Virtue Ethics: Aristotle's Approach To Become A Better Person?

Virtue ethics is a theory that deemphasizes rules, consequences and particular acts and places the focus on the kind of person who is acting. It is an individual based moral system and focuses on character traits. It does not factor in religion, society, or culture, but more so the individual’s choice in situations. This theory does not give a set of rules on what to do, but rather emphasizes the question, “How should one become a better person?” The focus of the theory is attempting to create good virtuous human beings. It does not put focus on the right and wrong actions, but the good and bad choices.

Aristotle, the creator and main philosopher of virtue ethics, originally introduced his theory in ancient Greek. Virtue ethics derive from Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (Thiroux). Aristotle 's views on social philosophy suggest that there are some qualities and characteristics

Until we create ethical or virtuous people, the likelihood of creating of creating a moral society is slim (Thiroux). Virtue ethics seeks to teach humans that we should practice virtuous acts in order to create habitually or virtuous people who will then remain and continue to act virtuous. Aristotle states that human beings begin with a capacity of good, which develops with practice and use (Thiroux). To become a better person, we must practice virtuous acts regularly. After a while, these acts will become a habit further making them part of our everyday lives. Once these habits become part of our daily use and lifestyle, then one is beginning to lead a virtuous life. Those who practice virtuous acts improve their skills thus becoming happier (Aristotle) . We are not born with these skills, they are skills acquired over time and practice. People are not born good or bad, but become good or bad according to their habits they develop throughout their lives. We acquire skills from watching others around us and from