Alexandros Vogiatzakis

15th February 2023

Aristotle had a philosophy that put an emphasis on having moral character and leading happy lives. He
felt that developing positive habits or qualities that direct your actions and emotions is necessary for
true happiness. These characteristics, which are referred to as virtues, are a combination of your innate
dispositions and the things you learn and put into practice through time. There are two categories of
virtues, according to Aristotle: moral and intellectual. Moral virtues are the morally good behaviours
you cultivate over time, such as bravery or honesty. Intellectual qualities are the skills you develop via
study and mental exercise, such as wisdom or the ability to make sound decisions. Being morally upright
was crucial, in Aristotle's opinion, if you desired to live a good life. He believed that if you were
virtuous, you would be happy and fulfilled and that you could achieve this by practising good habits,
learning to be wise, and consistently trying to find a balance between extremes. Overall, Aristotle's
philosophy is all about being a good person and making the most out of your life. The virtue ethics of
Aristotle may place too much emphasis on personal growth and neglect to consider other elements that
may affect moral judgment. Additionally, not everyone will agree with his definition of what constitutes
a happy life. Although his philosophy contains some sound principles, it might not be sufficient to serve
as a moral compass by itself.

Aristotle contends in his philosophy of virtue ethics that eudaimonia, or a state of thriving, can only be
obtained via the development of virtuous character qualities. According to Aristotle, virtues are habits
that we acquire through practice and repetition rather than inherent traits that we are born with. We
eventually acquire virtue-based character qualities that come naturally when we behave virtue-wise.
According to Aristotle, developing virtues is the key to leading a successful life since they enable us to
act rationally and result in eudaimonia, a state of thriving. Contrary to other ethical theories like
consequentialism, this view maintains that, rather than the development of character qualities, ethical
behaviour is characterized by its results or consequences. Aristotle's theory of virtue ethics provides a
distinctive and persuasive approach to ethical behaviour and human happiness by highlighting the
significance of character and the development of virtues.

The central tenet of Aristotle's virtue ethics is that eudaimonia, which might be translated as "happiness"
or "flourishing," is what all human existence should aspire towards. Eudaimonia, according to Aristotle,
is a state of being that can only be attained by cultivating virtue as a virtue, not just a passing feeling.
According to Aristotle, virtues are habits that we acquire through repetition and practice rather than
inborn traits. A person who consistently displays bravery in the face of peril, for instance, will
progressively cultivate the quality, making it simpler for them to act courageously in the future. Similar
to how someone who practices being honest would progressively cultivate the virtue of being honest,
making it simpler for them to behave honourably in the future. According to Aristotle, virtues are the

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ways in which we might lead moral lives. We eventually acquire virtue-based character qualities that
come naturally when we behave virtue-wise. Thus, even when it is challenging to do so, we are more
inclined to act morally in the future. According to Aristotle, developing virtues helps us live in
accordance with reason and results in a thriving condition. This is due to the fact that moral behaviour
is not only admirable in and of itself, but also produces favourable results and aids us in overcoming
the difficulties and complexity of daily life. For instance, someone who practices the virtue of bravery
is more inclined to make tough decisions and take calculated risks in other aspects of their life in
addition to acting bravely in risky situations. Overall, Aristotle's virtue ethics philosophy presents a
distinctive and appealing perspective on moral behaviour and human development. Aristotle opposes
other ethical theories, such as deontological ethics, which maintain that ethical behaviour is determined
by obedience to a system of moral norms or responsibilities, by highlighting the significance of
character and the development of virtues. A more nuanced and contextualized approach to ethical
decision-making is possible with virtue ethics as opposed to deontological ethics, which can be rigid
and inflexible. Aristotle believed that virtues are a manner of life, not just a set of rules to obey. demands
continued cultivation and practice. This indicates that acting ethically requires more than just abiding
by the law or performing your obligations; rather, it is a lifelong quest to develop virtue. Even though
Aristotle's philosophy has its drawbacks and is not without its detractors, it has had a significant impact
on Western ethics and is still a great source of wisdom for individuals who want to live morally upright
lives.

In Aristotle's view of virtue ethics, moral conduct is rooted in the growth of virtues, or admirable
qualities of character, such as bravery, honesty, and compassion. However, Aristotle's view that the
creation of virtues should be the primary objective of ethics can be disagreed with. While virtues are
important, a more consequentialist approach to ethics—which emphasizes the results of actions above
the character of the agent—is a better way to help people make ethical decisions. Determining which
virtues are truly "good" and which are not might be a problem with Aristotle's virtue ethics. For instance,
Aristotle considers bravery to be a virtue, yet this raises the question of whether being brave is always
advantageous. exercise bravery. Courage may not always be a good trait, such as when a soldier is
engaged in an unjust conflict. This shows that virtues are context-dependent rather than necessarily
universal. The fact that virtue ethics might be challenging to put into practice is another problem. Since
virtues are acquired through time by repetition and practice, it may be challenging to choose the most
moral course of conduct in a given circumstance. Contrarily, a consequentialist approach to ethics offers
a clearer and more unambiguous manner to choose the proper path of action since it is founded on the
predicted results of various decisions. Last but not least, since Aristotle placed great stress on the growth
of virtues, it's possible that be the best means of encouraging moral conduct in society. The development
of individual character qualities may not be as successful as the development of institutions and societal
structures that support ethical behaviour, such as rules and regulations that discourage wrongdoing and
reward right-doing. Overall, a consequentialist approach to ethics is ultimately more successful and
useful, even though Aristotle's philosophy of virtue ethics offers some insightful ideas.