Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

Three Ethical Systems in Philosophy

Summary of Three Ethical Systems in Philosophy

AristotleÆs Eudaimonism is an ethical system that centers on the concept of happiness, but most specifically addresses the belief that the pursuit of the ôgoodö is manÆs most important activity (Holowchak, 2001). Happiness is not a product of action, but consists of an end in itself and a mode of living. Happiness and its pursuit is an activity or set of activities; ethics, in this system, aims not at knowledge of happiness, but rather at making men good.

Aristotle saw the pursuit of happiness as involving the acquisition and exercise of excellence at two distinct and related levels: one corresponding to excellence of thought and one corresponding to excellence of character. In developing excellence of character, the individual habitually acquires a constancy of character through cultivating virtuous activities and avoiding vice. Here, Aristotle makes reference to the normative and ethical effect of virtuous laws that serve men as a framework for identifying right actions and the good (Holowchak, 2001). In the world of business, a company itself is therefore charged with ensuring that a set of values that are ethically virtuous guide employee actins (Frank, 2002).

Aristotle also identifies excellence of thought as emerging over time through contemplation of eternal, ungenerated and incorruptible things (Holowchak, 2001). A life of action in which virtue is the key is therefore posited by Aristotle as a necessity in the pursuit of the good. The human good is activity expressing virtue, which must be complete in that it must exist in all aspects of oneÆs life. Avoidance of excess and deficiency is mandatory in this ethical system, which also requires constant habituation or practice. AristotleÆs system of ethics calls for self-sufficiency and also demands that the ethical person avoid unethical behavior in all aspects of life and work.

AristotleÆs ôvirtue ethics...

Page 1 of 5 Next >

More on Three Ethical Systems in Philosophy...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
Three Ethical Systems in Philosophy. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 03:47, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1700517.html