Aristotle and Platos Theories of Ethics
Uploaded by snwboarder on Oct 27, 2011
This essay examines Aristotle’s and Plato’s theories of ethics, and briefly compares them.
Classical Theories of Ethics – Outline
I Introduction
II Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
III Plato’s Republic
IV Brief Comparison
V Conclusion
Classical Theories of Ethics
I Introduction
The study of ethics takes us all the way back to classical Greece. Since it does, I thought it might be useful to compare “classical” theories from truly classical figures. Thus, we’ll examine Aristotle’s and Plato’s ideas about ethics, as revealed in The Nicomachean Ethics and The Republic.
II Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
We have nothing of Aristotle’s original writings left to us; the Ethics appears to be a sort of “compilation” of his works written down by one Nicomachus, from whom we get the title of this version of the work. Because it is a compendium, not an original work, it’s somewhat repetitive. However, it is still a vital guide to Aristotle’s thought.
The basic point that the philosopher makes in this writing is that the goal of humanity is happiness. He arrives at this by suggesting, in the very first sentence, that the aim of every human activity is good: “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.” (Aristotle, PG).
He argues that what he is looking for is an understanding of the concept of a “universal good,” and he says that it will be “achievable by action.” Furthermore, this action will not be the same for everyone, but that each person will pursue his own ends and find good therein. That is, the doctor will find good in medicine; the farmer in tending his farm; and the politician in politics. “Therefore, if there is an end for all that we do, this will be the good achievable by action…” (Aristotle, PG).
He also says that although it’s obvious that some ends are not final ends (we complete some tasks in order to get to others), at some point when the final end is reached, it will be the “chief good” of the entire process. Lastly, he says that those things that we pursue in and of themselves and not as a means to something else are desirable in themselves. This final end of goodness is what we call happiness. It is a thing, an end in itself. (Aristotle, PG).
III Plato’s Republic
The Republic is Plato’s longest work, and it is concerned largely with the idea of whether it is better to live justly or unjustly. However, in describing his Just City and the type of state that arises from it, he considers the issue of happiness and how it is to be found. Unlike the Ethics, The Republic covers a great many subjects; but woven throughout is Plato’s concern for Forms. (As I understand Forms, they are representations of qualities that exist whether or not the things themselves exist. For example, there is “Tall,” and we can apply that to a tree. The Form of Tall will remain unchanging whether the tree is stricken with disease, cut down, or never existed in the first place. The Form is the idea of the thing, not the thing itself. Plato also uses the idea of Form as part of his justification for the immortality of the soul.)
The most striking (and famous) example of his concern with form and substance is his allegory of the cave. Imagine, he says, a race of people raised in darkness. They are chained against a low wall in a cave so that they cannot move their heads. The only light is from a fire behind and above them. Now imagine that there are people walking along the top of
