Aristotle thought that whenever we do something we do it to gain an end, and that the ultimate end of all ends is the chief good, the greatest good.
'It's as it a global catastrophe has thrown us back into the Dark Ages, But in stead of losing scientific knowledge, we have lost moral wisdom.' - - Virtue theory, an interpretation of Alasdair MacIntyre's views.
Once again I want to approach the topic of good and bad in a completely different way. I want to analyze what it means to be a good person.
This is something I consider to be very important, even for us just as game art students. I don't know if I'm the only one who looks around me and sees injustices and examples of 'bad' behavior all the time (not just in the class, everywhere :P).
One of my favorite examples of how a 'bad' person can become 'good'. I watch it every year! It has some fantastic morals in it. Watch it and learn from it. (It has to be Muppet's Christmas Carol, any other Christmas Carol won't do, you won't get the impact from the tremendous songs.)
There are good things too, I don't just only notice the bad. But even when I notice 'good' behavior I note in and ponder its goodness in my mind, just as I would dwell on the bad.
But I'm a constant dweller/ponderer. I don't think everyone is, this is apparent by the way people act. I have about 12 epiphany's a day, or i just for get them and have the same ones over again.....
Anyway, the point is 'badness' bothers me allot, but in this fight against badness there is light!
Back to Aristotle he believed that in order to achieve the end which is the greatest good, we must practice. Practicing is how we improve our skills, we improve our drawing, our modeling and our perceptions. By practicing being virtuous we can then become happy and live good lives.
Aristotle also believed that all virtues lay between two vices, and I agree with him. I've typed up this table I found in my good old philosophy folder to show you what I mean.
One thing I like about this is that its makes so much sense. For example, 'Just resentment' as a virtuous mean. Its ok to dislike someone for a justified reason. Not just mindlessly forgiving everyone because its the 'right' thing to do.
Every moment has a possibility for acquiring or developing a virtue. (Increasing our swashbuckler rating).
I think what that a good person is someone who strives to be virtuous. It does take practice, and everyone makes mistakes, but the trying is what will make you good.
Being someone who creates excuses for their behavior by saying 'that's just the way I am' is a 'bad' person. Everyone has the potential for goodness, and the ability to change for the good.
Arete (virtue, excellence): The quality that makes something a good example of its kind, e.g the sharpness of a knife. For humans, arete represents the excellence's that are needed for a human being to be a good human being.
Eudaemonia (well-being): The state of being content, or satisfied. This satisfaction comes about through the fulfillment of human potential, or self-realization.
Aristotle believed that being virtuous would ultimately lead to Eudaemonia, which is the ultimate human goal. Eudaemonia can be experienced as Pleasure - a spiritual sense as well-being, as Honour - Living and working for others and Reflection - the pursuit of knowledge.
I also believe that this is true, but I think that it would be allot easier to do so if everyone was striving for this goal. Then we call all live happily ever after...
This is something I consider to be very important, even for us just as game art students. I don't know if I'm the only one who looks around me and sees injustices and examples of 'bad' behavior all the time (not just in the class, everywhere :P).
One of my favorite examples of how a 'bad' person can become 'good'. I watch it every year! It has some fantastic morals in it. Watch it and learn from it. (It has to be Muppet's Christmas Carol, any other Christmas Carol won't do, you won't get the impact from the tremendous songs.)There are good things too, I don't just only notice the bad. But even when I notice 'good' behavior I note in and ponder its goodness in my mind, just as I would dwell on the bad.
But I'm a constant dweller/ponderer. I don't think everyone is, this is apparent by the way people act. I have about 12 epiphany's a day, or i just for get them and have the same ones over again.....
Anyway, the point is 'badness' bothers me allot, but in this fight against badness there is light!
Back to Aristotle he believed that in order to achieve the end which is the greatest good, we must practice. Practicing is how we improve our skills, we improve our drawing, our modeling and our perceptions. By practicing being virtuous we can then become happy and live good lives.
Aristotle also believed that all virtues lay between two vices, and I agree with him. I've typed up this table I found in my good old philosophy folder to show you what I mean.
One thing I like about this is that its makes so much sense. For example, 'Just resentment' as a virtuous mean. Its ok to dislike someone for a justified reason. Not just mindlessly forgiving everyone because its the 'right' thing to do.Every moment has a possibility for acquiring or developing a virtue. (Increasing our swashbuckler rating).
I think what that a good person is someone who strives to be virtuous. It does take practice, and everyone makes mistakes, but the trying is what will make you good.
Being someone who creates excuses for their behavior by saying 'that's just the way I am' is a 'bad' person. Everyone has the potential for goodness, and the ability to change for the good.
Arete (virtue, excellence): The quality that makes something a good example of its kind, e.g the sharpness of a knife. For humans, arete represents the excellence's that are needed for a human being to be a good human being.
Eudaemonia (well-being): The state of being content, or satisfied. This satisfaction comes about through the fulfillment of human potential, or self-realization.
Aristotle believed that being virtuous would ultimately lead to Eudaemonia, which is the ultimate human goal. Eudaemonia can be experienced as Pleasure - a spiritual sense as well-being, as Honour - Living and working for others and Reflection - the pursuit of knowledge.
I also believe that this is true, but I think that it would be allot easier to do so if everyone was striving for this goal. Then we call all live happily ever after...
1 comment:
The problem is that with humans there is no clear line - with your knife example it's pretty obvious when one knife is sharper than another, but with us it's rather more subjective.
I doubt that many people really think they are evil, people will adhere to their own moral code and take it as correct, but as everyone is different there are probably always going to be clashes. People will obviously know they are in the wrong sometimes, but they'll probably still consider themselves to be a basically good person.
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