Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, book 2 - Ethics and Moral Theory

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[@GregoryBSadler]

Yes, that's a common enough meaning of it -- in that case, you could say that Aristotle does think there are "moral facts" (though you'll not find that term in his works), in that there are real conditions, distinctions, etc. in moral matters which we can talk about/know/reason about rightly or wrongly

[@alexwise41]

Hello Dr. Sadler, thank you very much again for making these very informative videos, and putting them out on KZbin, so that other philosophy students can have a sense of an idea of what we are reading. I start class on 01/19/2016, and I can say that these videos are really helping me grasp the meaning of this class, and as well preparing me for what lies ahead. Thanks, cheers.

[@GregoryBSadler]

+Alex Wise Glad that they're given you a good foundation. Realize though, that your instructor may have a very different take on the same text. . . .

[@alexwise41]

+Gregory B. Sadler Yes, I will take that into consideration, thank you for your reply.

[@Krasiv0]

@@GregoryBSadler Your take is better reasoned and significantly more coherent

[@GregoryBSadler]

you're very welcome -- this guy, Aristotle, is one of my absolute favorite philosophers

[@GregoryBSadler]

In a word, no, not necessarily. A vice is not simply a bad action. It is a habitual, established pattern of behavior, attitude, and emotion/desire.

[@NickOrloffski]

I am so proud of you for turning them all against utilitarianism.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Hahaha! I don't know that's the case.

[@sasaeteurn]

Thank You Dr. Sadler for posting these videos. I find your teaching style very interesting and easy to understand. Wish I had seen your videos earlier, as this is my finals week. Anyways, Thanks a bunch!

[@veritascaute5252]

Thank you for posting this.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Glad you like them. Yes, I think that virtue ethics is not only more flexible, but also more encompassing than other moral theories So, there's a number of different but related reasons why virtues are right and good which Aristotle brings up. Perhaps one that's the best to start with is that they are traits that we both need to flourish and what flourishing -- doing well -- looks like, concretely.

[@aaronsantos7411]

I love these! Thanks for the upload!

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're welcome!

[@kinder101]

Great lecture. You've gained a new subscriber.

[@Paljk299]

Thanks for these Aristotle videos, I'm really enjoying them. I like the way you link the virtues, to practical examples. It seems this kind of virtue ethics is a bit more practical and flexible than some of the other theories I've read. Though I'm struggling to a bit to understand, what makes the virtues right or good in some greater sense, rather than just optimal for performance? Perhaps I have missed it or it comes later.

[@GregoryBSadler]

You're very welcome

[@GregoryBSadler]

Thanks!

[@Lukeb71717]

Thanks for the reply. I enjoyed the video

[@GregoryBSadler]

Who's the "you" you're addressing in your comment?

[@Paljk299]

Great thanks again.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well if they really are unjust laws -- not just what feel or appear to us unjust laws -- they are going to deform the person, and likely lead them into vices, rather than virtues. There is, on the other hand, something to be said for developing the disposition of law-abidingness, one of the forms of justice for Aristotle -- but again, if the laws are really unjust, a just person is likely to end up sensing something to be amiss. Good question to think about, actually

[@GregoryBSadler]

in my current classes, about 20-21

[@GregoryBSadler]

I suppose. I'm never really sure what to make of the "-isms" (e.g. realism, externalism, etc.) that get bandied about by (mainly Analytically-trained) philosophers. Generally, I have to ask what the -ism they have in mind is, since odds are the term has had multiple meanings in the course of philosophy's history

[@hildegunst1000]

man, youre a great teacher!

[@GregoryBSadler]

gan Orwell glad you enjoy the lectures

[@GregoryBSadler]

Hhaha! Well, there's always next semester. I'm glad you like the videos!

[@GregoryBSadler]

I think that it is -- once some work has been done to "bridge the gap", so to speak.

[@arjanjahromi6536]

Thank you for the Videos. I have found them very useful in my pursuit in getting my degree in philosophy! Question for you though, am I am able to maybe get your opinion on certain topics?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Yep -- take a look at the playlists in the channel

[@Paljk299]

Thanks, that makes sense yes. Do you believe that virtue ethics is or can be grounded in some form of moral realism then?

[@Paljk299]

Yes it seems these terms can include a very wide range of positions and arguments. It can be confusing as I'm not a professional philosopher and haven't looked into ethics for that long, though I find it fascinating. I took moral realism to mean that there are moral claims that refer to moral facts and these can be right or wrong.

[@Lukeb71717]

Do you believed we're sort of placed into virtous dispostions by laws we know to be unjust that exist?

[@GregoryBSadler]

I also miss being a student

[@GregoryBSadler]

Well, not really necessary. I'd have addressed the comment, but it was unclear who you were addressing

[@Lukeb71717]

So by being compliant to a law that you know to be unjust would be

[@stephenstringer4270]

Do virtuous acts have to be due to an act of will? If someone does something to avoid legal penalty, even though they wanted to do something else, does that make them virtuous?

[@GregoryBSadler]

One of the qualifications of an act either coming from or in accordance with virtue is that it is done for the right reason, so just avoiding legal penalties, no, that doesn't yet constitute virtue. As for will, Aristotle doesn't have a conception of "the will"

[@stephenstringer4270]

Thanks for the clarification. I am enjoying your lectures.

[@nickoled79]

what is the argument in the second book? who makes the argument?

[@GregoryBSadler]

Sounds like you're looking for tutoring. I do that through Google Helpouts. Here's the link: helpouts.google.com/115610514266074572098

[@nickoled79]

Thank you

[@Lukeb71717]

A vice, would it not?

[@nwood1311]

Thank you firstly for making these videos available on KZbin. In regards to virtue and vice, the excess, mean and deficit scale, does Aristotle have an objective grounds for mean? It seems without a standard of mean it will just very from person to person based on there own subjectivity, ergo in effect virtue and vice as described is just illusory. It seems to not really matter where you fall on this scale so long as you're happy personally.

[@GregoryBSadler]

Here's where it would be great for you to read the text, since the answers to what you're asking about are in there.

[@nwood1311]

Thank you Prof. Sadler for your reply.