Essay about Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue

Aristotle and Plato both said that there are four "natural virtues": Justice, Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude. These values are all necessary to achieve human flourishing. Another key part of Aristotle’s ethic is what he referred to as ‘The Golden Mean’. He believed that a virtue can not necessarily be viewed as a virtue when it is used in excess. For example, courage is a virtue, but in excess it becomes rashness, a vice rather than a virtue. Moreover, when there is a lack of a certain virtue, this is also considered a vice. Aristotle's ethic is based primarily on balance. There cannot be too much excess or too little of the virtue. Thus, he said: "The mean [i.e. the balance] is successful and commendable. Virtue then is a state of deliberate moral purpose consisting in a mean that is relative to ourselves, the mean being determined by reason, or as a prudent man would determine it.”

To be a human you must practice the four virtues, benevolence, righteousness, propriety and knowledge. Mencius said, “Since all men have these four principles in themselves, let them know to give them all their development and completion” (Plato, 47). One can practice good virtue by correcting oneself after every failure, eventually developing their true potential. Mencius taught the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” as a sure path to achieving goodness. Mencius’s philosophy of human nature consists of obtaining the pure instincts you were born with as a child throughout your life and eventually achieving good virtue humans are capable of

which we behave towards one another. Possessing virtue or a sort of charisma comes from being a

The Master Kung, the real Confucius was the world’s greatest moral teacher.  He came up with the five basic loyalties that everyone should follow. That being said the basic ethical lesson that Confucius taught was the value of harmony and importance of treating others decently.  This shows that ethical values are important to a standing society. The government’s main job is to make this happen in the next generation’s

(See Nicomachean Ethics Book II, sections 7-9)? Aristotle believed the key to a healthy morality was to reach a good life with a goal for humanity. Instead of virtue or the good, people should strive for happiness. Happiness can be achieved by being true to one’s essence or one’s cause.

Aristotle one of the best philosopher in our history developed a moral system in which brings virtue, and it tells us what the best type of act we can do. According to Aristotle, “The virtuous act is the mean between two extremes, which are vices; for example courage is the mean between rashness and cowardice” (Cahn 135). This means that we should have control of our emotions, and think how we are going to act, then we will be making a virtuous act. When a person acts with courage he will become virtuous because he practiced being courageous. He will become what he practices. However Aristotle’s system does not

A lot of philosophers, especially Mencius and Xunzi, discussed human nature with various views on moral aspect of human nature, which can be defined as the methods of thinking acting, feeling and thinking that humans tend to have naturally, in the past few millenniums. Mencius argued that human nature is basically good but Xunzi thought that human nature is basically evil. As the reasoning behind the arguments of Xunzi is more convincing and logical than that of Mencius, the interpretation of the approach of Xunzi is better than that of Mencius. This essay will discuss the approaches of Mencius and Xunzi on human nature by analyzing and comparing both in terms of their strengths and weakness.

East Asian thought has always made the meaning of virtue a prominent necessity in one’s life. The term virtue was a name for moral value and principle in their society. Virtue had always been associated with power throughout hundreds of centuries in East Asia. This referred to reproductive power or material power such as physical strength. However, during Confucius’ time virtue also came to include moral power. This moral power in East Asia was to achieve something for the “self” and others, along with the ability to persuade. In East Asia, morality and principles have been directly related with virtues. Although East Asia

The paper discusses both the Confucian moral theory and virtue logic in broader perspectives. The Confucianism looks at moral thoughts as a broad aspect of morality in our society. This is the reason why Xinzhong Yao argues in his book that morality can only start with individuals. The author outlines Ren as one of the primary moral principles which help the individuals for self-establish thus also establish others. The Confucians hold a strong belief that morality is constant for everyone and that it is not one of the things a person can choose to do or not do. One of the founders of Confucianism is Mencius that poses some questions with regards to morality. He argues that everyone who is morally upright has ever experienced a force of

In life the moral excellence of a person is to be achieved, in most societies. As with virtues which can define a person, the habit of being virtuous can have a greater fulfillment in life. The Code of Manu sets forth that a virtuous man can be the result of ensuing the guidelines of conduct. Within Confucius Analects which shed light on qualities of leading a good life, by virtue that has rule to joy and be shielded from unhappiness. As both works show that leading a virtuous life will lead to great enjoyment in the end.

Moreover, Unitarianism intent is to return morality to the search for personal satisfaction, something that Kantian theory had disregarded. For Aristotle, Aristotelian focuses not so much as what can be classified as moral or unmoral, but rather the concept of virtue. According to the Greek philosopher, ethics I its stress on being virtuous as opposed to merely following moral rules. As stated by Aristotle, virtue is a rational activity, activity in accordance with a rational principle and his concentration of man as an essential rational “being” of the “natural good for a man” is. Discovering what a man desires for his own benefit, rather than for the benefit of others.

Nicomachean Ethics teaches that in all the activities that we aim to accomplish, the good should be something final and self-sufficient. Aristotle explains, “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good” (Aristotle 624). Aristotle tells us as the reader that our virtues are the reason why we chose to pursue things that we like and stay away from the things that we do not like. We chose to be around things that brings us joy. Virtue is defined as a moral excellence. Aristotle explains, “Since things that are found in the soul are of three kinds – passions, faculties, states of character – virtues must be one of these” (Aristotle 627). An example of passion can be a fear or something that

This rule included the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, friend and friend, and elder and younger. It stated that each individual has a responsibility to others, so one should become others’ example by acting their best with virtue. In Confucianism, unlike Taoism, virtue is not inherent, and it is accumulate during the lifelong learning. On the other hand, Confucians are taught by ‘Four books’ and ‘Five Classics that included history, poetry, rites and many different subjects.

Morals are sometimes known to be a tricky thing. Most everyone around the world has morals, but they all have a different meaning. In a standard definition, morals are “standards of behavior; principles of right and wrong” (Moral). People judge how they should act or respond to things based upon their morals. In addition, people rely on other standards to apply as well as their own. People relate with others moral codes to increase or change their own ideas. They follow how others have responded to a situation that could be very unfamiliar to them in hopes that the situation will become clearer. I am going to show some influential philosophers and their morality, as well as try to explain how I incorporate many philosopher’s morals and ethical systems into my own code.

Aristotle and Confucius believed on moral reciprocity has the essentials of the friendship qualities such as social standing and moral goodness (Mullis 396)