Scribd
Upload
154 views

Is There A Golden Mean On Vices

The document discusses Aristotle's principle of the golden mean and whether it can apply to vices. It argues that there is no golden mean for vices, as the principle aims for balance between extremes, not within vices themselves. It then analyzes whether the truly courageous person is one who finds courage difficult or easy. It claims the difficult person more exemplifies courage as virtue requires effort over time through repeated practice to develop. Finally, it evaluates two scenarios: one where people donate to famine relief out of feeling or duty, and another where people consider or resist embezzlement. It argues the feeling donor and the person who never considered theft are more moral as virtue ethics focuses on one's character

Uploaded by

Ken Kyoushi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
154 views

Is There A Golden Mean On Vices

The document discusses Aristotle's principle of the golden mean and whether it can apply to vices. It argues that there is no golden mean for vices, as the principle aims for balance between extremes, not within vices themselves. It then analyzes whether the truly courageous person is one who finds courage difficult or easy. It claims the difficult person more exemplifies courage as virtue requires effort over time through repeated practice to develop. Finally, it evaluates two scenarios: one where people donate to famine relief out of feeling or duty, and another where people consider or resist embezzlement. It argues the feeling donor and the person who never considered theft are more moral as virtue ethics focuses on one's character

Uploaded by

Ken Kyoushi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

1. Is there a golden mean on vices? Why? Why not? Discuss your points.

Based on Aristotle’s principle of golden mean, vices are defined as the extremes of the moral virtue
which are identified as the extremes of deficiency and extremes of excess. There is no way that there
is a golden mean on the vices since the principle of golden mean strives for the balance between the
vices. And not on the vices itself. The principle of golden mean holds that the moral virtue is the
mean between the two extreme vices and it lies in between of it. Thus, having a golden mean on the
vices contradicts Aristotle’s principle of golden mean. The vices will always remain as the extremes
of the moral virtue.

2. Who most exemplifies the virtue of courage—the person who finds it difficult to be brave or
the person who finds it easy to be courageous? If you were the moral agent (the person) which of
these two options are you? Discuss your reasons and points.

The virtue of courage falls in the sphere of feeling of having fear and confidence to act and do
something. This virtue is not easy to acquire and it needs to be repeatedly done in order to acquire it.
Hence, in my own understanding of virtue ethics, it is the person who finds it difficult to be brave
that most exemplifies the virtue of courage. The virtue of courage is most virtuous when it is
combined with effort and knowledge. It is clear that the person who finds it difficult to be brave is
more knowledgeable and they tend to do it over and over again which involves patience and effort.
Developing the virtue of courage is always a journey that requires both effort and practice over time.
Thus, the person who finds it difficult to be brave tend to have the experience/feeling of being willful
to conquer fear that those persons who finds it easy to be courageous don’t have. Being able to be
courageous easily would tend anyone to become rash in the future. Just like for this instance wherein
in an attempt to save your comrades during war, you tend to become rash/hasty in a way that you
catch the grenade bomb to save your friends since you find it easy to become courageous. This act
would fall on vice of rashness wherein you demonstrated rashness act. If I were the moral agent, I
would be the person who finds it difficult to be brave. Based on my experience, I find it hard to speak
for the huge number of people and to make improvements, I tend to done it repeatedly and perform
it in order to conquer this problem. I believe that this effort and experience of mine, which is to
conquer my fear and to be courageous, demonstrates that this most exemplifies the virtue of
courage.

3. John hears that 100,000 people are starving in Ethiopia. He feels sorrow about this and sends
$100 of his hard-earned money to a famine relief project in that country. Joan hears the same
news but doesn’t feel anything. However, out of a sense of duty, she sends $100 of her hard-
earned money to the same famine relief project. Consider another example. Jack and Jill each
have the opportunity to embezzle $1 million from the bank at which they work. Jill never even
considers embezzling; the possibility is not an option for her. Jack wrestles valiantly with the
temptation, almost succumbs to it, but through a grand effort of will finally succeeds in resisting
the temptation. Who, if anyone, in each of these cases is more moral? Why? Discuss your points

In the first case, I consider John as the one who is more moral. John’s action is purely done out of
compassion and sincerity. Unlike Joan, John felt sorrow after hearing this and he decided to send his
hard earned money for the 100,000 starving Ethiopians. In Virtue ethics, it is the virtue and the
character of the agent that matters the most. Acting on duty and obligation is not the focus of Virtue
ethics, but rather, it is the focus of Deontological ethics. Being able to feel sorrow and be generous
towards others exemplifies the virtue of generosity. Thus, John who made the decision guided by his
virtue of generosity is more moral than Joan, who made the decision out of sense of duty and
without feelings. It is after we constantly practice the virtue that we can live a moral life.

In the second case, I consider Jill as the one who is more moral. The fact that Jill never even
considered the possibility of embezzling the money, which is a lot, proves that Jill is living an honest
life and had a great sense of control, great enough that she didn’t consider the temptation of being
rich. Even though Jack managed to resist the temptation, which is a good job, he still needs a lot of
practice and repetition of the virtues in order to live a moral life. It is proven in this case that Jill
already had the habit of practicing the virtue of honesty and virtue of self-control, which is evident in
her choice. Thus, it is Jill that is more moral in this case because of her practice of the virtues which is
evident in her choice to ignore the possibility of embezzlement.

You might also like