is considered as sin in one religion may not be considered so in another religion. Considering Bible stories (old testament) as an example many practices that are considered by Hebrews as sins are not sin for people of other countries. The practices and code of law followed by one religion may be utter non-sense for another religion. A set of practices or order of justice followed by people of Hindu religion may be banned or considered as a sin in the Buddhist religion. The explanation of justice is different for terrorists and other normal people. Everybody and every policy will have its own way of justifying their path. Nobody can prove or disprove such ideologies. One particular act that is found to be justice for one set people can lead to the destruction of the whole world. A butterfly flapping its wings in one part of the world could cause a tornado or hurricane in a distant location. One method or way of life that is suitable for one group of people may produce opposite results on another group of people. One action that solved a problem in one particular circumstance can become destructive when applied in another circumstance. It would be fine to conclude that no one can define justice, virtue, morality and social righteousness.





References

DiMuzio, Gianluca. (2000) Aristotle on Improving One's Character. Phronesis, 45 pp. 205-219.

Hutchinson, D.S. (1986) The Virtues of Aristotle. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

McKerlie, Dennis. (2001) Aristotle's Theory of Justice. Southern Journal of Philosophy, 39, pp. 119-141.
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Posted by: Natalie Saturday

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