Aristotle & Virtue Theory: Crash Course Philosophy #38

[@HI1804]

*sees thief* "Could i please check your age, height,weight,strength,stamina,agility, intelligence and overall dexterity before we do this"

[@nono-hp5kx]

i agree that naturally become a good person by having good intent and wisdom and focus with passion (i theorize passionate view of the world and inner philosophy) makes someone virtuous but i dont agree that EVERYTHING is in the middle I think that there need to be a good balance like he said, but some things are both closer to the stronger (extremes) but in the middle in total/part at the same time let's say there you had an bag full of wood, and important items are not in your bag and you might be able to fight the guy, then you make a deal to give that bag to the robber if he leaves the grandma alone and you do it by offering him your bag full of shitty wood and luring him away from the old lady by leaving your bag on the floor and laying down 25 feet next to it, but you dont fight him, that is both less rekless than typical courage but more brave and virtuous than typical courage so it is both i think the philosophical psychology of aristotle is that he knew the good focus created good virtuous character, but he did not know how to justify his theory and lol

[@abrahamrocha4763]

Omg 😲 YOUR'E GORGEOUS!!!

[@maerythegreek9008]

@@nono-hp5kx Aristole believed actually that the better "road" for everything is in the middle,a balance between good and bad (lack and exaggeration). He admits that both exist but middle is right way in art,in life and to achieve our goals.. It's a shame that we can't find the middle in today's civilisation of fanatism and decline! (Anyway I gave exams on this subject..)

[@minissa2009]

@@maerythegreek9008 This is a key feature of what the Buddha taught!

[@maerythegreek9008]

@@minissa2009 Yes! The phyloshophy of Budishm was this idea of the "middle" Western philosophy has this "white and black" destinction but the Asiatic has grey zones!

[@CANomad27]

When you sit in a classroom for 4 months and then get more information from a video that's not even 10 min long.

[@carsonbarlow348]

+

[@PragmaticAntithesis]

RIP traditional education.

[@josephinemcgregor]

yep

[@JBLuv78]

Know the feeling. I consider the classroom months "stewing" and these videos "enjoying the finished product"

[@Matthew-fh4xo]

you had a grant or a scholarship, or you just wasted a lot of money... j/k

[@grimtheghastly8878]

Virtue theory: I WANNA BE! THE VERY BEST! LIKE NO ONE EVER WAS!

[@Citelq]

Hooray for free education!

[@K4R3N]

It's from PBS, your taxes paid for this. Nothing is free.

[@chowtom5174]

Eudaimonia is....... finishing my essay the night before the deadline and still have time to catch plenty of sleep

[@daxnihilson9380]

So a few comments: 1. The place of virtue in the soul is important to note because of Aristotle's ultimate goals. For Aristotle, the ultimate goal is happiness (which we know because everyone desires it), and happiness for Aristotle is rational activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. This is because there are essentially three parts of the soul to Aristotle (well, two and a half). The first part is pure reason, the rational part of the soul. The other parts of the soul could both be considered "nonrational," but one of them (the appetitive part), is capable of following reason. The reason I bring this up is because it's necessary to know to understand why virtue is important at all- it's the means of the nonrational to cooperate with the rational. 2. Virtue is not an arithmetic mean, but rather a circumstantial one. Hank somewhat implies this, but it's important to be said more fully, as the interpretation of it as an arithmetic mean was done extensively in the middle ages, which is actually a pretty terrible misreading. Consider the purpose of a virtue like temperance- if someone has the virtue of temperance, they are able to fight against the urges of the body and have reason overcome them. Considering this an arithmetic mean, like the church did, puts a hard limit on not doing things like drinking, which removes the focus of the virtues from the idea of cooperation with rationality. Like I said, the rationalism is important. 3. Virtue also can't just be done, it has to be intended. Children are able to do virtuous things by accident, but that does not mean they are virtuous. This is something that Hank actually misses a bit. The importance of intention, once again, connects to the idea of rationality. I bring this all up because it's easy to overemphasize character virtues in Aristotle's works. The rational aspects of it are just as important, and shouldn't be neglected to be noted in an introductory video. Not criticizing, just expanding.

[@kaerblover]

"Eudaimonia doesn’t mean a life of cupcakes and rainbows. It means the sweet pleasure of sinking into bed at the end of an absolutely exhausting day. It’s the satisfaction of knowing you’ve accomplished a lot, and that you’ve pushed yourself to be the very best person you could be." ~Crash Course Philosopy #38

[@akap]

Aristotle V Godzilla NEEDS to be a movie.

[@johnarbuckle2619]

JudaTheIsm YES

[@SomePointlessShit]

I'm not sure why but I read that as Gorillaz...

[@drefir42]

SomePointlessShit Also yes!

[@pena9530]

all of the yes

[@Triumph263]

"Being a super-powerful all-mighty lizard-thing may be awesome but you're doing it in excess!" *throws car at him*

[@semaeraslan7714]

This is by far one of the most well-done videos i've ever watched recently. I like the content, the way it's put.. Really appreciate your work! Thanks Crash Course!

[@eddieking2976]

Reminds me of the "middle path", in Buddhist philosophy.

[@adamforsstrand2048]

While that's kinda true, I believe none of those (the "golden mean" and the "middle path") overlap one another. It's just another golden nugget of life. Take these philosophies together: the "middle path" (buddhism), the "golden mean" (aristotle) and the "golden rule" (Confucius, "Treat others as you'd want to be treated" for short), and they're all kinda related, but they only reinforce themselves as ideas and philosophies of life (and death), together to create a somewhat "Golden Path".

[@phils0209]

you can practically exchange the word 'virtue' in the video with 'wisdom'

[@taschke1221]

adam forsstrand I'd have to say the US Army Rangers have them all beat. "Do as the natives do." Of course you have to take a general concensus to get a handle on social norms, you can't just take the first knucklehead you see and make them the gold standard. You take what you know and you give concideration to the environment your in and act accordingly. If you've been paying attention up to that point and not self-absorbed, you'll do just fine. People tend to stress about their own problems to a point that they haven't really made the time to consider the problems of others. You may have a brother or sister or many who are in the same boat, literally or by means of the stress it causes them, emotionally, physically, etc. Everyone's problems are great to themselves because they effect us directly but other peoples' problems have indirect effects that can be just as important (i.e. they lash out one day, they pass away, they quit their job, they give up on getting a job, they are angry or sad and it slowly makes you angry or sad, etc.) It's too deep for me to encompass in a single message but I hope I've made and reenforced my point from an angle that a) you may not have thought of and b) turns out to be positively influential influential some way.

[@andrejansen3281]

Indeed, very similar. I would call Buddhist ethics virtue ethics. Although in Buddhism, morality alone is just the beginning' and morality alone doesn't give rise to eudaimonia or release from sufferring. Morality is a foundation from which to build wisdom, or insight into the true nature of things in order to avoid the trappings of craving, attachment and other delusions. For example, coping with the loss of loved ones, rejection, poor health, and the subtle rise and fall of the ego - all the while acting morally unblameworthy. It's broken down into 1. Avoid the bad (morality) 2. Do only good (skillful action and kindness - also included in virtue theory) and 3. Purify the mind (meditation and contemplation)

[@ishmaelforester9825]

Out of interest, have you seriously studied Aristotelian or Buddhist ethics? With the utmost respect, I have to say there really is nothing you have apparently imbibed from the US Army Rangers that was not profoundly explored and considered by those noble traditions thousands of years ago.

[@jmiquelmb]

That was a nice positivistic approach compared to other previous ones. Also, Eudaimonia is a fun word. Eudaimonia. Haha. Eudaimonia

[@0744401]

How insulting.

[@Jus10Ed]

Eudaimonia. Eudaimonia. You're right; that is fun.

[@jmiquelmb]

Why?

[@0744401]

Calling someone a positivist is one of the worst insults you can call a modern philosopher. It's tantamount to saying they are a pretentious bag of hot air and nonsense.

[@jmiquelmb]

Annaelle Jacques-Morel Well, I meant that it feels more positive to me. "If you try to behave well on a daily basis, you'll do good." English is not my first language, so maybe I didn't explained well.

[@KC-ge1vf]

Thank you so much for making these videos. You're making student's life 100x easier, and it's good for people who's not in school to know something valuable in a very concentrate time. I will keep watching your videos even after I graduate!

[@stuffwithsoph8264]

God I love Philosophy.

[@marinayeary2318]

Can Crash Course please do a series on math, including things like statistics, probability and experimental design? Thank you :)

[@masonbloomquist2124]

i love this its like "if you do it right you'll know what do do" "ok then what do i do?" "your doing it wrong"

[@kial3831]

I love that your videos are so easy to understand when I don't understand my textbook. Thank you

[@NeilSonOfNorbert]

watching this i was stunned by how precisely this describes my morality, with the exception of believing everyone is instinctively moral. striving for the happy middle between extremes, trying to be a good person as an active process, heck i almost literally live the flash philosophy example and came to the same conclusions. all this before i had ever heard of Aristotle's moral philosophy.

[@KittyCatThang]

Eudaimonia might just be a new favorite word for me. :)

[@MikeH89]

The comments on Eudaimonia really meant a lot because I'm currently working full time and studying a law degree. A lot of mornings it's hard to get up but the sense of achievement at the end of the day is great

[@wildreams]

God Bless. Non-religious, but you get it.

[@jakekimds]

I heard that as the "Golden Meme"

[@TorquemadaTwist]

Harambe?

[@forteastro6996]

same, lmao. I had to reread the label.

[@junesept234]

hhahahha..lol

[@FalbertForester]

Well, yes, it is, in the sense that it's a good meme, and deserves to be propagated, IMO.

[@keegster7167]

To be honest, you need a very high IQ to unserstand it. The humor is extremely subtle, and most of the jokes will go over a typical viewer's head.

[@Hecatonicosachoron]

Etymologically you can break down eudaimonia to "eu"="good" and "daimon"="god" or "spirit". It's essentially the state where the "gods" seem to be conspiring in your favour.

[@Thunderwalker87]

Virtue theory and eudaimonia are in particular favorites of mine.

[@electrictoxic80]

People say philosophy is boring but it clearly isn't..... just imagine how much reasons and passion Aristotle put into and come up with this theory.

[@aaronpederson8685]

Thank you. I needed to be reminded of Aristotle's teachings.

[@samuelpalomera9390]

I know

[@jcruz821]

I don't know how, but this channel has been releasing videos that sync up with the topics in my philosophy class. just yesterday we finished up virtue ethics.

[@Yosi-Berman]

So, Aristotle says you can't learn virtue from books, but I disagree. Maybe not from philosophy books, but from narrative fiction. Literature, Film, TV, Video games, etc. You as an individual can't experience even a small amount of every kind of scenario. But in a well told story with fleshed out characters you can imagine how such an experience might come to be, and what may come from different decisions made by those characters.

[@RGapskiM]

You're right, but I think what Aristotle meant was that you can't enunciate general rules that can be just applied because moral dilemmas, in reality, are complex. Narrative fiction doesn't deal with general rules, but with specific situations, therefore it probably wasn't really what he was talking about. Also, gotta remember that in his day books weren't available in all forms, amount and variety as today.

[@Yosi-Berman]

RGapskiM of course, narrative media wasn't... let's say what it is today. i also did that thing where I confused Aristotle and Socrates, who... if i remember correctly, wasn't a fan of the theater

[@NeilSonOfNorbert]

Aristotle might also say that moral exemplars can be fictional

[@ishmaelforester9825]

Aristotle deals with narrative media specifically in his famous and much admired and cited Poetics (absolutely an essential read for anybody seriously interested in narrative media). He is indeed concerned with more general principles in the Ethics.

[@ishmaelforester9825]

Socrates infamously attacks and exiles the poets in the Republic of Plato, but there is a debate over how serious he was and how ironic he was being in the context of that particular dialogue and the point he was making in that context. Throughout the Platonic dialogues Socrates refers to Homer and the dramatists over and over, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively, depending on the point he is attempting to make and the general theme of the discussion at hand. It might be true that narrative media was not exactly what it is today, but nobody who really knows Homer deludes themselves he is any less of a master and exemplar of the art of story than he ever was. The Greek philosophers almost lacked nothing when it comes to fundamentally meditating on the issue merely through knowing their Homer.

[@alexandraplantone8767]

Watched this video two years ago. It changed my life.

[@XavierGuillaume]

I study the Tao Te Ching and Lao Tzu is pretty much using this philosophy. How to live that happy median of doing the right thing but not too much or too little of the right thing. Also the Tao Te Ching is vague and instead of being rules it is more like guidelines. I think because Lao Tzu recognizes that rules would imply right and wrong and right and wrong would imply superiority within people, but Lao Tzu does not believe in superiority because he sees the natural goodness in everyone.

[@sketchyAnalogies]

Xavier Guillaume Humans have an infinite inalienable intrinsic value. This is distinct from moral and ethical superiority to one another. Hitler did ethically evil things. Mother Theresa did ethically good things. Obviously Mother Theresa is the more virtuous and better person, despite both Hitler and Mother Theresa having the same infinite inalienable intrinsic value. Moral exemplars are de facto better at virtue than those who are not. Virtue does not impact a person’s value.

[@undeniablyrancid]

I hope the crash course team knows. My history teacher would show us these, in return we would just let the year fly and not pay attention much. End of the year me and my friends stayed up watching crash course to study last minute for exams. And we passed every time with 90s and above

[@zaubertomate665]

I love the intro. It always makes me happy :)

[@brendantb-]

I'm convinced Hank would be the best teacher in any class he taught

[@wades_world22]

Your videos are such a huge help!!! They have been a great resource for helping me succeed in my Ethics college class. Thank you!

[@DuranmanX]

In Aristotle's dream world, everyone is a Mary Sue

[@FirstRisingSouI]

That's a writing term, and it includes all kinds of characteristics, not just behavior.

[@jmiquelmb]

Adrian Duran Mary Sues are normally considered boring and irreal, more of a writer fantasy than a real character. The virtous person should be more nuanced, and not so manichean, in my opinion

[@Dantick09]

Adrian Duran He takes moral exemplars in an particular virtuous habit that they have honed, no one says they are good at everything. Real people they can't be Mary Sues

[@BlankPicketSign]

I would say that a REAL person being a Mary Sue would be a wonderful thing to have in Real Life. In stories they are boring, in Reality they are helpful and useful to others! But I also want to talk about what "is" a Mary Sue. I say there are no "Mary Sue Characters", Only "Mary Sue STORIES". How can I say that? You can always tell a Mary Sue by how the Plot seems to bend toward them, how other characters behave in a way that is Not realistic for them but Advantageous for the Sue. A Mary Sue doesn't even have to BE a "perfect person" but they do have to be disruptive to the story. Mary Sues step into a story like a Black Hole, warping the space around them and sucking up all the attention and glory, only to feed their hyper dense cores and growing to consume ALL! Whether they be perfect characters, or imperfect sympathetic beings, or even an Author Insert (With all the flaws and traits of the actual Author, a flesh and blood human turned to the page), A Mary Sue can come in almost any form. Therefor it is the *Story* that is the true culprit, *not the Character.* A "perfect character" can still exist without being a Mary Sue as long as their existence in the story is not warping the plot around them or bending other characters into unrealistic shapes. Captain America or Haruhi Suzimiya are good examples of "Sue-Esque" characters but who are fleshed out and not Actually Mary Sues. Because the Stories and Characters in which they live amongst do not twist and conform to their wills, desires, or convenience; instead they react naturally and have real consequences for their actions. There are no Mary Sue Characters, Only Mary Sue Stories. =^_^= Thank you for reading~

[@spindash64]

BlankPicketSign Does that make Jesus a Mary Sue?

[@BunnyFett]

Eudaimonia is how I live my life. Although I've had way more than my fair share of hardships, I wouldn't trade my life for any other because I've worked hard to get to where I am now, and all those hardships were life lessons.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

Aristotle makes more sense than all the other philosophers on here put together.

[@therongjr]

Shawn Ravenfire John really hates on Aristotle a lot, but he certainly improved on Plato a great deal, IMHO.

[@eneses93]

It's starting to seem that for some time now philosophy has been evolving only to become harder to understand, but not necessarily more useful.

[@jhonjacson798]

actually, other people have pointed this out in the comments, but his ideas on virtue is kind of circular, how do you know good, through virtue, how do you recognize virtue, how do you recognize virtue, by living a life of eudaimonia, how do you live a life of eudaimonia, by being virtuous. This is the real problem with Aristotilian ethics, in fact from what I've heard... it isn't even really an ethics, according to my teacher (who granted might be wrong I havn't read arristotle myself) the way that some people are virtuous and some aren't is simply that some people are raised right. Yeah, as in you are just born a good person due to your circumstances, people born under the wrong circumstances can't really be virtuous (since virtue is more about your intentions and thoughts then your actions). It's a very rudimentary form of ethics that relies more on intuition then anything else.

[@rav781]

Totally agree. For years I'm in such an awe of his thoughts everytime I hear them.

[@GregTom2]

No he doesn't. He's just telling you what you want to hear unlike the other philosophers. The whole point of ethics is to know what is the right thing to do from the wrong thing to do. Virtue ethics don't do that at all. They're the worst ethical system of all because they aren't an ethical system.

[@francismausley7239]

Another great theme... "...happiness is the attainment of spiritual perfections." ~ Writings of the Baha'i Faith

[@maj.peppers3332]

I'm only subbed to Crash Course for this show :P

[@Qermaq]

You should check out some of the others. They're all this awesome if you're into it.

[@maj.peppers3332]

Spectrobits Just started watching it, its dope

[@TheMogul23]

The World History ones are excellent too. Check them out.

[@elephantwarrior53]

Me too

[@Dnlrmrez]

A good match is Astronomy for inspiration. Those are the first two playlists I've watched.

[@PatriciaHobbs-o5h]

Love ur vids. Help sooo much with studying

[@user-vw6xp5nl6t]

This is the pretty much the foundation of all moral stories told in the books/films/etc you have ever immersed yourself in. especially dramatic ones. Three moral positions depicted through three main characters/groups of people.

[@rashmika9742]

Please do a Crash Course Art History. I love the biology, philosophy, psychology and physics, so I think art history might also be done beautifully. Thank you Crash Course, for making learning fun.

[@tarad4162]

I'm loving this philosophy series! I had started reading some books on philosophy right before the series started, and now this is another great place to start learning. Thanks Crash Course! 😊

[@miaoye26]

man! this is so much more pleasant than listening 8 hours of the original book through audible

[@philconnors5692]

Pride is what makes some subjects difficult to discuss not the subject itself i wish you knew that. Good channel and show, thank you.

[@gailcbull]

Is it just me, or does virtue theory seem like the existentialist's ethical system of choice. It seems that the state of eudaimonia and existentialism's view of making the right choice for yourself based on how you understand the situation should work quite nicely together.

[@ShaedeReshka]

Good eye. They are certainly compatible theories, and generally more functional than the ethical theories that lay between them. Ultimately, though, virtue ethics needs some modification for be compatible with existentialism. Primarily, existentialism is the broad rejection of purpose, which is why it's fundamentally an atheistic position (yes, it technically grew out of a fundamentalist Christian theory, but the term doesn't apply to that). Virtue ethics is founded on some key assumptions about the way people "should" be. So it ultimately allows far less variety of action than existentialism, which gives the individual complete reign over that. This doesn't mean that you can't combine them, of course. It just means that there is some modification being done on both ends.

[@mr.o8539]

like butter on corn

[@gleasongirl5]

My $60,000 college education lead me here and I learned more in this free video than I did in a $4,000 class

[@marvinedwards737]

About eudaimonia, I've criticized Utilitarians for being too "feelings based", because feelings are malleable. First, pleasure and pain often mislead us away from what is actually good for us. Second, our feelings are malleable, how people feel about things can often be changed. So the correct sequence must always be to first find what is good, and then choose to feel good about it. Thus eudaimonia is not the end goal of morality. Obtaining the best good and least harm for everyone is the end goal of morality. If we are seeking that, then we ought to feel good about it, and satisfied when we achieve it. Creating a good person of ourselves, by a life-long learning of how to be better at being and doing good, is something we should feel good about.

[@ShaedeReshka]

Eudaimonia isn't exactly feeling based. It's more founded on the idea of the "good" and having led a life that was "good". Plato and Aristotle both snubbed the idea of morality being focused on one's feelings. Eudaimonia is described as a kind of happiness, but one that emerges from the good rather the other way around. One didn't live a good life because they wanted to be happy. They were happy because they led a good life.

[@marvinedwards737]

Bob McBobberbob Yes, pleasure and pain evolved to help provide us guidance, but they are crude tools and often mislead us. A vaccination is good for us even though it's painful. Heroin is bad for us even though it feels good.

[@marvinedwards737]

Bob McBobberbob The problem with defining the goal in terms of specific genes is that everyone has a unique set. The only way to pass on that set would be to somehow revert back to non-sexual reproduction. There is a survival advantage to having variations between individuals, and new combinations, within the species. That's why I use this formulation: We call something "good" if it meets a real need we have as an individual, as a society, or as a species.

[@zengamer321]

You should go work in a church or something.

[@ishmaelforester9825]

Ultimately pleasure and happiness is the aim, but it is understood pleasure and happiness must sometimes be forgone in the short-term to experience greater pleasure in the long-term, and to a certain degree, pain ought sometimes to be avoided in order to prepare oneself for a necessary stage of suffering later on. The principle of simply always seeking pleasure and happiness and avoiding pain and unhappiness outright is usually called hedonism, the opposite being asceticism, and both have been more or less destroyed and dispensed with in every serious and profound ethical tradition as shallow and vain in most circumstances. This is really not so much a moral as a practical understanding, though really they are the same thing. If you were to seek immediate satisfaction and fulfilment in all circumstances you would inevitably compromise your ability to attain them to a greater degree in the future, just as surely as though you never had them in mind. A simple example would be athletes who sacrifice immediate comfort and willingly suffer pain in determined pursuit of ultimate fame and glory down the road. This principle holds true of the human individual as well as the collective.

[@ItWasSaucerShaped]

'For that some should rule and others be ruled is a thing not only necessary, but expedient; from the hour of their birth, some are marked out for subjection, others for rule.'

[@dotsandprintsdesigns4731]

Aristotle is my favorite philosopher and Eudaimonia and chom chom are my favorite words!

[@The_Skrongler]

But I did learn being a good person at least partly from books, that's where I recognized moral exemplars.

[@carsonbarlow348]

+

[@Ristaak]

Bless my parents they were good people, but busy and I ended up learning a lot from the characters in books, many of them became my mentors so to speak. I really should read more again, lot of my personality really was helped developed by the authors of amazing stories with amazing characters, full of human flaws and grace.

[@user-ge2es2bp2x]

he meant things like textbooks rather than novels

[@The_Skrongler]

+quamquam Ah, I can see what he's getting at then

[@benjieleshansky2371]

Aristotle said people are born that way... could probably confirm that with Darwinian morality

[@peterthomasjones3675]

probably the best so far...

[@jordanc5204]

I personally agree with the idea that happiness follows in the long run when we choose to do the right things and stay on the right path.

[@thepremeddiaries5877]

This is so much better and less confusing than actually reading Aristotle straight from my ethics book

[@stevenxgrayyy7136]

I’m currently in an intro to ethics class & im in love with the subject smmm. Especially this theory in particular. I like to see this theory as ‘ what would ____ do ? ‘ which in my case I like to look up to Elle woods

[@Pakanahymni]

Diffuse or defuse #CrashCourse ?

[@AdrianGonzalez-tg1te]

It's been years since I first watched this video, yet I find myself coming back to it again and again. Up to date, I have not found a better explanation on what virtue ethics are about. Thank you very much for creating this!! You are actually having an impact and improving people's lives with your content.

[@ArtFreak17]

Would "[self-]actualization" be another good way to describe “eudaimonia?” Because the way it's described here sounds like a very similar state of being. (Which would definitely create some interesting overlaps with the field of psychology. I mean, I don't think people who reach self-actualization can just coast on that state either.)

[@EMAngel2718]

Wow, I'd completely written this moral theory off before watching this video. Now I realize that it, in almost its entirity, is already a large part of my moral understanding.

[@zengamer321]

Actually it's such a useful guideline on HOW to be moral that general works. It's a crutch for ethics like, what's one strategy i might use to achieve maximum pleasure? which is useful but beyond that, virtue theory is really stupid.

[@EMAngel2718]

That depends on how it is that you look at the moral theory. The main axiom of virtue theory, at least as it's explained in this video, is that balance in several key aspects of your character will cause you to naturally perform moral actions. While the use of this alone can be seen as highly reductionist, the use of this with the logical basis of another theory, such as utilitarianism in my case, and thorough self awareness can cause you to be very good at following the base theory without needing to expend the mental, emotional, and time resources required to do it deliberately in all cases. As a human being with very notable limits on those resources, this is not only useful, but necessary.

[@sykosomatik23]

not quite... it's the other way around. it's the concerted effort to perform virtuous acts at all times and by doing so turning them into habit that brings about the balance of character. this is not something that is easy for most people to do and requires quite a lot of effort. moral exemplars are just people who are able to do it quite naturally and with little to no effort.

[@chriscortes6322]

Guys, I love your stuff. I'd like to contribute to your great job with a little comment. The Greek word "Eudamonia" might be divided and translated etymologically like this: "Eu" (good, proper, accurate, correct) and "daimon" which is the root of the Spanish word "demonio" (demon in English) but to the Greek it used to mean more likely "Spirit" or even "Angel". Hopefully this may be useful. Long life to CrashCourse.

[@Ozz04]

Wow he made it through without slamming Aristotle

[@JohnSmith-io3ii]

Wow I've been watching this show mostly for my own enjoyment, but this episode described exactly how I have been trying to live my life for some time. Thanks

[@ahmedrashid3]

I think Griffith from Berzerk (manga) is closely linked to the Virtue Theory. If anybody knows what I'm talking about

[@FedJimSmith]

griffith is a victim of fate.. he's lost already

[@ahmedrashid3]

FedJimSmith Not really he has an ego. He's viewed higher than everyone else and considered to be perfect. Guts mentioned that he was never on the earth with them but in the sky. Like he's naturally better than everyone and you see this in his new band of the hawk.

[@3halfshadows]

Not really, he just did whatever he wanted because he knew he would succeed since he is special. He looks down on everyone else. Ultimately he is driven by greed, ambition, and selfishness, I wouldn't call that acting virtuously.

[@CosmoShidan]

Griffith is definitely a virtuous person, in that he is noble, charismatic, humorous, charming, friendly determined and a great leader, yet his own actions tend to be in contradictions in how he tries to achieve his dream to rise to good fortune. For one, he resorts to blackmail, kidnapping, assassination, revenge, squabbling, deceit, and assault and battery to achieve those ends. That is one of the flaws of virtue theory; while one can have great characteristics, they can still have horrendous conduct as pointed out by Kant. Another example of this would be Ender Higgins, in that he's a very intelligent young man, but killed an entire civilization.

[@whitebrown762]

I don't know a lot about Griffith or Ender Higgins, but I'd say it's a mistake to say that they are virtuous.

[@marcuscanter8899]

Today on this overview of moral science. I found that a large portion of my moral code was written and described by Aristotle when I myself thought the concept of the golden mean (balancing responses and choosing your battles) was a concept forged more modernly in the moral straight. The fact is that my code (like everyone's) is unique to my beliefs and this balanced between extremes perspective on moral reactions fits almost seamlessly into it, although i do find some preexisting contradictions as some of the more "assumed" portions of the theory don't sit well with my preexisting moral code. As I continue to seek to answer my question of whether or not my moral code fits into any one existing mindset, I find my morality to be quite the melting pot of philosophies. I do love this exploration. If only all would seek their own answers in a manner where they don't feel pressed to be one thing or another. You can share many philosophies in one moral mind.

[@GregTom2]

I have to suggest that perhaps we're just reading Aristotle wrong here. Of course being virtuous is 'good' for you. In the same way, being educated is good for you. Being physically healthy is 'good'. Eating well is 'good'. Being intelligent is 'good'. Having a balanced mental health is 'good'. But it's not 'good' in the sense of making the difference between 'good' and 'evil'. We could praise Nelson Mandela for having good virtue. Indeed, he spent years in jail for his political beliefs and still had the will to push through and get elected and transform his country according to his deep seated beliefs. The thing is, we can say the exact same thing about Hitler and you don't see many people praising his virtue do you? I think we should read Aristotle as a proto-psychiatric description of what a state of optimal mental health is. Not too much positive affect (impulsive behavior) nor too little (apathy). Not too much negative affect (chronic anxiety) nor too little (aloof). Not too hyperthymic a mood (mania) nor too dysthymic (depression). Not too much affective empathy (borderline personality disorder, erratic mood) nor too little (narcissistic / anti-social personality disorder). But no one tells you the DSM-V is an ethics guideline. Could it be that Aristotle didn't intend his writings to be considered as "ethics" in the what that we think of ethics nowadays? It's good guidelines on "building character" to correct for one's temperament. But it's not guidelines for writing policies or laws.

[@cly-9128]

The thing is, Aristotle was obviously speaking about this in the sense OF ethics. If you litteraly read the book he speaks about "the highest good" and even alludes in his book "politics" that man, being a political creature, when seperated from these laws and virtues are practically animals. And on the hitler question, that begs the question if whether the end justifies the mean, or if Hitler was actually being virtuous. In any case, when accepting truth, you may have to also accept things that are unpalatable. Which may include, if true, accepting men such as Hitler were infact right, and we were taught incorrectly about something sonewhere along the line.

[@handynas6529]

Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Actions, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration. The Noble Eightfold Paths. The Middle Path.

[@RukaSubCh]

Context is very if not the most important piece of information to understand things.

[@simbaonsteroids8836]

0:04 the antithesis of the president elect

[@Anonyminded]

Value system is everything, it is fundamental platform of every society, political system or any group of people. It forms and influences every individuals in the society and what has Aristotle mentioned as Eudaimonia is truly that holy grail we are all seeking in our lives. Virtues are truly what we desperately need these days, especially with leadership in governments and politics. Forming a political leadership or a government which favors plutocracy is clearly not an virtue in my dictionary.

[@holla_j]

I personally think that virtue theory is the best of all ethical theories.

[@vickyelfathea663]

yea i came here after watching pewds latest video

[@marcus5865]

MIKO yo same he really needs to do another like that😢

[@TaunellE]

Yay! Found it Finally! I'm team virtue. Why do good? Because it's just right you feel it. I mean, when you do something that's wrong, like lying or stealing an avocado. I feel it. I think it's where my soul is, but it hurts. Like I swallowed poison. It doesn't go away until I right the wrong. I can't keep secrets either for that reason. So I'm happy at least one sorta fits. Thank you Mr. Hank, CC, and Aristotle. I love it here, I can just learn and learn, its bliss. My brain is always so hungry..Next lesson! ♡

[@karate4ev1]

I have my ethics final in 3 and a half hours... i'm so grateful for these videos

[@KL-bg8fi]

This guy is an amazing teacher.

[@notthatbitchagain6857]

After much thought l have concluded that Eudaimonia is a state only achievable in the memories of others. A conclution reached only after the totality of a single life can be examined. It's totality can not be known until its ending. This is reflected in the stories told about one after their death. In the meantime, leave good spirit (happiness) in your wake. That way perhaps you'll also leave good memories to share

[@quinndeejee9564]

Hey guys. Soooo I would love it if you guys talked about asceticism!

[@darkmage07070777]

I just saw Aristotle kick Godzilla in the face. I am having a good week. Also, for anyone interested: this is almost word-for-word what self-help business gurus describe these days as the path to success today.

[@RGapskiM]

No, it is not. There are striking and essencial differences. For example, self-help is full of "believe in yourself", "you can do anything you set your mind to" attitude. Aristotle would scorn at that.

[@darkmage07070777]

Ah, yes. What you're referring to are the old-style "self-help" books, and you're right, they're full of feel-good fluff that doesn't work. The newer ones actually do take Aristotle's approach of "fake it until you make it" and "work to become the person you'd want to follow", as described here.

[@BenCadetThePastafarian]

these make mondays AMAZING!!!!!!!

[@nvrfckwitme]

Thank you soo very much crashcourse. These videos are so detailed and informative as well as short. Hats off to you.

[@athenali3132]

This reminds me so much of confuscinism!

[@championdancer]

i love crashcourse.... it helps me understand all ...

[@JPSMS100]

A video on Objectivism would be great

[@ivannariveraarroyo2668]

Excellent video, the content is well developed from different perspectives until it achieves the total understanding from the concept.

[@nvrfckwitme]

Thank u crashcourse. This was such an insightful episode and from now on I will also try to achieve that eudaimonia.

[@kkbffeae]

This was very informative and educational! Thank you!

[@clarissamercer2790]

I love these philosophy videos!

[@vidhiagrawal3]

Thanks for the awesome lesson💙 Now found the word what I have been striving for- EUDAIMONIA

[@matthewpavlik222]

These videos are awesome, and even more awesome that they are coming out as I am taking Ethics and Philosophy.

[@wintashumalem5967]

I love this guy😘 thanks for your cool videos and brief explanation .

[@tarad4162]

One question that I have about virtue theory: How does this theory account for differences in moral values between cultures? It seems as though some moral values are universally shared but others vary between cultures. Also, how would someone living by virtue theory decide on moral topics that do not seem so black and white, like abortion? (Grey area might not be the best description, but what I mean is that people have very different opinions unlike other issues that most people come to a moral consensus on.)

[@jennieivins]

+

[@iFloating]

Eudaimonism (or Eudaemonism or Eudaimonia) is a moral philosophy that defines right action as that which leads to the "well-being" of the individual, thus holding "well-being" as having essential value. ( Heinaman, 1987). I suggest crashcrouse further emphazise their lack of in-depth knowledge, as certain intellectual curiosity may be killed when you present your impresise definitions as 'answers,' to a discussion which is infact one of the most open-ended.

[@MrEmGera]

Eudaimonia : literally means "good daemon". Today the word "daemon" might be misused in English but a good example is the use of this word in Computer Science . A Daemon is a program(algorithm) that runs in the background, just like a habit in humans that's helps them and is for good(good daemon), like the skill to drive with safety, cleaning your house efficiently or by a huge extend living your live with virtue.

[@SteeltoedArcher]

I literally opened this link for school and went "that sounds like Hank Green", Imagine my surprise! XD

[@Unclenate1000]

LMAO Aristotle just chillin on the sidewalk with the rest of the people @ 4:18

[@evanbrown367]

“Hypocrisy is the homage which vice pays to virtue” - Rochefoucauld

[@ntokozomavhankeni4029]

Well explained. Well detailed. Well articulated. Eudaimonia oh great

[@mduduzimhlanga3335]

Just a suggestion, perhaps you could create pdfs of these philosophical posts. It would be awesome if I had a text version of this to ponder on.

[@sophiekl340]

Delivered with just the right amount of sass! Thanks for this great video!

[@mrsghost1377]

Eudimonia is my new favorite word

[@andreweverton162]

How many episodes of CC Philosophy will there be? I need to brace myself for when it ends.

[@kendixxon6871]

Between Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas stands Averroes (ibn Rushd)

[@Dontwanttoliveanymore]

I think courage is a combo of recklessness, awareness, empathy, and altruism. A coward is entirely self serving, and a true one knows exactly what real courage is. That's why politicians are close but not the worst. Throwing the word around with no knowledge of its meaning.