Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Aristotle

To be honest, Aristotle is one of my favorite philosophers where virtue is concerned.

What I like most about his philosophy is the concept of habituation, that people become a certain way by means of practicing that action in the same way an athlete or a musician practices a certain activity. I think this is extremely accurate. When one does something that encourages a vice, it is very easy to maintain that habit and keep doing things like that.
However, the habit of doing virtuous things is much harder to start and maintain. This is why virtues are so highly valued in a person. If everyone could be virtuous, everyone would be. This habituation principle puts the responsibility where it should be: on the person. It is up to the person to begin doing virtuous things and to keep that habit over time.  

1 comment:

  1. I like him also because he places so much responsibility in our hands.

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