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Single Idea 33
[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / b. Successful function
]
Full Idea
An individual distinctive excellence is attached to the name of the function (e.g. a good 'harpist').
Clarification
'Excellence' here is the Greek word 'areté', which also translates as 'virtue'
Gist of Idea
Each named function has a distinctive excellence attached to it
Source
Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1098a09)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.76
A Reaction
This is the core idea of Aristotle's metaethics. It seems hard to deny that a function implies the values of success and failure. The debate is likely to focus on the exact meaning of 'distinctive'.
The
229 ideas
from 'Nicomachean Ethics'
8007
|
Aristotle never discusses free will
[Aristotle, by MacIntyre]
|
4326
|
Aristotle gives a superior account of rationality, because he allows emotions to participate
[Hursthouse on Aristotle]
|
4371
|
Seeing particulars as parts of larger wholes is to perceive their value
[Achtenberg on Aristotle]
|
3559
|
For Aristotle, true self-love is love of the higher parts of one's soul
[Aristotle, by Annas]
|
5075
|
Aristotle said there are two levels of virtue - the conventional and the intellectual
[Taylor,R on Aristotle]
|
4370
|
For Aristotle 'good' means purpose, and value is real but relational
[Achtenberg on Aristotle]
|
18673
|
Eudaimonia is said to only have final value, where reason and virtue are also useful
[Aristotle, by Orsi]
|
2681
|
Aristotle is unsure about eudaimonia because he is unsure what people are
[Nagel on Aristotle]
|
4369
|
It is not universals we must perceive for virtue, but particulars, seen as intrinsically good
[Aristotle, by Achtenberg]
|
3548
|
Aristotle neglects the place of rules in the mature virtuous person
[Annas on Aristotle]
|
4117
|
Nowadays we (unlike Aristotle) seem agreed that someone can have one virtue but lack others
[Williams,B on Aristotle]
|
21047
|
Aristotle thought slavery is just if it is both necessary and natural
[Aristotle, by Sandel]
|
21044
|
For Aristotle, debates about justice are debates about the good life
[Aristotle, by Sandel]
|
2684
|
Aristotle needed to distinguish teleological description from teleological explanation
[Irwin on Aristotle]
|
2682
|
Aristotle thinks human life is not important enough to spend a whole life on it
[Nagel on Aristotle]
|
20
|
The good is 'that at which all things aim'
[Aristotle]
|
4380
|
Not all actions aim at some good; akratic actions, for example, do not
[Burnyeat on Aristotle]
|
21
|
Moral acts are so varied that they must be convention, not nature
[Aristotle]
|
22
|
Trained minds never expect more precision than is possible
[Aristotle]
|
23
|
The masses believe, not unreasonably, that the good is pleasure
[Aristotle]
|
24
|
Honour depends too much on the person who awards it
[Aristotle]
|
4119
|
If you aim at honour, you make yourself dependent on the people to whom you wish to be superior
[Aristotle, by Williams,B]
|
25
|
You can be good while asleep, or passive, or in pain
[Aristotle]
|
26
|
Wealth is not the good, because it is only a means
[Aristotle]
|
21356
|
Piety requires us to honour truth above our friends
[Aristotle]
|
5128
|
Each category of existence has its own good, so one Good cannot unite them
[Aristotle]
|
5129
|
There should be one science of the one Good, but there are many overlapping sciences
[Aristotle]
|
5130
|
It is meaningless to speak of 'man-himself', because it has the same definition as plain 'man'
[Aristotle]
|
27
|
Eternal white is no whiter than temporary white, and it is the same with goodness
[Aristotle]
|
5131
|
Intelligence and sight, and some pleasures and honours, are candidates for being good in themselves
[Aristotle]
|
28
|
How will a vision of pure goodness make someone a better doctor?
[Aristotle]
|
18227
|
We desire final things just for themselves, and not for the sake of something else
[Aristotle]
|
5132
|
Goods like pleasure are chosen partly for happiness, but happiness is chosen just for itself
[Aristotle]
|
5133
|
Man is by nature a social being
[Aristotle]
|
30
|
Happiness is perfect and self-sufficient, the end of all action
[Aristotle]
|
5127
|
Does Aristotle say eudaimonia is the aim, or that it ought to be?
[McDowell on Aristotle]
|
5134
|
Perhaps we get a better account of happiness as the good for man if we know his function
[Aristotle]
|
31
|
If bodily organs have functions, presumably the whole person has one
[Aristotle]
|
33
|
Each named function has a distinctive excellence attached to it
[Aristotle]
|
34
|
The good for man is an activity of soul in accordance with virtue
[Aristotle]
|
35
|
A statement is true if all the data are in harmony with it
[Aristotle]
|
5135
|
Goods are external, of the soul, and of the body; those of the soul (such as action) come first
[Aristotle]
|
5136
|
Happiness seems to involve virtue, or practical reason, or wisdom, or pleasure, or external goods
[Aristotle]
|
5137
|
Many pleasures are relative to a person, but some love what is pleasant by nature, and virtue is like that
[Aristotle]
|
5138
|
The fine deeds required for happiness need external resources, like friends or wealth
[Aristotle]
|
38
|
A man can't be happy if he is ugly, or of low birth, or alone and childless
[Aristotle]
|
5139
|
If happiness can be achieved by study and effort, then it is open to anyone who is not corrupt
[Aristotle]
|
5140
|
Political science aims at the highest good, which involves creating virtue in citizens
[Aristotle]
|
5142
|
Oxen, horses and children cannot be happy, because they cannot perform fine deeds
[Aristotle]
|
39
|
Happiness needs total goodness and a complete life
[Aristotle]
|
5143
|
Some good and evil can happen to the dead, just as the living may be unaware of a disaster
[Aristotle]
|
5144
|
Happiness is activity in accordance with complete virtue, for a whole life, with adequate external goods
[Aristotle]
|
4342
|
Aristotle must hold that virtuous King Priam's life can be marred, but not ruined
[Hursthouse on Aristotle]
|
4381
|
How can an action be intrinsically good if it is a means to 'eudaimonia'?
[Ackrill on Aristotle]
|
5145
|
The rational and irrational parts of the soul are either truly separate, or merely described that way
[Aristotle]
|
5146
|
Everything that receives nourishment has a vegetative soul, with it own distinctive excellence
[Aristotle]
|
4383
|
Aristotle seems not to explain why the better syllogism is overcome in akratic actions
[Burnyeat on Aristotle]
|
5147
|
In a controlled person the receptive part of the soul is obedient, and it is in harmony in the virtuous
[Aristotle]
|
5148
|
The irrational psuché is persuadable by reason - shown by our criticism and encouragement of people
[Aristotle]
|
5149
|
The two main parts of the soul give rise to two groups of virtues - intellectual, and moral
[Aristotle]
|
5150
|
Intellectual virtue arises from instruction (and takes time), whereas moral virtue result from habit
[Aristotle]
|
4367
|
Moral virtue is not natural, because its behaviour can be changed, unlike a falling stone
[Aristotle]
|
43
|
Nature enables us to be virtuous, but habit develops virtue in us
[Aristotle]
|
44
|
We acquire virtues by habitually performing good deeds
[Aristotle]
|
21046
|
The aim of legislators, and of a good constitution, is to create good citizens
[Aristotle]
|
5151
|
Justice concerns our behaviour in dealing with other people
[Aristotle]
|
5152
|
Like activities produce like dispositions, so we must give the right quality to the activity
[Aristotle]
|
45
|
We aim not to identify goodness, but to be good
[Aristotle]
|
46
|
We must take for granted that we should act according to right principle
[Aristotle]
|
5153
|
There is no fixed art of good conduct, and each situation is different, as in navigation
[Aristotle]
|
3545
|
The mean implies that vices are opposed to one another, not to virtue
[Aristotle, by Annas]
|
5154
|
Excess and deficiency are bad for virtue, just as they are for bodily health
[Aristotle]
|
47
|
Virtues are destroyed by the excess and preserved by the mean
[Aristotle]
|
4406
|
Aristotle aims at happiness by depressing emotions to a harmless mean
[Nietzsche on Aristotle]
|
4378
|
We must practise virtuous acts because practice actually teaches us the nature of virtue
[Burnyeat on Aristotle]
|
49
|
Character is revealed by the pleasures and pains people feel
[Aristotle]
|
4382
|
Feelings are vital to virtue, but virtue requires choice, which feelings lack
[Kosman on Aristotle]
|
51
|
True education is training from infancy to have correct feelings
[Aristotle]
|
52
|
We choose things for their fineness, their advantage, or for pleasure
[Aristotle]
|
53
|
Feeling inappropriate pleasure or pain affects conduct, and is central to morality
[Aristotle]
|
5156
|
How can good actions breed virtues, if you need to be virtuous to perform good actions?
[Aristotle]
|
6793
|
People can break into the circle of virtue and good action, by chance, or with help
[Aristotle]
|
54
|
Actions are not virtuous because of their quality, but because of the way they are done
[Aristotle]
|
57
|
We acquire virtue by the repeated performance of just and temperate acts
[Aristotle]
|
58
|
If virtues are not feelings or faculties, then they must be dispositions
[Aristotle]
|
5157
|
If a thing has excellence, this makes the thing good, and means it functions well
[Aristotle]
|
60
|
The mean is relative to the individual (diet, for example)
[Aristotle]
|
61
|
Skills are only well performed if they observe the mean
[Aristotle]
|
4388
|
One drink a day is moderation, but very drunk once a week could exhibit the mean
[Urmson on Aristotle]
|
4373
|
Virtue is the feeling of emotions that accord with one's perception of value
[Achtenberg on Aristotle]
|
4387
|
In most normal situations it is not appropriate to have any feelings at all
[Urmson on Aristotle]
|
62
|
We must tune our feelings to be right in every way
[Aristotle]
|
63
|
Virtue is a purposive mean disposition, which follows a rational principle and prudent judgment
[Aristotle]
|
64
|
There is no right time or place or way or person for the committing of adultery; it is just wrong
[Aristotle]
|
5158
|
Actions concern particular cases, and rules must fit the cases, not the other way round
[Aristotle]
|
5159
|
The mean is always right, and the extremes are always wrong
[Aristotle]
|
5160
|
There is a mean of feelings, as in our responses to the good or bad fortune of others
[Aristotle]
|
4333
|
Contraries are by definition as far distant as possible from one another
[Aristotle]
|
65
|
The vices to which we are most strongly pulled are most opposed to the mean
[Aristotle]
|
5161
|
To make one's anger exactly appropriate to a situation is very difficult
[Aristotle]
|
5211
|
An action is voluntary if the limb movements originate in the agent
[Aristotle]
|
5212
|
A man should sooner die than do some dreadful things, no matter how cruel the death
[Aristotle]
|
5213
|
If you repent of an act done through ignorance, you acted involuntarily, not non-voluntarily
[Aristotle]
|
67
|
Bad people are just ignorant of what they ought to do
[Aristotle]
|
5214
|
Acts may be forgivable if particular facts (rather than principles) are unknown
[Aristotle]
|
20192
|
Aristotle assesses whether people are responsible, and if they are it was voluntary
[Aristotle, by Zagzebski]
|
5215
|
There are six categories of particular cirumstance affecting an action
[Aristotle]
|
5216
|
An act is involuntary if the particular facts (esp. circumstances and effect) are unknown
[Aristotle]
|
5217
|
At times we ought to feel angry, and we ought to desire health and learning
[Aristotle]
|
12961
|
For an action to be 'free', it must be deliberate as well as unconstrained
[Aristotle, by Leibniz]
|
68
|
The akrates acts from desire not choice, and the enkrates acts from choice not desire
[Aristotle]
|
4318
|
Virtue is right reason and feeling and action. Akrasia and enkrateia are lower levels of action.
[Aristotle, by Cottingham]
|
4372
|
Akrasia merely neglects or misunderstands knowledge, rather than opposing it
[Achtenberg on Aristotle]
|
24037
|
We all assume immortality is impossible
[Aristotle]
|
4391
|
Opinion is praised for being in accordance with truth
[Aristotle]
|
5218
|
Some people are good at forming opinions, but bad at making moral choices
[Aristotle]
|
5219
|
Types of cause are nature, necessity and chance, and mind and human agency
[Aristotle]
|
23320
|
Choice is not explained by the will, but by the operation of reason when it judges what is good
[Aristotle, by Frede,M]
|
69
|
We deliberate about means, not ends
[Aristotle]
|
5220
|
Particular facts (such as 'is it cooked?') are matters of sense-perception, not deliberation
[Aristotle]
|
5221
|
Deliberation ends when the starting-point of an action is traced back to the dominant part of the self
[Aristotle]
|
5222
|
A person of good character sees the truth about what is actually fine and pleasant
[Aristotle]
|
4118
|
A human being fathers his own actions as he fathers his children
[Aristotle]
|
4394
|
People develop their characters through the activities they pursue
[Aristotle]
|
4384
|
For Aristotle responsibility seems negative, in the absence of force or ignorance
[Irwin on Aristotle]
|
5223
|
We are partly responsible for our own dispositions and virtues
[Aristotle]
|
5224
|
Strictly speaking, a courageous person is one who does not fear an honourable death
[Aristotle]
|
5225
|
The end of virtue is what is right and honourable or fine
[Aristotle]
|
5226
|
True courage is an appropriate response to a dangerous situation
[Aristotle]
|
5227
|
The nature of any given thing is determined by its end
[Aristotle]
|
5228
|
A suicide embraces death to run away from hardships, rather than because it is a fine deed
[Aristotle]
|
5229
|
The more virtuous and happy a person is, the worse the prospect becomes of ending life
[Aristotle]
|
5230
|
There are pleasures of the soul (e.g. civic honour, and learning) and of the body
[Aristotle]
|
71
|
Licentiousness concerns the animal-like pleasures of touch and taste
[Aristotle]
|
5231
|
To eat vast amounts is unnatural, since natural desire is to replenish the deficiency
[Aristotle]
|
5232
|
If beings are dominated by appetite, this can increase so much that it drives out reason
[Aristotle]
|
5233
|
Honour is clearly the greatest external good
[Aristotle]
|
5234
|
For the great-souled man it is sometimes better to be dead
[Aristotle]
|
5235
|
Patient people are indignant, but only appropriately, as their reason prescribes
[Aristotle]
|
5236
|
It is foolish not to be angry when it is appropriate
[Aristotle]
|
5237
|
We cannot properly judge by rules, because blame depends on perception of particulars
[Aristotle]
|
5238
|
The sincere man is praiseworthy, because truth is the mean between boasting and irony
[Aristotle]
|
4389
|
What emotion is displayed in justice, and what are its deficiency and excess?
[Urmson on Aristotle]
|
5239
|
When people speak of justice they mean a disposition of character to behave justly
[Aristotle]
|
5240
|
The word 'unjust' describes law-breaking and exploitation
[Aristotle]
|
5241
|
We hold that every piece of legislation is just
[Aristotle]
|
5242
|
Justice is whatever creates or preserves social happiness
[Aristotle]
|
5243
|
The best people exercise their virtue towards others, rather than to themselves
[Aristotle]
|
23556
|
Particular justice concerns specific temptations, but universal justice concerns the whole character
[Aristotle]
|
5245
|
Society collapses if people cannot rely on exchanging good for good and evil for evil
[Aristotle]
|
5246
|
Natural justice is the same everywhere, and does not (unlike legal justice) depend on acceptance
[Aristotle]
|
72
|
Assume our reason is in two parts, one for permanent first principles, and one for variable things
[Aristotle]
|
73
|
Practical intellect serves to arrive at the truth which corresponds to right appetite
[Aristotle]
|
4405
|
The attainment of truth is the task of the intellectual part of the soul
[Aristotle]
|
76
|
The object of scientific knowledge is what is necessary
[Aristotle]
|
20212
|
Practical reason is truth-attaining, and focused on actions good for human beings
[Aristotle]
|
78
|
Wisdom is scientific and intuitive knowledge of what is by nature most precious
[Aristotle]
|
5247
|
Prudence is mainly concerned with particulars, which is the sphere of human conduct
[Aristotle]
|
79
|
Intuition grasps the definitions that can't be proved
[Aristotle]
|
5248
|
Wisdom does not study happiness, because it is not concerned with processes
[Aristotle]
|
80
|
Virtue ensures that we have correct aims, and prudence that we have correct means of achieving them
[Aristotle]
|
55
|
People who perform just acts unwillingly or ignorantly are still not just
[Aristotle]
|
56
|
A person is good if they act from choice, and for the sake of the actions in themselves
[Aristotle]
|
5249
|
One cannot be prudent without being good
[Aristotle]
|
4362
|
Dispositions to virtue are born in us, but without intelligence they can be harmful
[Aristotle]
|
81
|
For Socrates virtues are principles, involving knowledge, but we say they only imply the principle of practical reason
[Aristotle]
|
82
|
The one virtue of prudence carries with it the possession of all the other virtues
[Aristotle]
|
4386
|
Character can be heroic, excellent, controlled, uncontrolled, bad, or brutish
[Aristotle, by Urmson]
|
5250
|
The three states of character to avoid are vice, 'akrasia' and brutishness
[Aristotle]
|
5251
|
Gods exist in a state which is morally superior to virtue
[Aristotle]
|
22141
|
It is enough if we refute the objections and leave common opinions undisturbed
[Aristotle]
|
5252
|
'Enkrateia' (control) means abiding by one's own calculations
[Aristotle]
|
5254
|
Some people explain akrasia by saying only opinion is present, not knowledge
[Aristotle]
|
5255
|
A person may act against one part of his knowledge, if he knows both universal and particular
[Aristotle]
|
23317
|
Aristotle sees akrasia as acting against what is chosen, not against reason
[Aristotle, by Frede,M]
|
23318
|
Akrasia is explained by past mental failures, not by a specific choice
[Aristotle, by Frede,M]
|
5256
|
Some things are not naturally pleasant, but become so through disease or depravity
[Aristotle]
|
5257
|
Licentious people feel no regret, but weak-willed people are capable of repentance
[Aristotle]
|
5258
|
While replenishing we even enjoy unpleasant things, but only absolute pleasures when we are replenished
[Aristotle]
|
84
|
The greater the pleasure, the greater the hindrance to thought
[Aristotle]
|
1665
|
It is nonsense to say a good person is happy even if they are being tortured or suffering disaster
[Aristotle]
|
5259
|
If we criticise bodily pleasures as licentious and bad, why do we consider their opposite, pain, to be bad?
[Aristotle]
|
383
|
God feels one simple pleasure forever
[Aristotle]
|
2686
|
Aristotle does not confine supreme friendship to moral heroes
[Cooper,JM on Aristotle]
|
5260
|
Friendship holds communities together, and lawgivers value it more than justice
[Aristotle]
|
5261
|
Between friends there is no need for justice
[Aristotle]
|
5262
|
Only lovable things are loved, and they must be good, or pleasant, or useful
[Aristotle]
|
2687
|
For Aristotle in the best friendships the binding force is some excellence of character
[Cooper,JM on Aristotle]
|
85
|
Bad men can have friendships of utility or pleasure, but only good men can be true friends
[Aristotle]
|
5263
|
Most people want to be loved rather than to love, because they desire honour
[Aristotle]
|
5264
|
Friendship is based on a community of sharing
[Aristotle]
|
86
|
A bad political constitution (especially a tyranny) makes friendship almost impossible
[Aristotle]
|
87
|
Democracy is the best constitution for friendship, because it encourages equality
[Aristotle]
|
5265
|
Even more than a social being, man is a pairing and family being
[Aristotle]
|
88
|
Nobody would choose all the good things in world, if the price was loss of identity
[Aristotle]
|
5266
|
It would seem that the thinking part is the individual self
[Aristotle]
|
90
|
All altruism is an extension of self-love
[Aristotle]
|
91
|
A man is his own best friend; therefore he ought to love himself best
[Aristotle]
|
5267
|
Our reasoned acts are held to be voluntary and our own doing
[Aristotle]
|
92
|
Self-love benefits ourselves, and also helps others
[Aristotle]
|
2689
|
Good people enjoy virtuous action, just as musicians enjoy beautiful melodies
[Aristotle]
|
2690
|
Associating with good people can be a training in virtue
[Aristotle]
|
2573
|
To perceive or think is to be conscious of our existence
[Aristotle]
|
93
|
Existence is desirable if one is conscious of one's own goodness
[Aristotle]
|
95
|
If everyone believes it, it is true
[Aristotle]
|
4374
|
For Aristotle, pleasure is the perception of particulars as valuable
[Achtenberg on Aristotle]
|
5268
|
Disreputable pleasures are only pleasant to persons with diseased perception
[Aristotle]
|
96
|
Nobody would choose the mentality of a child, even if they had the greatest childish pleasures
[Aristotle]
|
97
|
There are many things we would want even if they brought no pleasure
[Aristotle]
|
5269
|
Pleasure is not the Good, and not every pleasure is desirable
[Aristotle]
|
98
|
It is right to pursue pleasure, because it enhances life, and life is a thing to choose
[Aristotle]
|
5270
|
Intellectual pleasures are superior to sensuous ones
[Aristotle]
|
99
|
If happiness were mere amusement it wouldn't be worth a lifetime's effort
[Aristotle]
|
100
|
The happy life is in accordance with goodness, which implies seriousness
[Aristotle]
|
101
|
Slaves can't be happy, because they lack freedom
[Aristotle]
|
103
|
Wise people can contemplate alone, though co-operation helps
[Aristotle]
|
18229
|
Only contemplation is sought for its own sake; practical activity always offers some gain
[Aristotle]
|
104
|
Contemplation (with the means to achieve it) is the perfect happiness for man
[Aristotle]
|
5272
|
The intellectual life is divine in comparison with ordinary human life
[Aristotle]
|
105
|
We should aspire to immortality, and live by what is highest in us
[Aristotle]
|
106
|
The best life is that of the intellect, since that is in the fullest sense the man
[Aristotle]
|
107
|
A life of moral virtue brings human happiness, but not divine happiness
[Aristotle]
|
108
|
The virtue of generosity requires money
[Aristotle]
|
109
|
Clearly perfect conduct will involve both good intention and good action
[Aristotle]
|
18232
|
The gods live, but action is unworthy of them, so that only leaves contemplation?
[Aristotle]
|
110
|
Lower animals cannot be happy, because they cannot contemplate
[Aristotle]
|
111
|
The more people contemplate, the happier they are
[Aristotle]
|
4379
|
It is very hard to change a person's character traits by argument
[Aristotle]
|
112
|
Most people are readier to submit to compulsion than to argument
[Aristotle]
|