StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The essay compares Confucius and Aristotle’s perceptions of virtue or the good ethical character and conduct. In the course of addressing this purpose, the study will focus on comparing the Confucius and Aristotle’s viewpoints on virtue, acceptable ethical character and conduct through demonstration of similarities and differences in specific ideas…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER91.9% of users find it useful
Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue"

Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue Virtue refers to behaviour that illustrates high moral standards and, therefore, the concept of moral excellence. The essay compares Confucius and Aristotle’s perceptions of virtue or the good ethical character and conduct. In the course of addressing this purpose, the study will focus on comparing the Confucius and Aristotle’s viewpoints on virtue, acceptable ethical character and conduct through demonstration of similarities and differences in specific ideas.

Besides, the essay will consider the implications of the findings in understanding ancient Chinese and Greek cultures. Similarly, the essay suggests ideas of virtue, which can apply to ethics in the contemporary society that has diverse workplaces. According to the concept of ‘virtue ethics’ by Aristotle, it is challenging to attain morality in a universal code. That indicates that the justified thing to do in a specific situation is what a virtuous individual would do. Aristotle defines virtue as the quality of character that is essential and ideal in ensuring a life well lived.

In defining this concept, Aristotle focused on characterizing the good life as that lived under the influence of or in accordance with virtue (Lockwood, 2008). On the other hand, Confucius focused on going a notch higher to the process of defining the concept with the intention of escaping the potential circularity of virtue ethics. He further provided a starting point towards understanding how to achieve a good life. From that perspective, there is not a single, universal moral code. Nevertheless, there is a ‘root of humanity’ and, thus, the perfect opportunity for the attainment of closest loving relationships (Slingerland, 2003).

According to the perception, the fulfilment of duties to families and friends prior to the execution of ethical responsibilities for others forms a critical life aspect. Similar to most Greek philosophers, Aristotle focused on viewing virtue as a form of language. From that perspective, self-examination is essential in the generation of self-knowledge that eventually leads to the realisation of the good life. It indicates that knowledge comes out as a mean, which is relative to individuals.

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle focused on the integration of a patient, careful and descriptive approach to examining moral philosophy (Hoffe, 2010). The central issue in the concept is the question of character and personality. Aristotle focused on answering the questions on what defines an individual as a good person. From that perspective, it is remarkable that each activity has its ultimate cause and, thus, the good at which it aims. Aristotle notes that there cannot be an infinite regress in relation to merely extrinsic goods, thus the need for the existence of highest good at which all-human activities ultimately aims.

That relates to the concept of happiness (living well). Attaining that ultimate goal demands that there must be entire proper functioning in relation to human life. In addition, an activity of the soul has the obligation of expressing the genuine virtue or aspect of excellence. In this context, individuals need to aim at the achievement of a life full of conformity in accordance with the rational natures in pursuit of virtue. From a Confucian perspective, the achievement of virtue focuses on gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, kindness and earnestness.

Confucius focused on the illustration of these aspects of virtue, which individuals must practice in the course of living a healthy as well as harmonious life. Based on that, it is imperative to have a well-ordered society for the expression of virtue (Slingerland, 2003). From the above perceptions, it is evident that Aristotle and Confucius focused on the illustration of happiness and appropriate living conditions as a form of expression of virtue. Based on their reasoning, virtue has the potentiality of ensuring that people aim at the achievement of happiness and quality living conditions following self-awareness and self-knowledge.

That justifies the fact that ancient Greek and Chinese societies adopted and recognised utilisation of the self-awareness to facilitate the achievement the goals and targets. That was in relation to virtue or self-knowledge that forms the basis of happiness and quality living conditions. On the other hand, the Confucian approach focused on the utilisation of a systematic approach in pursuit of quality living conditions and, thus the achievement of virtue or ethical conditions. In contemporary society, the concept of virtue or ethics starts with the basic assumptions that all employee live in accordance with the moral guidelines.

That form the guiding principles with the intention of conducting themselves in the work environment effectively and efficiently. In the context of diverse workplaces, business entities focus on the development of the ethical principles with the intention of making people of all socio-economic backgrounds to feel comfortable working towards the realisation of competitive advantage. Similarly, the approaches are vital to the promotion of equal opportunities in contemporary working environments.

References Höffe, O. (2010). Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics”. Brill. Lockwood, T. C. (2008). Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics. Ancient Philosophy, 28(2), 435- 439. Slingerland, E. (2003). Confucius analects. Indianapolis and Cambridge: Hackett Publishing.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1696224-confucius-and-aristotle-on-virtue
(Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1696224-confucius-and-aristotle-on-virtue.
“Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/religion-and-theology/1696224-confucius-and-aristotle-on-virtue.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue

Can Individual Virtue Survive Corporate Pressure

The researcher of this essay “Can Individual virtue Survive Corporate Pressure?... Solomon and Gilbert Harman on the question of 'Can Individual virtue Survive Corporate Pressure?... Solomon then goes on to cite eminent philosophers from the past, including Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill and David Hume in emphasizing the importance of individual character and virtue.... But the preoccupation of these philosophers is not only whether individual virtue 'can' survive....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

LIFE EXAMINATION PAPER

Personal Philosophical Suppositions Module title: Module ID: Submission date: Abstract The present paper aims to elucidate my personal views and philosophy about life.... The main objective behind discussing the same includes shedding light on various aspects of my individual thoughtfulness and glimpses by concentrating upon the change interaction with social and physical environment of humans....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Are Confucianism and Islamic Ethics Applicable in the Contemporary World

That everyone is called to the virtue of mean.... Only then can we say knowledge leads to virtue, when people are ignorant, their personalities are disorganized, for the unruly desires and passions then control them.... For Aristotle, acting moderately is allied with virtue.... Plato's pupil aristotle held that the common good is that ability of attaining total freedom and happiness.... The doctrine of the mean is the central point in the book confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us about Living in the West By T....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Philosophy short answer essay

Multiple choice:In Confucianism the central virtue is A= social success.... True or False:Our highest objective according to aristotle is the attainment of pleasureFalse7.... True or False:aristotle thinks that we develop the virtues by acquiring them as habits.... Fill in the gaps:According to aristotle the proper function of a human being is to reason.... Fill in the gap:aristotle thinks that to determine the mean, one needs to use practical wisdom....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Virture according to Aristotle

aristotle on virtue.... There are 2 kinds of virtue.... These are the moral virtue and the intellectual virtue.... In the absence of virtue, a person cannot be happy.... According to Aristotle, the soul is consisted virtue According to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics Based on book 2 of the Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle, virtue in the Ethics specially agrees with human excellence....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Aristotelian and Confucian Virtue Ethics Philosophies

Review of the ethics of confucius and aristotle: mirrors of virtue.... They separately developed philosophies on virtue ethics, which many people think have parallels as much they are different.... One of the similarities between the views of the two philosophers on virtue ethics is functional… The sense here is that people should strive to be the best thing that they can be; that people should strive to be holistic and on their best behavior at all times....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

The Socratic and Platonic Conception of Arete

"The Socratic and Platonic Conception of Arete" paper focuses on the concept of Areté that becomes difficult to define because the literal meaning of the word connects with the idea of virtue.... As a virtue, Areté can mean excellence, good behavior, or even bravery on the battlefield.... The meaning of areté can be made clear by showing its connection with virtue as described by Yu (1998) who says that, “The word "virtue" is a transliteration of the Latin virtus (from vir, literally "manhood"), which was in turn employed by Latin authors to translate the Greek areté, originally referring to excellence of manly qualities (Yu, 1998, Pg....
6 Pages (1500 words) Coursework

What Does Aristotle Think Is Required for Human Happiness

The author of this paper "What Does Aristotle Think Is Required for Human Happiness" discusses the view of Aristotle with regard to the issue in question and examines the elements that are required for human happiness, the definition of happiness, the connection between happiness and virtue.... Then it will move to the kinds of good and the connection between happiness and virtue.... This paper will present the view of aristotle with regard to the issue in question and examine the elements that are required for human happiness....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us