Do you truly know the good? How do we really know what we know? Is your path to Happiness the right path? Such things we have talked about in class and we have many theories as to what the good is and how to obtain it. In class we discussed what true knowing is and I proposed that Plato/Socrates was more correct in saying that the form or idea of a virtue is more true than the action of doing that which any be courageous, generous, and the like.
How many of us can attest to have done a virtuous act without really considering or knowing what it was? Some of us do virtues because it's habit and don't truly believe in the essence of the action. Others perform acts of kindness for recognition and only understand the reward. This is not true understanding. I believe the best example I have for this argument would be of children. They have almost an innate sense of understanding that seeing people hurt is bad, and that you must care for them. Or that the homeless man you passed by is hungry. When you ask a child why they helped the person in need, it is a selfless respond of wanting to see others happy. This is the true knowing; that doing virtues in and of itself is good. Young children do not have enough experience to be virtuous in the eyes of those that agree with Aristotle, but all would agree that their actions are that of truth.
What of Happiness? Is your way any good? From class we understand that Eudemonia is the end all to all that we do and that we act in pursuit of happiness. Therefore, we cannot judge those that go about it wrong. We must take into account the possibility that they do not know what is good and fall into the trap that fulfilling pleasures and other fleeting things as are way to happiness.
In short, knowing what you must do, is the first step into doing what is right for our life. The soul must be awakened before the body can move. Before you step out of the jail cell, you must first unlock the door.
I do agree with your post and like the example of children being virtuous. It is a good point that children are often more virtuous than elders. This brings up the question, why does performing virtuous acts shift from performing them because it is good in and of itself to performing them for benefits/recognition? I believe the former includes how children as raised. For example, when I was a kid and perform virtuous things, my mom would usually give me a reward (which would usually be choosing any toy I pleased). In other words, children perform virtuous acts because they are good. However, as they increase in age, virtuous acts are most likely to be rewarded for with the reward either being a physical reward or recognition.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well as disagree, but more disagree (lol). Virtue, as an example, is something that cant be taught, you have to learn from experience. I notice that I've always been a virtuous person, even as a child. I didn't know right from wrong, but I would always treat everyone fair, not because I was told to or threatened with punishment if I didn't, but because I felt it in my heart. From my "experiences" of being treated unfairly, I practically learned what it actually feels like to be done wrong. You can tell someone that something is wrong or right, but that doesn't "teach" them that it is wrong or right. In fact, I was always told I was too nice; I talked too much because I hated to see people lonely, and my parents always got on me for being too nice and giving too much. Coming from a rough neighborhood, I was "taught" not to be too nice, but I always "felt" what I was suppose to do, even if it went against what I was taught. I did eventually learn what justice and virtue was and that helped me to be a more virtuous person, but experience has to be the most powerful teacher. At the end of the day, I'd say that you can tell a child not to touch a hot iron, but they wont learn until they burn themselves. (trust me I know)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more. I'm 20 years old working in a restaurant as a waitress. Where I work, though I do love my co-workers deeply, but most of them do not do what is required of the job: teamwork. And I believe that teamwork can be a characteristic of doing good. Think about it this way, I walk by a table that's not mine, see they need refills, and proceed to give them the refill. They weren't my table, I could've kept walking or went out and took a cigarette break. But I get them the refill because one: its my job, two: because obviously they're thirsty, and three: to help out my co-worker. I do it because its the right thing to do. It's what I'm supposed to do. Even now at work we have a star board, where we win prizes for doing our job such as cleaning someone else's table, helping someone get caught up, and etc. But why do we need a star board to do the right thing? Why do we need incentives to do good? Are we too lazy? Are we mean deep down on the inside? What makes true acts of virtue stop?
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