Moral Goodness

Paper Summary:

The paper describes how Aristotle's concept of moral goodness or righteousness, as expounded in his chief work, entitled "Nicomachean Ethics," shows how all human actions are aimed at some good, which is part of a series of goods that lead to an ultimate good. That ultimate good must be complete, final, self-sufficient and unceasing, which is called happiness or "eudamonia" in Greek. The paper also discusses other ideas which appear in "Nicomachean Ethics" such as virtue and the good life, which all ultimately link up to moral goodness.

From the Paper:

"He defines "virtue" or ethical "virtue" as a habit, which disposes a person to act by deliberate choice, being at the mean, and defined by reason as a prudent man would. Virtue is not a single act but a series of acts that proceeds from a habit of acting well. An act is virtuous only if it done deliberately, with full awareness and knowledge, and doing it because it is a noble act. The act must be the golden mean between extremes. And a prudent man is one who exercises the virtue of prudence, which is an intellectual virtue, whereby a person determines the mean in every situation and does it. A virtuous action must also be voluntary, that is, without fear or ignorance, and with proper intention, which works with reason in being performed."

More papers on Moral Goodness:

• Comparison Essay # 114079 : "Goodness According to Aristotle and Alighieri"
• Essay # 68126 : "Kant's Theory of Goodness"
• Analytical Essay # 139755 : "Leibnitz on Reason and Moral Action."

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