Aristotle and Platos Theories of Ethics
Uploaded by snwboarder on Oct 27, 2011
This essay examines Aristotle’s and Plato’s theories of ethics, and briefly compares them.
Classical Theories of Ethics – Outline
I Introduction
II Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
III Plato’s Republic
IV Brief Comparison
V Conclusion
Classical Theories of Ethics
I Introduction
The study of ethics takes us all the way back to classical Greece. Since it does, I thought it might be useful to compare “classical” theories from truly classical figures. Thus, we’ll examine Aristotle’s and Plato’s ideas about ethics, as revealed in The Nicomachean Ethics and The Republic.
II Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
We have nothing of Aristotle’s original writings left to us; the Ethics appears to be a sort of “compilation” of his works written down by one Nicomachus, from whom we get the title of this version of the work. Because it is a compendium, not an original work, it’s somewhat repetitive. However, it is still a vital guide to Aristotle’s thought.
The basic point that the philosopher makes in this writing is that the goal of humanity is happiness. He arrives at this by suggesting, in the very first sentence, that the aim of every human activity is good: “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.” (Aristotle, PG).
He argues that what he is looking for is an understanding of the concept of a “universal good,” and he says that it will be “achievable by action.” Furthermore, this action will not be the same for everyone, but that each person will pursue his own ends and find good therein. That is, the doctor will find good in medicine; the farmer in tending his farm; and the politician in politics. “Therefore, if there is an end for all that we do, this will be the good achievable by action…” (Aristotle, PG).
He also says that although it’s obvious that some ends are not final ends (we complete some tasks in order to get to others), at some point when the final end is reached, it will be the “chief good” of the entire process. Lastly, he says that those things that we pursue in and of themselves and not as a means to something else are desirable in themselves. This final end of goodness is what we call happiness. It is a...