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Aristotle Research Paper

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Aristotle is thought of to be one of the greatest philosophers of all time. His works helped shape centuries of philosophy. Many of his theories have provided direction. Aristotle is known for using his sciences to explain things; there are three theoretical sciences in which his studies are oriented. Those three are theoretical, practical, and productive. “The principles of division are straightforward: theoretical science seeks knowledge for its own sake; practical science concerns conduct and goodness in action, both individual and societal; and productive science aims at the creation of beautiful or useful objects” (Hursthouse & Pettigrove, 2003).
There are certain ways in which we acquire virtue. Aristotle states that we acquire virtue …show more content…

First off, who is Immanuel Kant? Kant is a philosopher who “synthesized early modern rationalism and empiricism, set the terms for much of nineteenth and twentieth century philosophy, and continues to exercise a significant influence today in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics and other fields” (Rohlf, 2010). Kant had different thinking than Aristotle when it came to virtues. “The appeal of Kantian morality is that it directly links morality to a dignified conception of man as a rationally free agent” (Lear, 1988, p 153). Kant believes that you are ultimately your own person and that you should make decisions on your own without having to do what others do. Kant believes that the highest good is possible when you believe in immortality of the soul and the existence of God. To Kant, he believes it is better if you help people in need not those that are poor for the pure basis that it is the right thing to do and not just because it is how people believe that you should act and do. The highest good, according to Kant, is a duty and it is something that people need to do in order to achieve the good. On the other hand, Aristotle believes that if you want to achieve the highest good, you can achieve that on your own; it is not something that you need to …show more content…

“The duty to promote the highest good is not a particular duty at all, but the sum of all our duties derived from the moral law” (Rohlf, 2010). We have a choice to want to conceive the highest good; we must want to achieve it. We must truly want to achieve that highest good. Both Kant and Aristotle would say that each of their thinking’s is flawed. Aristotle’s ethics as a system of morality is not recognized by Kant. “Morality, for Kant, had to be self-legislating or autonomous: it must be what a purely rational will would legislate for itself” (Lear, 1988, p 155). Kant’s thinking about morality is more personal than it is for Aristotle. Aristotle’s is personal because it is for yourself, your

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