Respond to the discussion about Aristotle (for online class-introduction to Ethics) - Essay Example

21 January, My response to mates I totally agree with you because your opinion is just the same as mine. Both of us have interpreted Aristotle’s assertion similarly, and our belief about human nature is alike. It is true that no one is born as a criminal. People turn into virtuous or vicious depending upon the influence of environment and culture in which they are brought up. However, it is noteworthy here that criminals do not necessarily have criminals in their family. Two brothers who are given the same up-bringing turn out to be different in their personalities because of the difference of experiences that they go through.

No one is born to act in a certain way, though the ups and downs of life do have a role in depicting an individual’s personality and attitude. However, I do not agree with you when you say that the vicious people can be changed. We can try to change them, but there are several controlling factors that are beyond our control. 2. You have made a good attempt to support your assertion with scientific discussion. However, you have mentioned partial agreement with Aristotle’s conception, approving which I have reservations.

It is right that an individual’s characteristic traits are determined by his/her genes. But we should realize that anger is present in every human being to varying degrees. Similarly, kindness, gentleness, arrogance and such other traits are all existent in all of us and in fact, have a big role in making us act like humans. However, there are some that control their anger, and there are others who are controlled by their anger. What matters is, how much effort one puts into suppressing the negative feelings and promoting the positive ones.

This is what virtuosity and viciousness is all about, and the environmental influence and an individual’s experiences play a decisive role in making him/her virtuous or vicious. Anger does not make one vicious. It is the wrong use of it that makes an individual vicious. 3. You seem to have consented with Aristotle’s thinking. However, you sound confused about judging the role of early childhood teaching on the behavior displayed by an individual later in life. What we are taught certainly influence our style of thinking.

The teachings together with practical life experiences determine our nature as virtuous or vicious. 4. I agree with you when you say that an individual is tempted to behave as he/she is taught to. However, my answer to your question that, whether a person acting in a bad manner because he/she was taught to do so is vicious, is obviously “yes”. If one behaves badly, one is being vicious irrespective of why one is doing so, though I agree to you that it depends upon an individual whether he/she actually does what he/she is taught to. 5. You have plainly mentioned that you approve Aristotle’s opinion, to which I agree as well.

There is nothing to disagree with in your analysis of Aristotle’s view.