Okay guys we discussed the ultimate end of all action for Aristotle today: happiness understood not as a psychological feeling but as the fulfillment of one's excellence. That is, the happy life becomes the life in its best or most flourishing state.
For next time tell me what Aristotle means by voluntary action and decision/deliberation. How are these two concepts related to virtue in general as well as justice in particular.
Have a happy (flourishing) weekend,
Dr. Layne
Aristotle seems to focus on virtue as being a product of a specific deliberation followed by action. He seems to say that people are considered virtuous if that act justly and morally on a consistent basis. For Aristotle, being virtuous is a matter of practicing deliberation and making good choices. He says that true virtue can not stem from those who accidentally fall into virtuous behavior, but that true virtue must be a matter of choice. Involuntary actions can not be virtuous, but at the same time isolated involuntary accidents or mistakes can not taint a person's character.
ReplyDeleteI think Aristotle means that voluntary action is something one makes a decision to do. These concepts are related to virtue because one performs virtuous deeds by their own free will. Virtues have to be done intentionally because doing it involuntary would not have the same effect. Virtues are taught as voluntary actions because a person must decide whether or not to perform them. Doing virtuous deeds intentionally will help to define a person's character while doing it unintentionally will not. This is why just and virtuous acts should be performed voluntarily because it impacts a person's character. It shows that a person is willing to do a just action without having to do it on accident.
ReplyDeleteVoluntary actions are your conscious choices for things you do throughout the day, good or bad. All of our virtues must be thought out and cannot come from habits.
ReplyDeleteI think Aritstotle is protraying that our voluntary actions and decisions arise from repeated behaviors.For these actions and decision to be good we must have practiced the right behavior over a long period of time. In this case, good virtues are learned through experiences aided by a good state of mind. So in order to make a virtous decision we must think about what we have learned to be ethically correct over time and use that knowledge in our final decision. This also means that involuntary actions are performed through unawarness or ignorance and we can't be held responsible for them. For our voluntary actions, however, we are held responsible for their consequences.
ReplyDeleteFor Aristotle, voluntary action and deliberation are very distinct. They are connected to virtue because Aristotle believes that a person must always make the right/just act in order to be known as a virtuous person. If a person does not deliberately act just and does so only by force or by accident, then he is not a just or virtuous person.
ReplyDeleteIn book VI, Aristotle says that voluntary action is accidental. That we as humans first think before we act. These thoughts often lead us to what action is best for us and what is virtuous. We cannot accidentally become virtuous or just, but rather that we must decided for ourselves what action is wise and good. In order for one to be virtuous, they must act virtuously. They must think about their actions before executing them and think about what their effects may be. Voluntary action is not something that happens by accident, but is rather a thought process of doing what is virtuous and just.
ReplyDeleteOur decisions and are actions are what makes us virtuous and just. Aristotle believed that what we decide to do and what we actually do should always be beneficial; especially when it comes to the outcome of our action. The consequences of our actions should be thought of during decision making. Making beneficial choices repeatedly throughout one's life makes others see that person as virtuous.
ReplyDeleteHowever, being accidentally just is not virtuous.