Virtuous and Vicious: Considering Character

Virtuous and Vicious: Considering Character
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Virtuous and Vicious
Virtue enables individuals to conquer negative desires, emotions, and tendencies. According to the theory of ethics by Aristotle, the virtuous individual displays the combined excellence of character and reason. The virtuous individual does not only know what the right or good thing to do is, the person is also attached to that thing emotionally. Furthermore, the two virtues or excellences are inherently linked so that a person cannot do without one. This is what leads to good life. As Aristotle argues, the good life is one which fulfils the natural human drives and shifts them to the end. It is, however, unfortunate that Aristotle is not especially clear about the details of how the virtues are interrelated or are mutually dependent, a reality that has fuelled a vigorous debate among various researchers and scholars. His theory of morals applies significantly to the criminal justice field.
The main idea with which the author starts is that there exist variations of opinion on what is good for human beings. He holds that in order to benefit from ethical enquiry, human beings should resolve the disagreement. Aristotle emphasizes that ethics in itself is not a theoretical subject or discipline as people ask what is good for them not just because they wish to acquire knowledge. Rather it is because if people build a complete comprehending of what it is to thrive. In bringing on the question of what good is. Aristotle does not try to look for a list of things that according to people are good. He also presupposes that it is easy to compile that list. For example, a majority of individuals would agree that it is a good thing to experience pleasure, to have friends, to be honoured, to be healthy, and having virtues such as bravery at least to some degree. The controversial and difficult question emerges when people ask whether some of these goods are pleasing than others. The search for the good according to Aristotle has three main characteristics. These are that good is appealing in itself, it is not appealing simply of other good. In addition, all other goods are desirable because of this good.
Practical wisdom is a common term when discussing Aristotle’s ideas. According to Aristotle, an individual of practical wisdom does not just follow a preceding rule. In order for a wise person to know the good, he or she has to balance many aspects. This is what differentiates between a virtuous person and a vicious person. After a lot of experience, a virtuous individual is capable of giving a distinct judgment that may not be understood by an individual who lacks virtue. This can well be explained using the criminal justice field that handles the criminals. Those who mostly commit acts of crime because they do not follow moral rules and this is why wisdom enables people to do the right thing. Those who are not wise do not know what is good. Virtue according to him enables people to function well in society. This theory depends on the Golden Mean or rather the middle ground that exists between extremes. For instance, a person who is truly generous cannot give too little as the generosity virtue is what matters. In this case, virtue enables individuals to conquer negative desires, emotions, and tendencies when related to the concept of criminal justice.