Philosophy Comparison Paper
Philosophy Comparison Paper
Ethics defines the methodologies used to differentiate between what is good and what is bad. There are ancient scholars who put in different works based on different ethical theories. Aristotle and Epictetus are major contributors to this sector. They had similarities as well as differences. They both believed that human beings worked and lived towards a certain end that they referred to as ‘happiness’. They define it as the supreme good that human beings strive for in life. They both concluded that happiness was the most complete ending to human life.
There are several ethical theories that Aristotle is associated with. With regards to happiness, Aristotle points out that happiness is not just a disposition as other philosophers say. He adds that happiness involves a system that requires actions. He elaborates that happiness is not just a feeling that brings about pleasure to the human beings but rather, it involves the action part of the human life. He argues that human beings are beings of reason. The rational ability of human beings when balanced well with the emotional aspect brings about happiness. According to Aristotle, happiness is well exercised and achieved if there are certain internal as well as external goods (Allard-Nelson, 2004).
Aristotle suggests that most life aspects present such as things, activities as well as living things have a final end. The final end can be compared to a sense of fulfillment. The ends are different in that some are subordinate to others while others are more or less ultimate to the particular good or activity. He points out that human beings consider happiness as the ultimate end. He argues that happiness involves achieving an excellence in the different activities that human beings are involved in. The activities may be intellectually, physically or emotionally related to the human beings’ rational behavior.
Aristotle talked of different issues about virtue. He argued that virtue is a state of being that explains how human beings respond to different situations. He adds on that there is an intermediary state between excessive and deficiency. The good virtue should be between the two extremes of excess and deficiency.
Aristotle argues that human being always has a good capacity for good character. The achievement of such good character is referred to as being virtuous according to Aristotle. The development of good character is brought about through habit and education. Practice also makes the character of the person develop well as he/she will be able to differentiate well between the good and the bad (Allard-Nelson, 2004).
Epictetus’ Ethical Theory
According to Epictetus Ethical Theory, human beings value external circumstances and objects more than their internal welfare. The basic problem people experience is confusing between external welfare, which they do not have control, with internal welfare, which they have control over. Epictetus highlight the factor that human beings suffer a lot due to their love for external materials such as reputation, fame, wealth, relationships, body and possessions. The greed to attain external materials often lead people to participate in unethical acts.
The philosopher points out that only virtuous and virtues related activities are good, while vice and vice motivated activities are evil. Therefore, the desire for power and material things motivate human beings to participate in unethical activities. For instance, politicians eliminate their opponent by killing or kidnaping them in order to clinch to power. This is a perfect example of how the desire for power motivates individuals to participate in evil acts.
The theory also highlights that lack of control of our internal state of mind as a major contributor to our suffering. Wanting what we possess or what we get is important in making our life worth living. Wanting what we possess rather than desiring for more material things provide a peaceful state of mind which is integral to our wellbeing and happiness (Lesses, 1989). The most important things in the human life is learning to control their minds. Humans are rational beings and we should be able to control our minds which we have control over instead of focusing on attaining material things that are beyond our ability. Having control of the state of our mind gives us inner peace which people cannot attain while participating in unethical activities.
There is a difference between Aristotle’s and Epictetus’ Ethical Theories regarding happiness. According to Epictetus, whoever follows his philosophy to the latter will experience happiness for an infinite period. The philosopher emphasizes that people have control over external wellbeing and hence they can also control their happiness. Unhappiness will not be an option since people will be able to control their state of mind. On the other hand, Aristotle disagrees with Epictetus by arguing that circumstances affect the happiness of an individual. Aristotle points out that happiness can only last for a finite time since life has challenges and bad fortunes that limit our happiness (Cooper, 1999). Such challenges and bad fortunes create an unhappy state of the mind thus making our happiness finite.
References
Allard-Nelson, S. K. (2004). An Aristotelian approach to ethical theory: The norms of virtue. Lewiston, N.Y: Edwin Mellen Press.
Cooper, J. M. (1999). Reason and emotion: Essays on ancient moral psychology and ethical theory. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.
Lesses, Glen. (1989). Virtue and the Goods of Fortune in Stoic Moral Theory. Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 7: 95–127.
