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ARISTOTLE'S ETHICS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO HUMANITY

Essay Instructions:
Write on one and only one of the following questions, remembering the importance of a clear structure, referencing, argumentation, and considering opposing opinions in shaping your own. 2000 words Eassay Havard Referencing please Write on ONE and only one of the following questions, remembering the importance of a clear structure, referencing, argumentation, and considering opposing opinions in shaping your own. Bibliogrphy, Title Page ... high Graduate standard please, very important really clean Referencing. What does Aristotle understand by ‘ethics' and how important is his view of humanity to ‘ethics'? What does Aristotle mean by saying that ‘virtue is the mean'? Do you agree with this? Under what conditions may I be held responsible for my actions? Answer with reference to Aristotle. Is it possible to knowingly do evil? Compare Plato (Socrates) and Aristotle on this. Why is pleasure an ethical problem for Aristotle? What solutions did he offer? What is ‘practical wisdom' (phronesis) and what is its importance in Aristotle's ethics? What is happiness/eudaimonia and with what form of life are we most likely to achieve it, according to Aristotle? What is justice, for Aristotle? And why does he think that it needs to be supplemented by practical wisdom and friendship? Do you agree? critically examine Aristotle's teachings concerning friendship. What is a true friend for Aristotle? And why is this topic a concern in a book on ethics? do you agree that Arisstotle's great souled man cannot be praised highly enough? Or do you think that he is a conceited boor? thinking of how Nichomachean Ethics ends, who do you think the book is addressed to? How do you read Aristotle's very harsh statements concerning the inability of most people to become virtuous? Why does Aristotle argue in Book X of the Nichomachean Ethics that contemplation is the best form of life? Do you think this contradicts what he has claimed in earlier parts of the book? “Epicureanism is all about just partying and having a good time”. Is this view true? In what ways? If not, in what ways is it false? “Stoicism is all about just having a very bad, boring time”. Is this view true? In what ways? If not, in what ways is it false? Stoicism holds that money, fame, reputation, power, and most things humans pursue most of their lives are ethically “indifferent”. Do you agree, or do you think Aristotle is right that “external goods” are necessary for a flourishing life? What are the main tenets of Epicurus' philosophy? Enumerate and discuss each of these, and then assess whether you think that the Epicureans provide the true path to happiness? Do you agree with the Stoics and the Epicureans, or Aristotle, that philosophy is necessary for the good life? Discuss why one or more of these schools of thought claim this, and critically reflect upon whether you think their views are persuasive.
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ARISTOTLE’S ETHICS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO HUMANITY
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The subject of ethics has been influenced greatly by the work of Aristotle, which is concerned with humans’ aim of having virtue of character. The attainment of a good character therefore, translates to the well being or happiness of humans. The “good” that human actions aim is chosen for its own sake rather than, as a means to an end and this is the highest “good”. There are certain goods of the “good” that are more desirable than others, but Aristotle asserted that the search for the “good” is the search for the highest “good”. The highest “good” whatever it turns to be, he argued must be desirable for itself, and must not be desirable for the sake of some other “good”, and all the other “good” must be desirable for its sake (Ackrill, 1973). Therefore, there is no one who lives for the sake of further goal but only for the highest goal or end, and the subordinate goals of wealth, health and other resources are sought because they promote the well being, and not what well being consist in (Kraut, 2012). Hence, the “good” of humans must have something to do with being human, that which separates human from other things by providing potential of living better because of capacity guide through use of reason. Using of reason adequately makes individuals to live well as human beings.
Aristotle’s aim was to discover that which makes a good life for a man. Therefore, the notion of ethics with respect to Aristotle leads to the theory that explains a good life of a man as that which enables him to do things that a man is fitted to do, and as such, there will be satisfaction and pleasure (Kraut, 1989). The subject matter can be difficult to identify as to what needs to be done, but the conduct and specification of human mind and character qualities have to be intrinsically admirable. The value of each act is found on human welfare consequences that derive a system of morality and study of duty.
The interpretation of ethics by Aristotle brings forth the question of what is best for man through identification of two central concepts. The concepts include seeking what is “good” and the distinction between what is wanted for its own sake, and what is wanted for the sake of something else (Miller, 2011). Aristotle insisted on the necessary connection between the concepts of “good” and aiming at, which implies being the good of a thing or an agent to that which an individual aims to the desired end (Reeve, 1992). He argued that men want to live the best life possible and also the most desirable. Hence, the sort of life that is morally best have to satisfy the desirable life of an individual that is always the most morally good (Ackrill, 1973). Aristotle’s view on ethics is by assertion that the ultimate “good” must be both complete and self-sufficient to be defined as happiness. Therefore, all human actions must have an end, and the human actions are defined as that which is done on purpose and for a definite objective.
There are voluntary action performed by humans such as respiration, but they can not fall under human action by itself (Cooper, 1975). As a result, the human actions are the various actions that distinguish humans from animals since these actions constitute reason and intelligence. Actions are performed for a specific goal in which the goal offers a means to a larger goal, which is also a means to another larger goal until the final goal is attained that is desired for its own sake. Wealth, fame, glory and pleasure are lesser goals that are not desired for themselves but as means to attain happiness. Happiness therefore, is the supreme good that does not cause disputes as Aristotle asserts, and that the majority of human kind agrees upon this happiness (Kitharidis, 2011). All individuals have to speak of this supreme good “happiness”, and have to conceive the good life to become the same thing as being happy. Aristotle argues that the highest human functioning has to include reasoning and be good because this sets humans apart from everything else. The activity of the soul with respect to reason is the function of man, and the soul engages in both reasoning both on theoretical and practical aspects, and following the reasoning because this makes the person the happiest after fulfilling their purpose that is found in a rational soul.
Aristotle contends that the happiness of man is defined by determining the function proper to man. The functions must be particular to humans and be part of the practical life of rational part of man (Rorty, 1980). The rational part of a man constitutes happiness which is the soul, and the ultimate good that have to naturally flow well for him to perform his functions well. Aristotle thus, implies that the good of a man is the active exercise of the soul that facilitates conformity with virtue (Kemerling, 2011). This constitutes the actual happiness that has to persist with continuity throughout a lifetime. The interpretation of humanity to ethics as Aristotle asserts is that, the nature of man and the needs that all men have, determines the character that a satisfying human life must have (Aristotle, 1869). This provides an account of nature of man in general terms that corresponds to the best life for a man. Aristotle’s eudemian ethics tries to discover what the “good” is for a man through determination of specific functions.
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