🏛️Learn Aristotle's Virtue Ethics
Turn Aristotle's ethics from a list of noble traits into a working life project. By the end, you'll audit your own character, pick one virtue to habituate, and design a two-week practice plan.
Phase 1Meet Aristotle and the Life-Project View of Ethics
Meet eudaimonia, habituation, and Aristotle's life-project view
Ethics isn't about the act — it's about the life
6 minEthics isn't about the act — it's about the life
Every thing has a function — including you
6 minEvery thing has a function — including you
You don't become just by knowing what justice is
7 minYou don't become just by knowing what justice is
Every virtue sits between two ways of going wrong
7 minEvery virtue sits between two ways of going wrong
Phase 2Practicing the Mean: Courage, Temperance, Generosity, Phronesis
Apply the doctrine of the mean to courage, temperance, and generosity
Courage isn't feeling no fear — it's acting from the right reason
7 minCourage isn't feeling no fear — it's acting from the right reason
Temperance is pleasure done right, not pleasure denied
7 minTemperance is pleasure done right, not pleasure denied
Generosity is about how you give, not how much
7 minGenerosity is about how you give, not how much
Phronesis: the master virtue that makes all the others work
7 minPhronesis: the master virtue that makes all the others work
The hardest part of virtue is seeing what the situation is
7 minThe hardest part of virtue is seeing what the situation is
Phase 3Virtue Ethics Meets Kant and Utilitarianism
Test virtue ethics against Kant and utilitarianism on real dilemmas
The lying-to-a-friend problem, run three ways
7 minThe lying-to-a-friend problem, run three ways
A runaway trolley, three ethical frameworks, one uncomfortable truth
7 minA runaway trolley, three ethical frameworks, one uncomfortable truth
You promised. Then it turned out badly. Now what?
7 minYou promised. Then it turned out badly. Now what?
The one question virtue ethics answers better than the others
7 minThe one question virtue ethics answers better than the others
Phase 4Your Virtue Audit and Two-Week Practice Plan
Audit your character and design a two-week virtue practice plan
Pick one virtue. Build a two-week habituation plan. Start tomorrow.
8 minPick one virtue. Build a two-week habituation plan. Start tomorrow.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Aristotle mean by eudaimonia, and why isn't it just happiness?
- This is covered in the “Learn Aristotle's Virtue Ethics” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- How does the doctrine of the mean actually work for a specific virtue?
- This is covered in the “Learn Aristotle's Virtue Ethics” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- What is phronesis, and why is it the master virtue?
- This is covered in the “Learn Aristotle's Virtue Ethics” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- How is virtue ethics different from Kantian or utilitarian ethics?
- This is covered in the “Learn Aristotle's Virtue Ethics” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- Can you really become virtuous just by habit, or do you need the right feelings too?
- This is covered in the “Learn Aristotle's Virtue Ethics” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
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