Virtue and Character: A Reflection on Aristotle's Philosophy

Lina Okab 10/18/08 Like Aristotle, I likewise believe that virtues are not qualities however a state of character. Aristotle defines virtuous character in Nicomachean Ethics: Excellence [of character], then, is a state worried about choice, lying in a mean relative to us, this being determined by reason and in the way in which the man of practical wisdom would identify it. He argues that our thinking, which is the foundation for our virtues, stems from practice and not from nature.

Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do excellences occur in us; rather we are adjusted by nature to get them, and are made best by habit.

Again, of all the things that pertain to us by nature we first get the potentiality and later show the activity (Aristotle, _ Nicomachean Ethics _). Suggesting that all of the virtues that we believe are what we practice. The point in mind is that all of our morals are instilled in us through the procedure of knowing.

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For instance we are not born lairs but if we option to start telling lies then we form a routine and end up being phonies like with telling the truth.

If you always inform the truth then it ends up being a routine therefore making you sincere. I think of whatever that has occurred in the in 2015. I think of all the mistakes I have actually ever made and question why I even think of them any longer. Why are they so substantial and why are they something that I insistently and relentlessly think of? I understand it is due to the fact that the errors I have actually made in addition to all the wonderful things I have actually done become part of who I am and gaining from my errors assists me comprehend all of who I am and the person I desire to be.

In understanding who I am then I can select to do the best things and therefore ideally live a life that is good and virtuous which in turn would make me pleased. I hope everyone in the world feels this way. Once again, perhaps I am foolish or an exceptionally optimistic person however I would hope that no one of sound mind, no matter how horrible they are, ever desires to feel discomfort or be sad. The ultimate goal of humans is happiness and you can just accomplish happiness if you are willing to discover from the important things that you experience.

Our experiences and our feelings towards our experiences form our choices and actions therefore turning them into habits that eventually shape our characters. Our character then can be broken up into two parts. One part is the part that conquers knowledge and wisdom from everything that we have experienced and teaches us what it is to be virtuous. The second part of our character is the part that our emotions control. These emotions then influence why we choose certain actions and choices. At least this is how I see it.