Philosophy

Philosophy Study Guide

is known as teleological, which is the view that everything has a design or a purpose. The natural principle that drives the teleology of the universe is entelechy, a principle that reveals that all events occur according to a natural design. All elements of the universe embody a distinctive essence or potential, the purpose of which is to achieve full expression. In humans, our entelechy is embodied in our souls, which exist as the form of our bodies. What makes the human soul distinctive is its capacity to reason, reflect, and make choices. Thus, achieving your unique purpose in life and experiencing genuine happiness in the process, means choosing to permit your soul to reach its full potential, to exercise its full powers in accord with reason and virtue (which is based on reason). Aristotle concludes that happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with complete or perfect virtue and he establishes two distinct categories of virtues, intellectual and moral. Moral virtues include qualities such as being temperate, generous, friendly, and truthful and these are developed over time, but unlike the intellectual virtues which requires a great deal of formal instruction. Aristotle believes that moral virtues are mainly developed through consistent and ongoing practice. Aristotle does recognize that simply knowing what a moral virtue is or the ethical correct curse of action is no guarantee that a person is going to will him or herself to make the morally enlightened choice. For Aristotle, the experience of acting morally (compassionately, courageously, and truthfully) counts on an authentic moral action only if the following conditions apply: ● Know what he or she is doing ● Deliberately choose to do it and do it for its own sake ● Do it as an example of a settled and immutable moral state meaning the choices should reflect and established and committed moral character Aristotle’s famous doctrine The Golden Mean discusses a moral philosophy that is based on the concepts of temperance (moderation), self-discipline, and balance. The Golden Mean is the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency. Aristotle believes we need to avoid the extremes and focus on the ideal balance between them. The ultimate determinate of what is morally virtuous is determined by each individual, using his or her accumulated experience and ability to reason to define his or her own personal Golden Mean. Aristotle points out that not all behaviors or emotions are appropriate for a Golden Mean analysis, meaning some things are just vices, pure and simple. For Aristotle, a virtuous life (the way that we ought to live) involves a balanced and harmonious integration of the various behaviors, values, emotions, and attitudes, in accordance with the Golden Mean. Aristotle states that all virtues are not equal, and that the most virtuous life is devoted to intellectual reflection and contemplation. It is this life that leads to the greatest possible human happiness. Living a life based on the mind’s best work— its ability to reason, reflect, and contemplate—is the ultimate happiness. Such a life enables us to touch the divine, realize our true self, and achieve the greatest possible happiness. 9.2 Maxims: Duty to Moral Laws Immanuel Kant was a deontologist, a person with an ethical perspective that holds that it is the

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