... they are acquired, they become characteristic of a person. Aristotle argues that virtue is something that is practiced and there by learned- it is a habit. For example, in the movie "Wall Street- Gekko was a person who developed the virtue of greed and corporate takeovers, and is often referred to as a money hunger person because he tends to be greedy in all circumstances ... duty to act. For Kant, the obligation to be truthful is such an unconditional obligation. According to Kant, we are rational beings. A characteristic of rational beings is that if we desire to be rational we will r...

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... the rise in the cities. The divide between rich and poor was broad, with the rich living lavishly in enormous mansions while some couldn't even get food on the next street. Government was corrupted and many citizens failed to put trust or faith in them. They refused to see that society was falling apart. Economy during these times changed as well ... virtuous. Through his wisdom, he wrote many books of analects from which he taught from. Other factors in being virtuous in Confucius mind were sincerity and a willingness to learn, minimal desire for material things, loyalty, self cultivat...

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... living a lavish, elegant lifestyle with limitless wealth. On the contrary, living well, according to Aristotle, is living a life with virtue in mind. With limitless wealth comes a distraction that deters society's desire for virtue. It leads members of society to "proceed on the supposition that they should either preserve or increase without limit their property in money. The cause of this ... ," (Aristotle 1257b38). The striving for limitless wealth causes the member of society to focus on a constant wanting of preservation or increase in wealth and living well monetarily, instead of t...

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... moral identity. Another significant event that helps us understand Harper Lee's ideas regarding courage and integrity is when a mad dog named Tim Johnson was found to be roaming the Finch street. Tim's rabies made him an imminent danger to all neighbours and his situation had to be handled promptly. The Maycomb Sheriff, Mr. Heck Tate, urged Atticus to shoot the dog ... that supports the relationship between courage and integrity is found when we examine Atticus's treatment of Mrs. Dubose. Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose is an elderly woman who resides up the street from the Finches. She liv...

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... what pleases you and no one else will essentially bring you the true happiness that we all search for in our lives. Moreover, there are two kinds of desire: natural desire and vain desire. Natural desire is basically what needs to be satisfied and that is easy to satisfy. These necessities include eating and drinking because they are the most accessible satisfactions that will ... . Vain desires are desires that are difficult to satisfy and are not necessary to be satisfied, which include exotic foods or decorative clothing. Then, there is ataraxia, which is the desire of tranquility or ...

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... detailed observation and cataloging of phenomenon. That is, knowledge. The core of Aristotle's account of moral virtue is his doctrine of the mean. According to this doctrine, moral virtues are desire regulating character traits, which are at a mean between more extreme character traits. Also, he believes that morality requires a standard that will not only regulate the inadequacies of absolute justice but ... corrects and modifies laws of justice where it falls short. When it comes to the purpose or will of morality, Aristotle mentions two factors: reason stimulated to act by desire, o...

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... another contradiction in Plato's definition of justice and his method of ruling. Plato firmly believes that a ruler cannot rule unless he does not want to, lacks the desire to do so. He sets forth another metaphor, called the Allegory of the Boat. Here, he describes how if a boat is to be led by someone, ... it must be someone who does not actively desire to do so. A ship must be steered, and this requires specialized craft knowledge and experience. A ship's pilot's art is gained only by years of study and ... government. In essence, it is Plato's belief that the best ruler is a philos...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... on to describe the three capacities in the soul in order to derive at the one that produces action and leads to truth. These capacities are sense perception, understanding, and desire. He immediately rules out sense perception as leading to action since "beasts have perception, but no share in action" " (Nicomachean Ethics 307). Aristotle ultimately draws the conclusion that virtue ... of character is one that decides, and decision is a "deliberative desire " for truth" (Nicomachean Ethics 308). The principle of an action is decision; and the principle of decision is desire and right re...

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... flourish. Each author though has a different view on which type/s of governments are best suited to maximize each individual's faculties so as to reduce corruption. It is human nature to desire to better one's station in life. All three authors agree that this human nature can lead to disastrous ends if it is not checked by reason. Hobbes believes that the ... desire for power is what causes unrest and corruption in a state. According to Hobbes's state of nature, all people are equal in power. This equality puts each individual at risk of ... losing what he has if it is desired by anot...

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... faith was strengthened because he saw something that he had faith in actually come into effect. One event in my life that has strengthened my faith is when I got into a car accident. When we got into the accident I called out "Jesus" and no one was hurt. Then, when we all got out of the ... car we noticed that we were right in front of a church. We knew the Lord had protected us. That incident strengthened my faith because I saw that having faith in God kept ... ...

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... faith. Thomas accepted--on faith--the idea that God exists. However, he formulated five proofs of His existence to support such a belief. According to Thomas, all people desire happiness, but they can satisfy this desire only through direct communion with God. He believed that God gives grace to help human beings overcome the influence of sin and achieve this communion. Thomas taught ... of forms. These central doctrines of Plato's philosophy are called his theory of forms or theory of ideas." "Ethics. Plato based his ethical theory on the proposition that all people desire happiness. O...

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... appears to be a dynamic and important character. In reality, she is little more than a facade for the temptation against Gawain's dignity. Her character sparks no long-term feelings of passion, desire, or even loss from Gawain. This is proven by Gawain's nearly joyous behavior following her departure: When she was gone, Sir Gawain got from his bed, Arose and arrayed him ... a sin into the dutiful obligation of an honorable guest. Well played, Sir Gawain. While there is sexual temptation, the reader soon sees that the most monumental temptation is his own desire to live. Even in dealing ...

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... pains not from rational choice but in opposition to it and his thinking, is called incontinent " (1148a, Nicomachean Ethics). Aristotle condemns those who are ruled by desire and suffer from wantonness. He argues one should desire to abstain from bodily desires and that higher forms of pleasure are concomitant with habitual virtuous action. Concupiscence involves ignoring ones reason and giving in to ... : Semiramis was so vulnerable to her sexual desires that she ignored all laws and was unable to regulate her desires. Both Dante and Aristotle condemn those who are ruled by desire. Aris...

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... as being positively good. These actions consist of all conscious action and choices humans make in their lifetime. Aristotle then applies this to human existence in its entirety. The ultimate desire of humans is the state of happiness. Short-sighted or not, all human thought is thoroughly based on achieving this fate. This theory extends to all walks of life; for ... the word conjures thoughts of religion and implications of the afterlife, but of one's developing subconscious with the precursor of cognizant choice. Moderation between two extremes of self-necessity and desire is what Ari...

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... : as long as not acquired using cruelty, deceit or other wrong methods, Confucius sees no harm in wealth or material possessions. He sees that it is only human that we desire such things. Though both teachers lived in two very different places in two very different times, much of the groundwork; the basics of their teachings (as well as some of ... as being exceptionally similar. While Confucius was the first to advocate: "Do not do to others what you yourself would not desire", 500 years later in an entirely separate place and time, Jesus declares: "Do for others what you yourself desir...

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... Stephen is faced with conflicting views regarding the definition of a "real man". He does not want to disappoint his father, but at the same time he finds himself desire to do something without conventions and be honest to his mind. Through Stephen's character change, the story explains that having the courage to be one's own individual is the more ... that truly has control over his own actions. As Stephen says, "I'd like to see Poland, I'd like to see Poland and France and Italy. I'd like-(P32)", he has the desire to make decisions for his own future, instead of following his father's...

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... customs, or express amusement about our beliefs. Courage is to be strong and not let the folly of others effect our way of life. When our brothers walk down the street and have side locks and a beard, they are being courageous. When our sisters dress according to the code of Jewish law enduring being laughed at to their faces, this is ... ...

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... get his image out of his mind" (Bissinger, 61). He was constantly thinking about what will happen to him after foster home, since usually the kids end up on the street with no money, no food and no way out then to steal, kill, and try to survive. After all of this thinking, L.V. knew that the only way to prevent it ... ...

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... that stereotypical fairytale knighthood, considers the knightly treatment of women. These men sought courtoisie ""to win the love of women- (87). Obliged by the ethic, and by an internal desire to impress his peers, a knight would "ride at full tilt to the rescue of wellborn women when he found them in danger- (45). Any sound of feminine distress echoed as ... a cry for help. The knight stood obligated to aid those struggling females, but in rendering such service, he was forbidden from forcing his desire on her. Especially in "matters of love,"" the knight had to respect the female's w...

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... more impatient and angry with him until finally he sentences him to "death by drowning-. Right after the words leave the father's mouth, Georg runs from the room, across the street, to the bridge and just lets himself drop into the water. As he does, an almost endless line of traffic streamed over the bridge. Therefore the story's movement escalades from ... ...

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... most common among people. Aristotle believed that since we loved ourselves we wouldn't be able to love another in return. These bad men are driven by their appetites and mostly desire what is the wealthiest, the most honorable, and what is the most physically beautiful. Their material pleasures, which includes public glorification, wealth, and having the prettiest girlfriend are very excessive ... . Friendships of disposition involve an exposure of one's innermost self, including one's emotions and private thoughts. This form arises out of the need for emotional and intellectual intimacy...

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... soul is not subject to the guidance of reason. Such a person lacks what Aristotle calls moral virtue. Aristotle's Doctrine of Mean relies on the reasoning that for every emotion, every desire or appetite, every behavioral disposition, there is a corresponding moral virtue, as well as moral vices. Virtues and vices are states of character. According to Aristotle, emotions and desires have purposes ... time, in the right way, to the right degree. How you are conditioned to feel and respond to life situations is your character. This "right amount- of an emotion or desire is said to be the ...

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... they should proceed (Taylor, 1997). The horses are to pull the chariot, acting as a "drive". These drives are controlled by reason. "Appetite" stands for food, sex, money or anything you desire, "Spirit" stands for the spirited part of self, passion, and "Reason" stands for the rational part of the soul. Plato believes we need the harmony of these three elements for ... the knowledge to understand something and then start performing the action. Plato says that once someone understands the good then he or she will do it; he says " what we desire is always something that is good" (Carr, 1...

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... from righteousness and instead, towards evil. Augustine believed resistance against this temptation required a force stronger than that of human free will. According to Augustine, free will could allow man to desire against sin but what actually controlled his actions to stay righteous was God's grace. Thus, for man to believe he is capable of a righteous life by his free will alone ... and absolute control of his own actions. Augustine's rebuttal emphasized the importance of God's grace throughout a man's life. Augustine felt human free will was limiting, in respect to putting the desi...

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... uncle, to a self-made success. Is the beginning of the story he was an undeterred servant to his uncle. That made money by selling his own old books on the street corners. After he felt that he had saved up enough money he left and took the ferry down river to make a new life of his own in another city where ... ...

• Word Count: 312
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• Grade Level: High School