Philosophy Final Exam

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Aristotle believed that the human goal of happiness is best achieved by the life of rational activity because our ability to be rational is what makes humans distinct from any other species (Sober 373). Through rationality, we are able to make decisions on how to lead our lives, in accordance to moral virtue or not, as Aristotle states "…for virtue makes us aim at the right mark, and practical wisdom makes us take the right means" (Nicomachean Ethics). Aristotle believed moral virtues were a learned behavior that "comes about as a result of habit…for nothing that exists by nature can form a habit" (Nicomachean Ethics). How we seek our happiness is not determined by our nature, but by our upbringing (in which these moral virtues are instilled in us); a good upbringing is one that helps us develop habits and character traits that are conducive to the good life (Sober 371). Aristotle makes this connection with "The moral virtues must belong to our composite nature and the virtues of our composite nature are human; so, therefore, are the life and the happiness which correspond to these" (Nicomachean Ethics). Through these learned moral virtues, we can determine how to act in agreement with them. The Golden Mean test says that many virtues are located on a continuum, their perfection consisting in the fact that they avoid the extremes (Sober 373). Hence, moral virtues are what allow us to evade having an "excess or deficiency" in a particular virtue such as the case when "the brave man appears rash relatively to the coward, and cowardly relatively to the rash man" (Nicomachean Ethics). However, to Aristotle, moral virtues existing in the middle of this continuum was optimal for an individual.

To a utilitarian, the favored way to solve...

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...punished by opinion” (On Liberty). The “opinion” Mill is speaking of, is the opinion of the majority, and this is where the overlook of the “tyranny of the majority” can be seen in utilitarianism. In matters of homosexuality in a culture that is very intolerant of it, Mill would agree that if the majority of opinions said the orientation was deplorable and punishable, then homosexuals should either not live as a homosexual or be punished. To further push for Mill’s support on the matter, the intolerable majority could even claim to be “hurt” simply by knowing that there are people who live in their lives differently from the way they do (Sober 350). Ultimately, this could lead to an entire elimination of a sexual orientation! I conclusion, Mill may believe in “individual’s rights”, but in regard to society as a whole, “unpopular” opinions tend to be insignificant.

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