regarded as influential in modern philosophy. As well as being a devoted biologist‚ botanist‚ moral philosopher‚ psychologist‚ zoologist and many more things besides Aristotle held a view about human nature that he interwove into his concept of virtue theory‚ this is described at some length in the text Nicomachean Ethics. It is this view on human nature that I intend to explain and discuss throughout this essay with reference to some more recent philosophers to show that Aristotle’s view was not
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prominent the search for happiness is‚ there are endless definitions and explanations for our dependency on it. Aristotle argues that happiness is dependent on the cultivation of virtues and acting in accord with reason. He enshrines the doctrine of virtue‚ both moral and intellectual‚ and concludes that the exercise of such virtues is needed to obtain happiness. Aristotle observes that happiness is not created by simple successes or pleasures‚ but instead constructed through the experience of
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Different cultures have different way of thinking. With the coming of Christianity‚ a new set of ideas emerged. The Christians‚ like the Jews‚ viewed God as a lawgiver‚ and so laws will be the key to righteous living. For the Greeks‚ the life of virtue was in related to the life of reason. But Saint Augustine‚ the influential fourth-century Christian thinker‚ distrusted reason and believed that moral goodness depends on subordinating oneself to the will of God. Thus‚ modern moral philosophers has
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1 Principle of Specialization: A Positive Review of a Repulsive Feature While is it the belief of many that the Principle of Specialization is the most repulsive feature introduced to us by Plato in the Republic‚ the opposing argument is that the use of specialization is a great idea. Businesses aim to operate with as much productivity as possible while having very little waste‚ so why not our communities? The Principle of Specialization is present in all aspects of the community‚ from its humble
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means. Most think of it as physical pleasure like eating‚ sex‚ or honor. These people have an imperfect view of what it means to be alive and what it means to be happy. The reason people have a false idea of happiness is because they lack virtue. Virtue is behaving in the right manner. Such as being courageous in life or being a coward. If one is courageous they will find happiness in being such while the coward would find happiness in the opposite but that is a false happiness. Aristotle
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SACRIFICE “Sacrifice” is the surrender of a greater value for the sake of a lesser one or of a non value. Thus‚ altruism gauges a man’s virtue by the degree to which he surrenders‚ renounces or betrays his values (since help to a stranger or an enemy is regarded as more virtuous‚ less “selfish‚” than help to those one loves). The rational principle of conduct is the exact opposite: always act in accordance with the hierarchy of your values‚ and never sacrifice a greater value to a lesser one. “Sacrifice”
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cultivate an all-encompassing sense of virtue through ren‚ and that the most basic step to cultivating ren was devotion to one’s parents and older siblings. He taught that one’s individual desires do not need to be suppressed‚ but that people should be educated to reconcile their desires via rituals and forms of propriety‚ through which people could demonstrate their respect for others and their responsible roles in society. He taught that a ruler’s sense of virtue was his primary prerequisite for leadership
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Machiavelli‚ the distinction of virtue versus virtu sticks out like a sore thumb. Virtue was the political bases for Plato: All men should behave virtuously at all times. Whereas Machiavelli believed virtu was the basis for political prowess. What was best for the state as a whole was the main concern‚ and the ends always justified the means. Plato’s object was the creation of a utopian society--a civilization that abhorred war and centered itself upon moral virtue and honor. He saw war as evil;
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or material goods‚ a position in society‚ and even good looks. However‚ if one is living life to the full according to rational nature‚ they are bound to find happiness regardless. This is why happiness is more influenced by behavior and habit of virtue than by luck‚ good and
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Chinese Attitudes toward Nature‚ Time‚ Good and Evil As for the attitude of Chinese people toward nature‚ it is undisputed that it is marked by a strong feeling of harmony‚ for example‚ oneness of nature and man. According to Dong Zhongshu‚ who was the most important philosopher of the Western Han‚ Heaven had its will and purpose. It was Heaven that made the sun‚ the moon‚ and the stars move‚ the four seasons change‚ and all animals and plants grow and die. Heaven was kindhearted‚ so it made
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