The Justification Problem in Aristotelian Ethics: Why the Virtuous Life Is Best for Humans
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2015
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Haverford College. Department of Philosophy
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
The justification problem is an important problem in the field of ethics. If a prescriptive way of life cannot be justified, then it will hold no weight for those who consider it. Because there has been a rekindled interest in the ancient virtue ethics approach, given its emphasis on the agent as opposed to the action itself, I have decided to explore the justification problem in Aristotelian ethics-one of the main sources, if not the main source, of the virtue ethics approach in the ancient world. I first identify where the problem lies-in Aristotle's conception of the flourishing human life, and more specifically, his function argument, which argues for the importance of human rationality, and the virtues, which, according to Aristotle, manifest human rationality expressed excellently. As a theory of ethics that can only be justified to a small number of individuals-Aristotle's own students who had the proper moral education-it is not a strong theory. By first considering other flourishing life conceptions and their shortcomings, and then explaining as carefully as possible, Aristotle's own justification, I am then able to show why a justification that provides practical reasons for the life lived in accordance with virtue is the best one for humans. These practical reasons, inspired by Richard Kraut, have as their focus, answering the questions what is good for humans, and why, and allow for almost anyone to understand why such a life is the best life possible for humans.
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Codi Robertson was a Bryn Mawr College student.