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Aristotle and Virtue

            Aristotle emphasis over and over again that a virtuous agent always acts virtuously, whereas a virtuous action does not always necessarily reflect a virtuous agent. What does Aristotle mean by virtue? How can it be attained? Explain in detail what this statement is exactly suggesting. To what extent do you agree what Aristotle is saying? Humans and animals live and share the same planet and share common features even though they are different species. However there is a characteristic that sets humans and animals apart and which is distinctively human which is our ability to reason. .
             As Aristotle explains in Book 1, each and every person is on a search to find Eudaimonia. Everyone has the potential to be Eudaimonic and Aristotle explains that one must actualize his potential to be Eudaimonic by doing virtuous actions. Virtue is the instrument humans use to reach Eudaimonia. A virtue according to Aristotle, is a trait that makes an action of a certain kind good. Each and every action has an end and one does virtuous acts to reach the ultimate end. A virtuous person does virtuous actions effortlessly and doing virtuous actions becomes second nature to them. A virtuous agent always does virtuous actions. They live a life of continuous virtuous actions that involve reason which is a trait which is distinctively human. .
             Without reason behind a virtuous action, the action will not be virtuous because that action will be committed in ignorance. An involuntary action is an act done through ignorance and which is later regretted by the agent. A non-voluntary action is an action done through ignorance which later is not regretted by the agent. Aristotle makes a distinction between an act carried out due to ignorance and an act carried out in ignorance. Actions done through ignorance can never be condoned. For an act to be voluntary once must know who the agent is ,what the agent is doing, what the person is affected, the means being used the result intended and the manner in which the agent acts.


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2. Aristotle Virtue Ethics

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7. The Virtues of Happiness

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9. Confucious and Aristotle on Virtue

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