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A R I S T O T L E
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INTRODUCTION Moral
Philosophy

We like to think we understand happiness. Everything we do is some effort to make

us happy, right?
Aristotle wasn't so sure. On the whole he thought we were dreadful at knowing how
to achieve fulfilment in life - we have no idea how to flourish as human beings. What
is the purpose of human life? How can we live our best lives and be our best selves?
These are the kinds of questions that Aristotle was interested in answering.

GUIDING QUESTION

Q: Is the point of life to find happiness?

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What reasons do you have for your answer?

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What might someone who disagrees with you say?

By Susan Andrews & Daniel Mccrea

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 Strand 7
Aristotle Moral
Philosophy

BIO
Aristotle was an Ancient Greek philosopher and scientist. His dad was a doctor and
Aristotle was interested in nature and anatomy. He was a student of Platos’ and
became his star pupil when he came up with new ideas of how to think about the
world. After Plato’s death, Aristotle left Athens and became the tutor of Alexander
the Great. Teaching a king opened him many doors and opportunities, so later on he
founded his own school in Athens – the Lyceum.

KEY CONCEPTS
Purpose, Happiness, Flourishing, Ethics, Habits, Education

KEY QUOTES
“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human
existence.”
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without
accepting it.”
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere
effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives –
choice, not chance, determines your destiny.”
“A friend to all is a friend to none.”
“Happiness depends upon ourselves”.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all”.

CENTRAL IDEAS

Purpose in Nature
-Aristotle has a teleological understanding of nature – he thinks everything has a
purpose or goal towards which it strives. This is the essence or form of a thing – that
which makes it precisely the thing it is.
-Aristotle was an essentialist. He thought that things had an essence to which you
could reduce it. A swimming pool for example might have or might not have a diving
board. So this is not an essential part. Neither is the chlorine. You might argue that
water is an essential part. But water on its own does not make it a swimming pool.
-Aristotle thinks that,“nature itself is for something” too (Physics, 198)
So, ducks develop webbed feet in order to swim, for swimming belongs to a duck’s
end, purpose or telos.The telos of a seed is the flower into which it will grow. The
definition of a toe should mention a foot because without a foot toes cannot exist.
Happiness
Aristotle claims that all humans strive for eudaimonia (In his book, Nicomachean Ethics
| 1095) It is often translated as ‘happiness’ or ‘flourishing’. Eudaimonia is the ‘highest
good’. It has two characteristics…
a) it is desirable for itself,
b) all other goods are desirable for its sake.
In other words, we want everything for the sake, ultimately, of eudaimonia, or because
we want to achieve a eudaimon state.

Uniqueness of Humans
-Aristotle is concerned with what makes human beings distinct from plants and other
animals.
-Aristotle states that human beings are the only species that are rational and can
reason.
“The good of a human being must have something to do with being human; and what
sets humanity off from other species, giving us the potential to live a better life, is our
capacity to guide ourselves by using reason.” (SEP)

Live thoughtfully
The function (ergon) of humans is to live and act thoughtfully.

• It means to think about what we do.

• To reason things through before acting.
• To respond to situations in a considered manner, not just emotionally.
• To cultivate/practice the right habits.

Summary
P1: Eudaimonia is what all humans seek.
P2: To reach “human” eudaimonia, we must use what is unique to human beings.
P3: Humans have the unique capacity to reason and be thoughtful.
C: Through living thoughtfully, we will reach eudaimonia.

Ethics
Ethics is quite a practical thing for Aristotle.
a) We need to live thoughtfully, using our reason.
b) We must practice the right habits.
Aristotle calls these habits for making us flourish the ‘virtues’.
Virtues / Characteristics
Aristotle suggests a number of virtues we should work on in order to flourish – the
intellectual and the ethical.

•Intellectual Virtues are for example; Theoretical Wisdom | Science (epistêmê) |

Intuitive Understanding (nous) | Practical Wisdom | Craft Expertise.
•Ethical Virtues are for example; Courage | Temperance | Justice | Friendship | Proper
Ambition | Wit and several more.

The Doctrine of the Mean

Virtues are those excellent traits of character that help us to act and are developed
through good habits.
Aristotle advises that we should avoid excess and deficiency but aim for the mean or
moderate response to a situation. Everything in moderation… Too much food, or too
much exercise, are bad for health, just as too little food or exercise are. The same goes
for ethical matters. And just like exercise, you need to practise being good to become
“good”.
Aristotle would say: We are what we repeatedly do.