Aristotle And Montesquieu 's Views On Virtue

In particular, Chapter XVI, Montesquieu tell us that, “IT is natural for a republic to have only a small territory; otherwise it cannot long subsist. In an extensive republic there are men of large fortunes… has interests of his own; he soon begins to think that he may be happy and glorious by oppressing his fellow-citizens; and that he may raise himself to grandeur on the ruins of his country” (Classics, p.116). Virtue is what drives republics in Montesquieu’s mind, but ambition he says is what causes republics to fail. In large republic, the ambition of a few wealthy individuals could derail the whole republic and could ultimately turn the republic to an oppressive, tyrannical government. A smaller republic he sees safeguards against that because, virtue creates a sense of closeness between people, and everyone sees each the community as an extension of oneself. Therefore, there would be less of a chance of abuse by the wealthy few. Montesquieu though does not just stop there when critiquing republics. He goes on later in his essays and provides some criticisms of small

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, first introduced virtue ethics as a method to describe how a good person should act. As such, virtues play a major role in every profession including engineering. Virtuous engineers make better decisions throughout the design and analysis of any component, item, or system. This paper begins with a description of Aristotelian virtue ethics followed by a discussion on the virtues I have gained while at Texas A&M University, virtues needed as a mechanical engineer, and methods of expanding these virtues.

In the beginning of his essay on the “Spirit of the Laws” Montesquieu focuses on the natural impulses of man. After creating his baseline for how humans behave and interact, Montesquieu continues his essay by analyzing governments formed by humans. When you look closely at the text, Montesquieu’s connections between man’s behavior and his political philosophy become evident and crucial to understanding his argument. Montesquieu’s analysis of man can help us determine the roots of corruption and despotism, which fortifies the need for a system of checks and balances in a successful government.

He had the same mindset of most colonist at the time and knows oppression is bound to happen when they aren't separate. He makes the claim that when all powers are held by one, “ there is no liberty” and “ there can be no liberty, because apprehensions may arise, lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws, to execute them in tyrannical manner” (Excerpt from “ Spirit of the laws”). A police officer would be able to create oppressive laws, Approve them , Arrest you based off of his oppressive laws and the finally deem you guilty in the sense if all powers were to be held by one central power. Montesquieu understood that under a dictatorship, that's how things would be ran. He would rather have a separate person to make laws, then approve, someone to enforce them , and someone to judge how well the enforcement was done. Colonist also believed he ideals were best suited to have a successful state, hence the reason we have those fundamental ideas today, because of the influential thoughts of

He stated that people were basically good and that society, and it the unequal distribution of wealth, were causing most of the problems. Baron de Montesquieu, one of his most influential book expanded more of John Locke’s study. Montesquieu believed the best government should divide itself to its power, creating a Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch (separation of power). He

This case is made even more explicitly in The Spirit of the Laws. In Book III, for instance, Montesquieu ascribes a fundamental principle to each of the three types of government he outlines. But while Montesquieu names “virtue” as the principle of a republican government and “honor” as the principle of a monarchical government, the despotic system is given the fundamental principle of “fear” (Spirit of the Laws bk. III, ch. 9, par. 1), easily the least noble of the three.

Montesquieu thought that the way governments were around him, were terrible. He stated, “"There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of

He believed that the three powers in the government must all be kept separate. He believed there wasn’t any liberty when any of the three powers were united. This calls for the system of checks and balances. Montesquieu also believed that elected representatives should be chosen from inhabitants of an area as they will know and represent common interests best.

Montesquieu was a French Philosopher, and he believed that all things were made up of rules or laws that never changed. He said there are three types of government a monarchy (ruled by a king or queen), republic (ruled by an elected leader) and a despotism (ruled

He decided not to be to be ignorant by following what the king said so he looked at the government as a scientist would. Montesquieu believed that everything was made up of laws that would never change. He claimed that there was three types of government: a monarchy, a republic, and a despotism. Montesquieu believed that the best form of government is the one that has the people’s consent and is chosen by them. He, as well as Plato, did not believe a democracy would succeed because he claimed that a balance of power had to be held.

This paper will be examining Plato’s dialogue Protagoras. Specifically, it will provide insight into Socrates’ reasons for challenging the view that virtue can be taught. Protagoras’ reply in his great speech will also be deliberated. Finally, there will also be a discussion based on these differing perspectives.

Virtue is something insurmountably perplexing but infinitely used within society. Although hard to define, Virtue seems to be a type of knowledge that depicts our moral standards. After reading Meno by Plato, I conclude that virtue can in fact, be taught. Through the Meno, Socrates converses with Meno beginning to end on what Meno believes “virtue” is. Socrates admits that he ‘knows that he does not know’ what the definition is, but he knows the process and how to find out what it may be. Through questioning and interrogation (elenchus), Socrates leads Meno and a slave boy through the socratic process of doxa, aporia, and then anamnesis. Socrates explains, “Then if the truth about reality is always in our soul, the soul would be immortal so that you should always confidently try to seek out and recollect?” (86, b). Because of this recollection (anamnesis), Socrates concludes that the soul is then immortal and is all in all, recollecting previous knowledge hidden deep within the soul.

If I had the chance to build a government I would build it on Montesquieu's beliefs. On the other hand, I don’t relate to everything he believed. Montesquieu believed that government should be separated into three different powers. An example of this is the government in England government during this time (Montesquieu lived through 1689-1755) there was a king, Parliament, and there were judges in the English court. The Parliament made the laws, the king enforced them and then the judges would interpret the laws. Montesquieu thought that if you separated the government's power like this then none of the branches could take away freedom from the people. He created a book called The Spirit of Laws. This book became a huge influence for many

In Book II of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the idea of moral virtue. Aristotle emphasized the importance of developing moral virtue as the way to achieve what is finally more important, human flourishing (eudaimonia). Aristotle makes the argument in Book II that moral virtue arises from habit—equating ethical character to a skill that is acquired through practice, such as learning a musical instrument. However in Book III, Aristotle argues that a person 's moral virtue is voluntary, as it results from many individual actions which are under his own control. Thus, Aristotle confronts us with an inherently problematic account of moral virtue.

Socrates’ sense of virtue, as established in Plato’s Apology of Socrates, Crito, and Symposium collectively, revolves around the pursuit of wisdom, knowledge, and justice, all in an effort to benefit the soul rather than the physical body. Given that this oftentimes contradicts standard values of honor and beauty, Socrates is targeted by many of those around him who oppose his ideas and ways of thinking, especially since the youth begin to criticize the elders’ concern for the trappings of honor and beauty rather than for interior virtues. Unlike Socrates’ case, Aeneas’ sense of virtue complies with the standard societal definition, emphasizing pietas, or respect for the gods and dedication to family and community. In his efforts to