Review article

Aristotle’s Education for Virtues

Željko Senković

Abstract

This paper discusses the nature of moral virtues in Aristotle’s philosophy, and illustrates and analyses some of the virtues in his Nicomachean Ethics. Achieving just the right measure (i.e. the mean, which is that which is best) is possible with the development of the right habitus, a good state of character attained on one’s path from immaturity to that which is best. According to Aristotle, ethicality is closely associated with politicality, i.e. only morally good citizens render their community successful and vice versa, and the righteousness and wisdom of laws guarantees the perfection of citizens. The virtues are also necessary for the attainment of the final cause or purpose of all moral action, i.e. happiness (eudaimonia), which stands in relation to not only the virtues but also the necessity of external goods. Yet, this too is about the mean as the highest level of value.

Keywords

moral virtues; logos; courage; temperateness; charitableness; kalokagathia; generosity; reasonableness; polis; eudaimonia

Hrčak ID:

8958

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/8958

Publication date:

1.2.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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