Aristotle's Views Of Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics is an important topic to study, because it is Aristotle’s view on the way we should all be living our lives. This topic is also important because it allows a person better understandings on how to be a good and responsible human being. Virtue Ethics teaches people how to make the best decisions in life. Nicomachean believed that to be virtuous a person had to have the habit of behaving in moderate ways. Aristotle states that “it is clear that none of the moral virtues are engendered in us by nature, for no natural property can be altered by habit” (Nicomachean Ethics, p.71.). After reading and studying Aristotle’s views of virtue I agree with him completely. I believe that in order to live a virtuous life that we first have to

Aristotle believed that we should be virtuous rather than follow our desires because humans are the only ones able to do so. If we just follow our desires than we are no different than beasts. On page 113 in Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explains that we need to learn to avoid situations where we know that pleasure will tempt us. Aristotle also believed that virtue meant behaving in moderate ways. He believed that we should always stay in the mean which is the midpoint between two extremes (Nicomachean Ethics, p.77). Aristotle also believed that the true good for humans is happiness, he explains that the true good for humans is something that is always going to be chosen just for its own sake. I agree with Aristotle’s view because I think that too much of something is a bad thing and that we should not have too much or too little of a certain quality. With this being said I agree with him that we should have a midpoint between extremes. I also believe that people should be reasonable and like Aristotle claims being reasonable is what it means to have good

Aristotle is just simply saying that we should not let pleasure dictate all of the decisions that we make this is a practice of moderation and self-control. Animals may seem like they are experiencing happiness but in reality they are experiencing pleasure, animals also cannot form the habit of being good, as it does not come natural. According to Aristotle the habit of being good has to be practiced over a period of time until it comes naturally (Nicomachean Ethics p.71). Aristotle believes that happiness for humans must be something that is completely unique to humans. A trait that is unique to humans is being reasonable, so being reasonable means to be happy. Although humans are hardwired to like pleasure, and the temptation to indulge in pleasure is almost always there we have to learn that the moderation of pleasure is what we really need. For Aristotle the purpose of human life is to be free from pleasure, and to act as responsible individuals. Everyone has their own versions of extremes, for instance some people are more likely to show courage than others. Aristotle understood this and even stated on page 111 that “this is not in everybody’s power and is not easy; so that to do these things properly is rare, praiseworthy, and noble. The mean is determined by the feedback from others, so the mean is different in everyone’s