Aristotle is an ancient greek philosopher that known for his natural philosophy, logic and political

theory.
He is also one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western science and philosophy making
contributions to logic, metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agriculture,
medicine, dance and theatre.
He is the founder of the lyceum, the first scientific institute, that based in Athens, Greece.
Aristotle is one of the strongest advocates of a liberal arts education, which stresses the education of
the whole person, including one's moral character, rather than merely learning a set of skills.

Key concepts of Aristotelian virtue ethics

- Ergon (function)
- Eudaimonia (flourishing)
- Arête (excellence or virtue)
- Phronesis (practical or moral wisdom)

Three different kinds of souls

1. Plant soul - capacity for nourishment and reproduction.
2. Animal soul – capacities of perception and self motion.
3. Intellectual soul – capacity to reason.
- Plants have 1
- Animals have 1, 2
- Human beings have 1,2,3

Nicomachean Ethics 2:2

All human activities aimed at some good. Every art and human inquiry, and similarly every action and
pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has been rightly declared as that at
which all things aim.

Eudaimonia - came from the greek word eu meaning good, and daimon meaning spirit.
- Refers to the good life marked by happiness and excellence.
- Flourishing life filled with meaningful endeavors that empower the human person to be the best
version of himself or herself.
Aristotle's view of good life
- Believe that good for humans is the maximum realization of what was unique to humans.
- The good for humans was the reason well.
Eudaimonia – the true happiness
Eudaimonia is a moralized or “value laden” concept of happiness, something like “true” or “real”
happiness or “the sort of happiness worth seeking or having”. Thereby virtue ethicists claim that a
human life devoted to physical pleasure or the acquisition of wealth is not eudaimon, but I wasted life.
Eudaimonia involves virtuous life - virtues are goals in themselves, not instruments for achieving
eudaimonia.
Nicomachean Ethics 2:1
Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes it’s birth and
growth in teaching (for its reason it requires experience and time) while moral virtue comes about as a
result of habit.

What is a virtue?
- A state of character or a habit of person.
- Morally good habits (excellence habit)
- Behavior showing high moral standard
- A good moral quality in a person, or the general quality of being morally good.
The virtues:
Intellectual virtue - theoretical wisdom (thinking any truth). Practical wisdom. Understanding.
Moral virtue - controlled by practical wisdom (ability to make right judgement). Owed its development
to how one nurtured it as habit. Can be learned.

The Aristotelian Mean also called as the Golden Mean (a balance point)
The virtuous (right) conduct as a mean between two vices of excess.
Virtue – virtual stands for the good deeds and thoughts of humans.
Vice - vice indicates bad or evil side of people.

Aristotle’s list of virtues

Courage, temperance (moderation), honesty, magnificence (choosing the best), ambition, anger,
magnanimity (large – mindedness), wittiness, generosity, friendliness, modesty, patience.

Phronesis or practical wisdom

Virtue of our rational selves. It means judgment or prudence. It is applied to a rational appetites and
desires to make them “good”
Phronesis is vital to achieve eudaimonia (flourishing) or perfection of character over the whole of our
lives.
Justice the firm will to give persons their due.
Prudence is the ability to be cautious in making decisions.
According to Aristotle, happiness depends on ourselves. A central purpose of human life and a goal in
itself. Depends on the cultivation of virtue. A genuinely happy life required the fulfillment of a broad
range of conditions, including physical as well as mental well-being.

Happiness as the ultimate purpose of human existence.

- Happiness is a final end or goal that encompasses the totality of one’s life
- It is not something that can be gained or lost in a few hours, like pleasurable sensations.

Science and technology and good life

- Science and technology is also the movement towards good life.
- Science and technology are the one of the highest expressions of human faculties.
- Science and technology allows us to thrive and flourish if we desire it.
- Science and technology may corrupt a person
 - Science and technology with virtual can help an individual to be out of danger.

Science comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning knowledge.

System of knowledge of the natural world gained through scientific method.
Originally called the philosophy of the natural world

Tenets of the nature of science

1. Scientific knowledge is tentative.
2. Science is empirically-based
3. Science is subjective and Theory laden.
4. Science is inferential, imaginative and creative.
5. Science is socially and culturally embedded.
Technology comes from the Greek words, Techne – art or craft and logia – subject or interests
A system based on the application of knowledge, manifested in physical objects and organizational
forms, for the attainment of specific goals. Volti
Cumulative sum of means used to satisfy human needs and desires and to solve specific problems.
The sum total of systems of machines and techniques that underlie a civilization

Science explores for the purpose of knowing. Technology explores for the purpose of making something
useful from that knowledge. Science drives technology by making new technology possible through
scientific breakthroughs.

Ancient Civilizations

From Villages to Cities

- Development of irrigation led to farming
- Created other jobs in the village led to division of labor
- Leaders began to make decisions for the village
Cities lead to civilization
- Larger and more populated than villages
- Diverse people
- Formal organizations
- Centers of trade

Civilization is a high complex, highly organized social order

- Process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development and
organization.
- The society, culture, and way of life of a particular area

The first civilizations

- The first four civilization surfaced near river values because conditions favored farming
- Ur and Uruk near Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Middle East.
- Memphis on the Nile river, Africa
- Mohenjo Daro on the Indus river, India
 - Anyang near the Huang He (Yellow river), china

Characteristics of civilizations
1. Develop cities
2. Organized government
3. Formalized religion
4. Job specialization or division of labor
5. Social classes
6. Record keeping and writing
7. Art and architecture

Developed Cities
- Early cities arose from farming settlements.
- Near rivers
- Surrounded by high walls
- Centers of trade and commerce
- Central feature of a civilization
Organized Government
- Organized and regulate human activities
- Oversee immigration project
- Ensure a steady food supply
- Issue laws
- Organize defense and military
- Collect taxes
Formalized Religion
- Gods controlled natural forces and human activities
- To ensure good favor with the gods, temples were built and sacrifices offered
- Full-time priests or religious group
Job Specialization/ Division of Labor
- Increase in population an increase in task leads people to specialize in certain jobs:
Artisans, metal workers, bricklayers, soldiers/military to defend city, merchants and traders
- Specialization made people dependent on other various jobs
Social Classes
- People were ranked according to perceived value of task or role:
• priests/nobles
• wealthy merchants (small group)
• artisans
• peasants/ farmers (majority)
• slaves
Record Keeping and Writing
- Originated with the records of religious offering
- Train scribes and educated them to read and write
Art and Architecture
- Express beliefs and values
 - Architects built temples and pyramids for worship or sacrifice, for the burial of kings and other
important people
- Painters and sculptors portrayed stories of nature

Technology in ancient civilization

- Desire to raise the quality of life of the people
- Areas of technological development include:
• Transportation - to discover, search and trade
• Communication- to facilitate trade, record keeping
• Weapons and armors - establishment of new alliance
• Conservation of life - discovery of curse, prevention of illnesses
• Engineering - build structures for protection
• Architecture- designs, establish the identity of a nation
Technological advancements in:
1. Sumerian civilization
2. Babylonian civilization
3. Egyptian civilization
4. Chinese civilization
5. Other civilization

Sumerian Civilizations
- Located on the southernmost tip of ancient mesopotamia (Iraq)
- Known for their high degree of cooperation with one another and desire for great things
Cuneiform – first writing
Uruk City – first true city

Major Contributions
The Great Ziggurat of Ur - mountain of God. Served as the sacred place of their chief God
Sail Boat - mean mode of transportation
Wheel - made for farmwork and food process
The Plow - invented to dig the earth in a fastest pace

Babylonian Civilization
- Emerge near the Tigris and Euphrates river. Great builders, engineers and architects

Major Contribution
Hanging gardens of babylon - one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

Egyptian Civilization
- Located in North Africa
- Known for their infrastructures established by the pharaohs
- Built pyramids
Major Contribution
Paper or papyrus, ink

Hieroglyphics - system of writing using symbols

Cosmetics – Kohl
Water clock or Clepsydra - timekeeping device

Chinese Civilization
- Oldest civilization in asia
- Oldest known as the middle kingdom located at the far east of asia
- Famous for its silk trade
Major Contribution
The Great Wall of China
Silk – produce from silk
Tea production
Gun powder

Other Ancient civilizations

Greek Civilization – Birthplace of western philosophy
- Alarm clock
- Water mill
Roman Civilization - cradle of politics and governance
- Newspaper
- Bound books
- Roman numerals

Change in Civilizations
- Environmental influences led to expansion in trade to get scarce resources.
- Cultural diffusion - spread of ideas, beliefs, customs and technology from one people to
another because of:
• Trade
• Migration
• Warfare