Examples Of Practical Syllogism

1.) The practical syllogism (the theory that humans should know what is morally right in the universal-[circumstances in a general sense] and particular-[circumstances in a detailed sense]) relates to concepts such as synderesis (The basic knowledge of the universal/i.e. Love your neighbor as yourself, can also be called the primary precepts. Also knowledge of the principles of morality, i.e. The Ten Commandments can also be called the “secondary immediate precepts”, and the secondary common precepts i.e. Give lost items to proper owner), conscience (applies the knowledge from synderesis to particular situations), character (The unity of virtue/ the deliberations, decisions and action someone makes is based on what their character is), and

prudence (The ability to apply knowledge of the universal regarding the secondary precepts depending on the circumstances. This ability is gained through experience) because these concepts all intertwine with one another. Practical syllogism connects all of the concepts by saying individuals both learn and have innate senses of right and wrong. For example, a man named Ben developed alcoholism and suffered through it for several years until he joined alcoholics anonymous and was able to remain dry for several months. Ben then relapsed and became worse since he believed that he had his drinking problem under control and justified his alcoholism to any who opposed him. He is suspended from his job due to his drinking. Ben went through multiple stages of wrongdoing. He began in incontinence (knowing the right decision, but doing the wrong decision) since we can see he knew his problem needed to stop and because of this knowledge he then moved on to a different stage. By joining alcoholics anonymous and remaining dry, Ben became continent (knowing the right decision, but still feels desire to do wrong) and was on his path to beating his alcoholism. Virtues (it is states between an excess and a deficiency where the mean (between excess and deficiency) is the preferred state) such as honor, wit, and wisdom allowed Ben to resist his alcoholism and become dry, but regrettably as a common phrase goes “one step forward, two steps back”. Ben return to drink, but instead of feeling a sense of wrong, he felt he was justified and right in his actions. Ben became intemperate (ignorance of the universal/ feeling that the wrong action is the correct action) as a result he denied his issue and swirled deeper into self-destruction. If we look at natural law theory (theory stating morals come from nature) some would argue that Ben’s purpose is to be an alcoholic and he should not be stopped. The issue is alcohol is something that harms the human body and alters the body in a negative way. Natural law theory does not say an individual’s purpose can go against human nature or anatomy, and alcohol is a poison so alcoholism cannot be justified with natural law theory. There are three types of wrongdoing Intemperance, ignorance of the particulars (not knowing important details of a situation), and Incontinence. Intemperance is known as a voluntary action (comes from within the individual/ can be blamed or praised) and Ben would be preforming a voluntary action which would allow blame to be placed upon him. Ben fell into intemperance, and will more than likely remain there since his desires, deliberations, decisions and actions are all for his addiction and pleasure.
2.) In modern cultures they have attempted to “medicalize character” by merely describing character flaws as disorders or mental illness.

Science refuses to recognize character flaws as something we can change and work on without the heavy use of science. The use of science to correct flaws within one’s character is merely ignoring the true problem. Medications, therapy, and counseling cannot always solve a problem of character. According to Aristotle there are three virtues of thought that make up our character: techne (knowledge of craft), phronesis (prudence/ practical wisdom), and sophia (wisdom/theoretical wisdom). Techne is gained by preforming a craft well and it cannot be taught. Phronesis is gained through life experience and again cannot be taught. Sophia can be taught since it is the process of learning through theoretical study. With that in mind it becomes clear that character flaws cannot be corrected by an outside force. Only the individual can correct their flaws and attempt to better their character.

What is the difference between vice and addiction? An addiction is when an individual uses a substance, thing, and/or activity to remain in the excess or deficiency, whereas a vice is when someone enters the excess or deficiency of a virtue by their own means. Addiction can cloud the conscience of an individual and cause them to act irrationally, whereas a vice does not cloud the conscience of a person and their actions are caused by their own decisions and deliberations. I believe that there should be a distinction between the two since they do differ in some areas, but they are also very similar in

others.
What exactly creates our character? Is it based on genes and we act a certain way due to our genetic alleles? Or could it be that we are the product of our environment and we only act a certain way because that is how we were taught? I feel that it is both to a degree. Our genes can affect how we can think and act, but even genes can be overpowered by our will. Our environment also affects our character, but even a very deplorable environment can create a person with a very well developed character. These alone are not enough to explain why we can deviate from both genetic and environmental factors. There has to be a third factor that is beyond modern scientific theology that explains why we can defy factors that science say are non-changing. What this third component is best described as a persons will or as Aristotle would say our soul. The soul allows us to become dependent from our genes and environment and we are able to become whatever we choose in regards to character.