PHIL 313 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Contract Theory, Negative And Positive Rights, Nicomachean Ethics

• School: University of Calgary
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 313
• Professor: Charles David, Michael Boutland

Document Summary

Student of plato, teacher of alexander the great. An act is morally right just because it is one that a virtuous person would do in that situation. There is a large set of moral rules (vices and virtues) that help to guide our actions. For each virtue, there is a rule that tells us to act accordingly. For each vice, there is a rule that tells us to avoid it. A commendable character trait, one that adds to a flourishing and happy life. Unlike intellectual virtues, which are learned directly, moral virtues must be lived to be learned. A virtue is a mean between two vices, that which depends on the excess and that which depends on the defect". The virtuous person will have a better life. Virtues are the essential qualities needed in order to flourish and have a successful life.