Virtue as the Highest Good: An Analysis of Aristotle’s Ethics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjiks.2024.v1.n2.010Keywords:
Aristotle, Virtue Ethics, Eudaimonia, Doctrine of the Mean, Moral Character, Practical Wisdom, Good LifeAbstract
This paper critically examines Aristotle’s ethical theory, focusing on virtue as the highest good and the foundation of human flourishing. Based on the Nicomachean Ethics, the study examines Aristotle’s teleological paradigm in which all human actions aim toward eudaimonia, or human flourishing. Aristotle’s virtue ethics emphasizes character development, rational deliberation, and ethical practices, which I think covers morality. The paper examines Aristotle’s moral philosophy’s teleological structure, virtue as a rational disposition, the doctrine of the mean as a guide to ethical moderation, and virtue and the good life. It also investigates how Aristotle’s practical knowledge (phronesis) helps people traverse complex moral circumstances and choose the right action. By placing virtue in human nature and social existence, Aristotle shows that moral excellence is realized by integrating reason, character, and persistent practice. The study also shows that Aristotelian virtue ethics is relevant in modern ethical discourse, particularly in moral education, character formation, and professional responsibility. In an age of moral heterogeneity and ethical uncertainty, Aristotle’s emphasis on virtue offers a viable alternative to rule-based or consequence-oriented ethical theories. This paper concludes that Aristotle’s ethical vision remains a powerful philosophical foundation for pursuing the highest good and human happiness.
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