PHIL160 INTRODUCTIO N TO ETHICS FEBRUARY, 2011

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Slides by G. Salmieri Revised by J.G.

The human good: a complete life of rational activity in accordance with virtue.
The virtues that make our rational activities excellent will be states of those parts of the human soul in whose activities reason is involved.

Capacity Nutritive Soul (All living things)

Activity Absorbing food Growing Reproducing

Virtue Not applicable

Perceptual Soul Perceiving (Animals) Desiring Moving Rational Soul (Man)

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Virtues of character Virtues of thought

Thinking

Virtue of Character
There are many virtues of character. Each is a state [hexis] (as opposed to a passion or a capacity to feel a passion).
Corresponding to each passion (and the capacity to feel it) there are multiple states, which determine how the capacity is exercised.

Each virtue is a mean between two vices (one of excess and one of deficiency).
It makes the capacity get exercised in the right way, at the right time, to the right degree, etc.all as determined by correct reason [orthos logos] or practical wisdom/prudence [phronesis. The right way lies in a mean not in that it is exactly halfway in between the excess and the deficiency, but only in the sense that for each capacity, there is a right amount (in terms of intensity, frequency, etc.) to use it, and one can either exceed this 4/28/12or fall short of it. In some cases the right way to use it will be quite a lot.

Virtues of Character (or of Habit)

Virtue
Bravery / Courage [Andreia] Temperance / Moderation [Sophrosun] Mildness Generosity Munificence

Area of concern
feelings concerning a noble death.

Excess
confidencerashness fearcowardice intemperance

Deficiency
cowardice

desire for bodily pleasures

insensibility

Anger giving wealth giving and spending large sums

irascibility wastefulness tastelessness or vulgarity

In-irascibility Un-gererosity Niggardliness Stinginess Humility

Pride / Highmindedness [Megalopsuchia] Virtue re. small honors Truthfulness Wittiness

honors (specifically, the Vanity superlative honor due to virtuous men) trivial honors

ambitiousness unambitiousness Self-effacing Irony* boorishness

truth-telling about ones merits in boastfulness social situations amusement in social situations (joking in particular buffoonery

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The Human Soul and its Virtues:

Capacity Nutritive Soul Activity Absorbing food Growing Reproducing Perceiving Desiring Moving Thinking Virtue Not applicable

Perceptual Soul

(listens to reason)

The Virtues of Character The Virtues of Thought

Rationa l Soul
(has reason)

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The Human Soul and its Virtues:

Capacity Nutritive Soul Activity Absorbing food Growing Reproducing Perceiving Desiring Moving Virtue Not applicable

Perceptual Soul

(listens to reason)

The Virtues of Character

Rationa Calculative l Soul

(has reason)

Deliberation [Boul] The (Thinking about what to Virtues of do) Thought Contemplation [Theoria] (Thinking about things that one cannot change)

Theoretical

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The Human Soul and its Virtues:

Capacity Nutritive Soul Activity Absorbing food Growing Reproducing Perceiving Desiring Moving Virtue Not applicable

Perceptual Soul

(listens to reason)

The Virtues of Character or of Habit

Rationa Calculati Productiv Thinking about how to l Soul ve e make things

The Virtues of (has Practical Thinking about what to Thought/ reason) do Intellectu Theoretical Contemplation al Virtues (Thinking about things 4/28/12 that one cannot change)

The Human Soul and its Virtues:

Capacity Nutritive Soul Activity Absorbing food Growing Reproducing Perceiving Desiring Moving Virtue Not applicable

Perceptual Soul

(listens to reason)

The Virtues of Character

Rationa Calculati Productiv Thinking about how to l Soul ve e make things

(has reason)

Practical Thinking about what to do Theoretical Contemplation (thinking about things that one cannot change)

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The Human Soul and its Virtues:

Capacity Nutritive Soul Activity Absorbing food Growing Reproducing Perceiving Desiring Moving Virtue Not applicable

Perceptual Soul

(listens to reason)

The Virtues of Character

Rationa Calculati Productiv Thinking about how The Arts l Soul ve e to make things [Technai]
(has reason)

Practical Thinking about what Practical to do Wisdom [Phronsis] Theoretical Contemplation (Thinking about things that one cannot change) Epistm, Nous, and Sophia

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