Virtue Essays - 814 Words

Virtue Virtues contribute to people’s actions in today’s society. Society as a whole has a common set of virtues that many people agree on. In today’s society, these are known as laws. Virtues also mold the individual outlook on life, and give them the moral’s to do what is right. In The Republic, Plato divides the city into three classes: gold, silver, as well as bronze and iron souls. Each class is designated to posses a specific virtue. He believes that wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice combine together to form The Republic. However, Plato’s four virtues individually do not necessarily produce a utopian society. A combination of the four in each citizen is imperative in producing the ideal society. In Plato’s search for the†¦show more content†¦Plato used the dyeing analogy to state how he wishes to train the silver souls (429d- 430b). He states that the people will undergo a precise training. Certain music and physical activity w ill only be allowed. Plato wanted a good upbringing to make the right ideas permanent in them, so that the bleach of pleasure, grief, fear, or death, would not wash the true colors from their souls. For, in my opinion, you regard the right opinion about these same things that comes to be without education- that found in beast and slaves- as not at all lawful and call it something other than courage (430b). Once they got to this point of having a clear, firm grasp of what is really dangerous to a man, they knew their only task was to show courage. The third virtue in The Republic, is moderation. The Greek term for moderation is Sophrosune. Plato defines moderation as the kind of accord and harmony between the bronze and silver souls. Moderation is the ability to control desires and to be the master of ones self. There are two things at work in a man’s heart. One is good, and one is bad. The bad can overwhelm the good. If the people have bad training or keep company with the wr ong people, the bad force grows powerful and can overwhelm the good. If the good one controls them, then there is moderation; but if the bad one controls, they are a slave to their own desires and that they are out of control or unprincipled. If, therefore, any city ought to be designedShow MoreRelatedVirtue Vs. Moral Virtue938 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is virtue? Is it something we can all comprehend? Is it part of our soul, mind or bodies? Perhaps it’s a type of lifestyle where we act a certain way and treat everyone equally. Or maybe it’s a belief or religion which carries its own sets of rules and regulations. Many individuals are mistaken for the true definition of virtue; virtue is a theory used to make moral decisions which leads to happiness. Moral virtue is to be learned through habit and practice, which makes one into a better personRead MorePlato s Views On The Virtue Of The Virtues Essay1256 Words   |  6 Pagesa kind of virtue or not, or whether a perso n who has it is happy or unhappy† (Republic 354c) Plato presents Socrates as believing in the unity of the virtues, skeptical of those who, like Meno, wish to treat the virtues as distinct objects of inquiry in dialogues such as Laches, Protagoras, Meno, the Republic, and Euthyphro. These dialogues provide good reason to deny that Plato’s Socrates believed in the numerical identity of the virtues. I shall argue that in the various virtues is one essenceRead MoreVirtue Ethics1184 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Virtue ethics is a theory used to make moral decisions. It does not rely on religion, society or culture; it only depends on the individuals themselves. The main philosopher of Virtue Ethics is Aristotle. His theory was originally introduced in ancient Greek times. Aristotle was a great believer in virtues and the meaning of virtue to him meant being able to fulfil ones functions. Virtue ethics is not so much interested in the question What should I do? but rather in theRead MoreThe Scrutiny of Virtue1075 Words   |  5 PagesThe Scrutiny of Virtue Virtue is a mean condition which falls between the extremes of excess and deficiency which are both subject to vices. Either of those two vices, or the practices of base behaviors, happen to rely on the virtue that one aims for. For instance, courage is a virtue of which cowardice and rashness are the deficiency and excess of respectively. Evidence of this is seen in Book II, Chapter 9 of Nichomachean Ethics where Aristotle mentions â€Å"†¦virtue of character is a mean conditionRead MoreThe, Virtue, By Socrates And Meno1009 Words   |  5 Pagesof virtue. This passage mainly goes through dialogues between Socrates and Meno, who debated with each other in order to make a certain definition of virtue. In the passage, Socrates gave his opinion of virtue and tried to make Meno understand his ideas, while Meno held his opinion. In fact, virtue is rather difficult to be defined. Even though both Socrates and Meno had contemplated what virtue, it is still hard to give a definition of it. Also, trying to make a certain definition of virtue is alsoRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of Virtues920 Words   |  4 PagesVirtues he tells us are like diverse judgments of excellence or admirableness and you cannot reduce to a single principle explanation of what it is excellent. He makes a comparison â€Å"X seems excellent, but why?† â€Å"Because X has characteristics of A, B, and C which are excellent.† He goes on to tell us that he naturally begins to think why are they excellent and what is excellent about them. He says most people will reflect on this and will come up with different reasons and it can just keep goingRead MoreEssay on Virtue Ethics900 Words   |  4 PagesVirtue, when I hear that word I think of value and morality and only good people can be virtuous. When I hear the word ethics I think of good versus evil, wrong and right. Now when the two are put together you get virtue ethics. You may wonder what can virtue ethics possibly me an. It’s just two words put together to form some type of fancy theory. Well this paper will discuss virtue ethics and the philosophy behind it. Virtue ethics is a theory that focuses on character development and what virtuesRead MoreSocrates And Protagoras On Virtue1435 Words   |  6 PagesSocrates and Protagoras on Virtue This paper will be examining Plato’s dialogue Protagoras. Specifically, it will provide insight into Socrates’ reasons for challenging the view that virtue can be taught. Protagoras’ reply in his great speech will also be deliberated. Finally, there will also be a discussion based on these differing perspectives. Firstly, it is important to understand that Socrates was not merely arguing for virtue as being something that was not able to be taught. Socrates insteadRead MoreQuestions On Virtue And Value1414 Words   |  6 Pages Running Head: Virtue and Value Rice Virtues and Values De’Jaun Rice MHA622 Health Care Ethics Law Robert Smiles March 21, 2016 1 - 1 - 1 1. Running Head: Virtue and Value Your document’s heading is not formatted correctly. In the upper left corner of the first page, the words Running head: should preface a shortened version of your title. The upper right corner of the page should have the numerical page number. The shortened version of your title should be in all capital letters. On subsequentRead MoreConfucius And Aristotle On Virtue1318 Words   |  6 PagesConfucius and Aristotle on Virtue This essay compares two philosophers of two very different and distinct backgrounds. Confucius’s ideas were developed as a result of his involvement and manifestation in the ancient Chinese culture while Aristotle’s ideas were a result of his absorption and existence in the ancient Greek culture. Subsequently, both philosophers touched on subjects of a similar nature quite frequently, so as, what constitutes virtue or good ethical character and conduct. According