Aristotle
2419657
Mr. Zimmerman
Philosophy 201
Aristotle Paper 1
Moral virtue, according to Aristotle, is formed by habit. This means that you begin to decide your moral virtues in the early years of your life, and continue to form them as you age, depending on the habits you form during your lifetime. In Aristotle's mind, moral virtues are a characteristic not decided by nature, but by the individual himself. In Aristotle's, Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states,
"This shows, too, that none of the moral virtues is implanted in us by nature, for nothing that exists by nature can be changed by habit. For example, it is impossible for a stone, which has a natural downward movement, to become habituated to moving upward, even if one should try ten thousand times to inculcate habit by throwing it in the air; nor can fire be made to move downward, nor can the direction of any nature-given tendency be changed by habituation."1
By saying this, Aristotle is explaining that moral virtue is not something that you are born with, it is something you develop with your character. Moral virtue is not naturally acquired, because it is a result of habit, and one may change habits at any time. When discussing Aristotle's beliefs on what moral virtue is, one must first discuss his view on how to be a virtuous individual. To be virtuous, according to Aristotle, one's soul must consist of five separate characteristics, however, one cannot just have all five, one must have all five in the correct amounts. First, one must have courage. To be a virtuous person, one needs to have the right amount of fear in their soul, but also he or she must have the right amount of confidence to overcome that fear, for if one has too much courage, they will be reckless, and if one has too little courage, they we be cowardly. Secondly, one's soul must contain prudence. Prudence is the ability to control one's soul in the sense of wanting material things. One must know, while it is ok
Mr. Zimmerman
Philosophy 201
Aristotle Paper 1
Moral virtue, according to Aristotle, is formed by habit. This means that you begin to decide your moral virtues in the early years of your life, and continue to form them as you age, depending on the habits you form during your lifetime. In Aristotle's mind, moral virtues are a characteristic not decided by nature, but by the individual himself. In Aristotle's, Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle states,
"This shows, too, that none of the moral virtues is implanted in us by nature, for nothing that exists by nature can be changed by habit. For example, it is impossible for a stone, which has a natural downward movement, to become habituated to moving upward, even if one should try ten thousand times to inculcate habit by throwing it in the air; nor can fire be made to move downward, nor can the direction of any nature-given tendency be changed by habituation."1
By saying this, Aristotle is explaining that moral virtue is not something that you are born with, it is something you develop with your character. Moral virtue is not naturally acquired, because it is a result of habit, and one may change habits at any time. When discussing Aristotle's beliefs on what moral virtue is, one must first discuss his view on how to be a virtuous individual. To be virtuous, according to Aristotle, one's soul must consist of five separate characteristics, however, one cannot just have all five, one must have all five in the correct amounts. First, one must have courage. To be a virtuous person, one needs to have the right amount of fear in their soul, but also he or she must have the right amount of confidence to overcome that fear, for if one has too much courage, they will be reckless, and if one has too little courage, they we be cowardly. Secondly, one's soul must contain prudence. Prudence is the ability to control one's soul in the sense of wanting material things. One must know, while it is ok