Aristotle and Friedrich Nietzsche: Social Habits and Socialization

Student’s Name
Alberto Bejarano Romo
Introduction to Ethics
Due Date
Writing Assignment II
Word Count: 555
Aristotle and Friedrich Nietzsche: Social Habits and Socialization
Individuals of scholarly excellence have had their opinions about habits. The most remarkable of these scholars are Aristotle and Friedrich Nietzsche. The two philosophers have a deep insight into human morality and have played a major role in understanding different aspects of human morality that includes behavior and disposition. Despite their profound incompatibility in their thoughts and open criticism towards each other philosophies, both Aristotle and Nietzsche have a notable similarity in their philosophies regarding morality. This paper intends to point out the similarities and divergence in Aristotle’s and Nietzsche’s views on habits and also their final positions on its impact on social life.
First, an examination of Aristotle's understanding of habits is important. Based on his book, Aristotle identifies two forms of virtues- intellectual and moral. Aristotle argues in Book II section of his book 'Nicomachean Ethics' that unlike the intellectual virtues that are acquired by nature and continued learning, moral virtues are as a result of habits (II.1). He went ahead to give a couple of scenarios to demonstrate how nature and habits cannot be used interchangeably to be the cause of moral values. Aristotle, in his own words, stated that "states of character arise out of like activities” (II.1).
On the other hand, Nietzsche argues about morality on the basis of instincts. He introduces the aspect of “morality of custom&...