Essays on Ethics Theory & Contemporary Issues
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AristotleÆs ethics stem from his observation that human beings are distinct from all other animals in their endowment with a ôrational elementö (Mackinnon 2001, 91). However, human beings are not distinct from other living entities in that all natural things have within them, according to Aristotle, a ôgoal.ö This teleological view of nature led to AristotleÆs belief that the ôhighest aimö to which all things aspire is ôthe goodö (Mackinnon 2001, 90). With respect to human beings, the highest good is happiness because it is an end in and of itself. There are two types of virtues in human beings, according to Aristotle. The first of these are intellectual virtues and the second of these are moral virtues. Intellectual virtues consist of such qualities as sound reason and judgment. Such virtues as these are taught and learned. Moral virtues, in contrast, are virtues that must be practiced in order for us to become ôhabituatedö to displaying them (Mackinnon 2001, 97).Moral virtues as the result of habit. When we practice telling the truth over and over again, it becomes easier for us to become accustomed to telling the truth. However, if we practice lying, it becomes our habit to lie rather than tell the truth. Such habituation is how we acquire virtues. Virtues are not only necessary to develop a ôgoodö person but to also develop a ôgoodö society, in AristotleÆs worldview. Aristotle outlined a number of virtues that represent the mean
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rnment to secure and protect the natural rights of all men by allowing no individual or group of individuals to undermine these god-given rights. Any government that fails to achieve this goal is breaking the social contract entered into by individuals when they give up a measure of freedom from the natural state to form societies. Nevertheless, Lock asserts that ôI easily grant that civil government is the proper remedy for the inconveniences of the state of Nature, which must certainly be great where men may be judges in their own casesö (Mackinnon 2001, 104).
Question Three
There are a number of issues and question with respect to the concept of economic justice. Issues and questions consist of such considerations as do people have a right to a job and good wages, is welfare a matter of justice or charity, and is it fair to tax the rich more than the middle class? With an ever growing and unprecedented gap between rich and poor in the U.S., the answers to such issues and questions are important in defining economic justice. Many philosophers argue that any system of distribution is just if the ôprocess by which it comes about is itself justö (Mackinnon 2001, 271). Other philosophers maintain that another consideration a
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Question AristotleÆs, Nevertheless Lock, South America, Jus Bello, Treatise Government, Rawls RawlsÆ, God Locke, Five Mackinnon, Carol GilliganÆs, mackinnon 2001, economic justice, moral virtues, Contemporary Issues, jus ad bellum, jus ad, ad bellum, rights nature, equal opportunity, jus bello, natural rights, argue globalization, mackinnon 2001 277, equal opportunity theory, mackinnon 2001 271, globalization argue globalization,
Approximate Word count = 2124
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)
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