This post is about what are the diverging and converging points between the thoughts of greatest moral thinkers - Socrates , Plato and Aristotle about Morality.
Socrates believed that greatest pursuit for men is "Virtue"- showing high moral standards. He related virtue with knowledge and further with happiness. He believed that only knowledge is needed to make all men virtuous and virtue is sufficient for happiness in life. If someone acts wrongly it is due to his ignorance or lack of knowledge. His disciple Plato followed the same doctrine that identifies virtue with knowledge. Plato went on to preach that virtue is teachable. Morality is not gift of nature and can be inculcated through education. He further makes fourfold division of morals i.e . Wisdom, Valour, Temperance and Justice.
On the other hand, Plato's disciple Aristotle placed the morals in more humanistic framework. Aristotle believed that Virtue consists of both knowledge and passion. According to Socratic views, if a man has the knowledge of correct moral course of action then he will be virtuous always. However, Aristotle believed that such a man may also take unethical route due to unruly human emotions. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" sums up this situation. Further he stated that this passion can be disciplined only by constant exercise of self control. Habit is of great importance in morality.
Now that i know what these great thinker preached about morality or being virtuous, i am in a position to understand that first it is important to have the knowledge to take morally correct decisions. Then whenever one's emotions hinder, in him being virtuous he has to self discipline himself.With practice virtuous conduct becomes a habit. Further, along with Wisdom, he has to be courageous (Valour) and show Temperance to be able to pursue "Virtue".
Socrates believed that greatest pursuit for men is "Virtue"- showing high moral standards. He related virtue with knowledge and further with happiness. He believed that only knowledge is needed to make all men virtuous and virtue is sufficient for happiness in life. If someone acts wrongly it is due to his ignorance or lack of knowledge. His disciple Plato followed the same doctrine that identifies virtue with knowledge. Plato went on to preach that virtue is teachable. Morality is not gift of nature and can be inculcated through education. He further makes fourfold division of morals i.e . Wisdom, Valour, Temperance and Justice.
On the other hand, Plato's disciple Aristotle placed the morals in more humanistic framework. Aristotle believed that Virtue consists of both knowledge and passion. According to Socratic views, if a man has the knowledge of correct moral course of action then he will be virtuous always. However, Aristotle believed that such a man may also take unethical route due to unruly human emotions. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" sums up this situation. Further he stated that this passion can be disciplined only by constant exercise of self control. Habit is of great importance in morality.
Now that i know what these great thinker preached about morality or being virtuous, i am in a position to understand that first it is important to have the knowledge to take morally correct decisions. Then whenever one's emotions hinder, in him being virtuous he has to self discipline himself.With practice virtuous conduct becomes a habit. Further, along with Wisdom, he has to be courageous (Valour) and show Temperance to be able to pursue "Virtue".
Why do we need morality or moral action in the first place. For one the human society cannot exist without it. It will be mere animal existence. Second it is a source of happiness and joy I believe that we constantly seek. We do immoral acts in throes of our desires of greed, passion not realizing that upright behavior would give a lasting happiness and satisfaction of desires will give only transient pleasure. Aristotle said that he considers that man greatest who conquers his desires and not the one who conquers his enemy. So moral action needs will power above all. It also needs critical thinking. For there is no supreme moral principle to guide us in all situations. All philosophers have tried to figure it out but we do not have such principle. We need to do logical argumentation, critical thinking and discussion to enlighten our soul and gain the knowledge that Socrates speaks about. This has to be a part and parcel of our life, a habit.
ReplyDeleteJust for the sake of discussion. . . may be I can sharpen my logics (borrowed) through your views (again borrowing)
ReplyDeleteFirst of all "Virtue - Showing high moral standards" should be "Virtue - Attaining high moral standards". The world has already exploited enough the word "Showing"
And these individuals : Socrates, Plato Aristotle gave the world a goal - Highest Moral Standard - yet all of them condemned their contemporary human society. I wonder if a society can exist with the highest moral standards ever, it would be a paradox.
And on comparing the human society with the animal existence - I have never heard of an animal other than Man committing an immoral act despite of the so called knowledge (however little).
And -
Who is the most coward animal - MAN
Who is the most ambitious animal - MAN
Who is the most corrupt - MAN
Yet who is the most Intelligent - MAN
Who is great of them all - MAN
Wondering if animals know it already:
Who is the foolish of them all - MAN