Aristotle and Virtue

Term Paper # 102440

Philosophy > Ancient Greek

An analysis of Aristotle's beliefs about human virtue and how they can be applied to the modern world.

1,269 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle taught two thousand years ago that unless there is meaning and purpose in people's lives and that unless human beings understand why they suffer and rejoice and why they toil and exert themselves, and unless they comprehend the meaning of life, they do not truly live, but merely exist. The paper discusses how Aristotle emphasized that virtue provides meaning and defines human excellence. The paper also discusses how Aristotle's beliefs seems quaint and outdated today because self-interest and cynicism pervade this modern world, in which people are far more interested in advancement than in virtue.

From the Paper:

"Aristotle sought to provide meaning and understanding through his works, to explain the purpose of existence, and to guide people to lead virtuous lives that will have meaning for them and for those they love. Yet today, millions of people still search for the meaning of life. For so many people, the philosophical teachings of the great philosophers of human history seem archaic, misguided, fearfully strict, hollow, or impossible to achieve. Life seems pointless, values seem flawed, virtuous conduct is rare, and they can find little if any joy or satisfaction in anything. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Aristotle. Complete Works of Aristotle. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995.
Aristotle's Ethics." SEP. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Online. Available: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-ethics/. 11 March 2007.