Mill's Ethics: Differentiated Between Character And Intellectual Virtues

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According to Aristotle, “Virtues, then, are dispositions engendered in us through practice or habituation” (Aristotle’s Ethics), here he is talking about virtue of character, he says that it is something that in created in us through habit. There are two types of virtue – virtue of character and intellectual virtues. He differentiated between virtue of character and intellectual virtue. “Intellectual virtue is acquired primarily through teaching, while the virtues of character arise through habit” (Aristotle’s Ethics). For example, when someone is born they might have a very good talent like dancing and singing, but then in terms of virtue of character one has to learn, for example, learning how to paint. Aristotle seem to focus more on …show more content…

“Virtue, according to the utilitarian doctrine, is not naturally and originally part of the end, but is capable of becoming so; and in those who live it disinterestedly it has become so, and is desired and cherished, not as a means to happiness, but as a part of their happiness.” (Mill 37), Mill is trying to say that virtue is sometimes a part of happiness, he says that “the desire of virtue is not as universal, nut it is as authentic a fact as the desire of happiness” (Mill 36), Mill here is comparing virtue to happiness, what he means is that yes people desire virtue, but they don’t desire virtue as happiness is desired. So technically, his trying to prove to us that happiness has a greater value than virtue.
One can desire virtue as an end and a means to happiness, but through experience, they may come to understand virtue as a vital links in the end, so vital that they may come to regard it as an end in itself. (Professor Whited). For example, so many desire money and the see money as a means to their own happiness, they believe that without money they can’t be happy, as time goes by and the enjoy the money and see all the things they can get with money, they might come to regard money as an end. The way money can change people’s mind, is the way virtue can and make people regard it as an it

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