Knowra Aristotelian ethics Aristotelian ethics Aristotelian ethics is the tradition based on Aristotle’s account of virtue, practical wisdom, and human flourishing. It treats ethical life as developing character through reasoned action toward a human good.
Eudaimonia : A form of flourishing or living well, often understood as the highest human good. It names the end that gives Aristotle’s account of ethical life its direction.
Habituation : The formation of dispositions through repeated practice and experience. Repeated just actions cultivate the stable character traits that ethical life requires.
Kantian ethics : An ethical theory that grounds moral obligation in rational principles and respect for persons. It contrasts Aristotle’s focus on character and flourishing with morality grounded in duty.
Aristotle : An ancient Greek philosopher whose works shaped logic, natural science, metaphysics, politics, and ethics. His lectures and writings provide the tradition’s original account of virtue and flourishing.
Aristotelian political philosophy : Aristotle’s account of political community as a setting for human flourishing and virtuous activity. It connects ethical development to laws, institutions, and the life of the city.
Arete : Excellence or virtue: a quality that enables a person or thing to perform its function well. Moral virtue is excellence of character, not merely obedience to rules.
Moral virtue : A settled disposition to feel and act well, shaped by habituation and guided by reason. It is the acquired character state Aristotle describes as choosing the mean.
Utilitarianism : An ethical theory that evaluates actions by their consequences for overall well-being. Its decision rule differs from Aristotle’s emphasis on virtue and context-sensitive judgment.
Nicomachean Ethics : Aristotle’s ethical treatise examining the human good, virtue, choice, pleasure, and friendship. This is the principal surviving source for his systematic account of ethical life.
Aristotelian friendship : Aristotle’s account of friendship as a relationship grounded in utility, pleasure, or mutual appreciation of virtue. Friendship is both a good in a flourishing life and a setting for practicing virtue.
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