Aristotle on Virtue Revised

8/3/2019 Aristotle on Virtue Revised

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PHIL160INTRODUCTIO

NTO ETHICSFEBRUARY,

2011

Slides by G.

SalmieriRevised b .G.


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Capacity Activity Virtue

Nutritive Soul(All livingthings)

Absorbing foodGrowingReproducing

Not applicable

Perceptual Soul

(Animals)

Perceiving

DesiringMoving

Virtues of

character

Rational Soul(Man)

Thinking Virtues of thought

The human good: a complete life of rationalactivity in accordance with virtue.The virtues that make our rational activities excellent will be states of

those parts of the human soul in whose activities reason is involved.


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Virtue of CharacterThere are many virtues of character.

Each is a state [hexis] (as opposed to a passion ora capacity to feel a passion).

Corresponding to each passion (and the capacity to feel it)there are multiple states, which determine how the capacity isexercised.

Each virtue is a mean between two vices (one ofexcess and one of deficiency).

It makes the capacity get exercised in the right way, at theright time, to the right degree, etc.all as determined by

correct reason [orthos logos] or practicalwisdom/prudence [phronesis.

The right way lies in a mean not in that it is exactly halfway inbetween the excess and the deficiency, but only in the sensethat for each capacity, there is a right amount (in terms ofintensity, frequency, etc.) to use it, and one can either exceed

this or fall short of it. In some cases the right way to use it willbe uite a lot.


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i

rtue Area of concern Excess Deficiency

Bravery / Courage[Andreia]

feelings concerning anoble death.

confidencerashness cowardice

fearcowardice

Temperance /Moderation[Sophrosun ]

desire for bodily pleasures intemperance insensibility

Mildness Anger irascibility In-irascibility

Generosity giving wealth wastefulness Un-gererosity

Munificence giving and spending large sums tastelessnessor vulgarity

Niggardliness

Stinginess

Pride / High-mindedness[Megalopsuchia]

honors (specifically, thesuperlative honor due to virtuousmen)

Vanity Humility

Virtue re. smallhonors

trivial honors ambitiousness unambitiousness

Truthfulness truth-telling about ones merits insocial situations

boastfulness Self-effacing

Irony*

Wittiness amusement in social situations(joking in particular

buffoonery boorishness

Virtues of Character (or of Habit)


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The Human Soul and its Virtues:


Nutritive Soul Absorbing foodGrowingReproducing

Notapplicable

Perceptual Soul

(listens to reason)

Perceiving

DesiringMoving

The

Virtues ofCharacter

Rational Soul(hasreason)

Thinking TheVirtues ofThought


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Notapplicable

Perceptual Soul(listens to reason)

Perceiving

DesiringMoving

The

Virtues ofCharacter


Calculative Deliberation [Boul ](Thinking about what todo)

TheVirtues ofThought

Theoretical Contemplation [Theoria](Thinking about thingsthat one cannot change)


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Notapplicable


Perceiving

DesiringMoving

The

Virtues ofCharacteror ofHabit


Calculative

Productive

Thinking about how tomake things

TheVirtues ofThought/Intellectual Virtues

Practical Thinking about what todo

Theoretical Contemplation

(Thinking about thingsthat one cannot change)


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Notapplicable

Perceptual Soul

(listens to reason)

Perceiving

DesiringMoving

The

Virtues ofCharacter

Rational Soul(has

reason)

Calculative

Productive

Thinking about how tomake things

Practical Thinking about what todo

Theoretical Contemplation (thinkingabout things that onecannot change)


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Not applicable


PerceivingDesiring

Moving

The Virtues ofCharacter


Calculative

Productive

Thinking about howto make things

The Arts[Technai]

Practical Thinking about what

to do

Practical

Wisdom[Phron sis]

Theoretical Contemplation(Thinking aboutthings that one

cannot change)

Epist m , Nous, andSophia

Aristotle on Virtue Revised

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Transcript of Aristotle on Virtue Revised