Nicomachean Ethics
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In AristotleÆs Nicomachean Ethics, written in 350 BC., the philosopher presents his ideas on a number of concepts from happiness and the good to pleasure and pain. His primary discussion, however, resolves around ôvirtueö and how leading a virtuous life represents the highest good and, in turn, leads to the greatest degree of human happiness. However, Aristotle makes it quite clear that virtue is a ômeanö valuation. In other words, the mean or center value is chosen by those with a ôvirtuousö disposition. Freedom is possible only within the limits and inhibitions imposed by virtue. The ômean,ö however, is not easy to achieve and is arrived at not through reason but perception, according to Aristotle. This essay will discuss the problematic nature of virtue being a ômean.ö Following this discussion, AristotleÆs responses to these problems or flaws of virtue being a ômeanö will be addressed.AristotleÆs Book I of Nicomachean Ethics is devoted to his three-fold working of the concept of the highest end. The highest or chief good is happiness but living well and doing right are necessary attendants to happiness. We arrive at happiness through selfless choice. As Aristotle (Book 1, Ch. 2) asserts, ôIf, then, there is some end of the things we do, which we desire for its own sake, and if we do not choose everything for the sake of something else, clearly this must be the good and the chief good.ö Happiness is a common and ordinary plea
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is a ômean,ö then Aristotle has created an ethical valuation system that is more one of symmetry than morality. For by viewing virtue as a ômean,ö Aristotle is maintaining there is a proportion and symmetry to the relationship between vices and virtue. This makes his doctrine appear to have the limitation of being one that is more focused on proportion and symmetry than ethics. As such, there is little ethical value in such a doctrine to critics of AristotleÆs views. Aristotle would answer this by arguing that his concept of virtue as a ômeanö is not a math formula set in stone. Instead, he argues that the ômeanö is often a relative conclusion, one that stems from our perception that illustrates itself as different choices by people of different dispositions across different circumstances. Furthermore, people seldom exist only at the extremes of ôvicesö or in the ômeanö of virtue. True happiness is only derived from repetitive action that is geared toward choosing the ômean,ö as the ômeanö is always the best course of action but there are no rules or formulas for determining what is ôvirtuousö in each situation.
Aristotle does not maintain that we attain virtue merely because we are humans but, because we are human, we a
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Approximate Word count = 2031
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)
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