Deck 9: Aristotles Virtue Theory: Everything in Moderation

Question 1

What is Aristotle's doctrine of the four causes? What does it attempt to explain? How does it relate to his teleology?

Answer 1

No Answer

Question 2

According to Aristotle, what is the function of a human being?

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Describe the two forms of virtue according to Aristotle.

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

What is the "mean" of Aristotle? Is it an arithmetic condition? Does it imply that a virtuous person is an average person with average talents?

Question 5

Explain Aristotle's theory of virtues in detail using at least three examples. At least one of the examples must be Aristotle's.

Question 6

Explain the difference between a teleological explanation and a causal explanation using examples.

Question 7

Can you think of a virtue that is closer to one extreme than the other? Explain. How would Aristotle react to your example?

Question 8

Evaluate Aristotle's idea that rationality is the overriding human purpose.

Question 9

Discuss Aquinas's idea of natural law. Are there obligations we have to fulfill because they are embedded in God's purpose for us? What are the implications of breaking the rules of the natural law?

Question 10

Describe your own criterion for moral goodness, and give an example of what you think is a morally good person. You may make up an example, or you may pick an actual or fictional person and describe him or her.

Question 11

What constitutes happiness, or "eudaimonia," for Aristotle?

Question 12

What are some criticisms of virtue ethics?

Question 13

Would Aristotle consider Socrates' choice to stand trial a brave decision? Why or why not? Would he consider his own decision to flee Athens courageous? Why or why not?

Question 14

How might Aristotle have evaluated Njal's and Bergthora's deaths? Explain.

Question 15

Is the "Flight of Icarus" a didactic story? Explain.

Question 16

Comment on "A Piece of Advice." Is this an example of virtue ethics or ethics of conduct? Explain your answer. Can someone become a better person through consistent actions even though his or her intention is not to improve on his or her own character?

Question 17

Is it good enough to become a different and better person by having a change of habits forced on you, or is it better if one chooses to change one's habits oneself? Read the first Primary Reading, Aristotle's Book II, Chapter 4, and explain what Aristotle would say. Do you think your character has ever improved by being forced into a situation?

Question 18

Aristotle's theory of causation includes four causes. Identify the one that does NOT belong in the list.

A) The material cause
B) The final cause
C) The formal cause
D) The ideal cause

Question 19

Aristotle's idea of Intelligent Design differs from contemporary Intelligent Design theories in that he did not believe that

A) any god was watching over its creation.
B) the universe was created by a divine intelligence.
C) everything was created with a purpose.
D) all creations on Earth had virtue.

Question 20

According to Aristotle, if you spend too much money, you are

A) a buffoon.
B) liberal.
C) a miser.
D) prodigal.

Question 21

In the context of Aristotle's theory of virtue, which of the following virtues causes foolhardiness when in excess?

A) Courage
B) Temperance
C) Magnificence
D) Modesty

Question 22

What is teleology?

A) A theory about the nature of God
B) The theory that everything has a purpose
C) A theory about the technology of broadcasting
D) A theory about the dynamics of human relationships

Question 23

What does Aristotle mean by saying "One swallow does not make a summer"?

A) Do not believe what your eyes tell you.
B) Doing something virtuous once is not being virtuous; it must be done as a matter of habit.
C) You must wait until the time is ripe before acting; acting prematurely is a vice.
D) Do like the swallows; flee before the winds of winter.

Question 24

The textbook asks three questions of Aristotle concerning his theory of virtue. Which one should not be included?

A) If his theory is about character, why does he talk about actions and conduct and what to do?
B) What does his list of virtues have to do with the specific human virtue of rational thinking?
C) Does this mean we are supposed to do everything in the right amount, not too much and not too little?
D) Since Aristotle was a student of Plato, shouldn't the theory of Forms be featured more prominently?

Question 25

Three girls stand on a bridge and watch a small boy being swept downstream. One of them reacts "just right" to save the boy from drowning. Which virtue is this scenario an example of?

A) Gratitude
B) Courage
C) Proper pride
D) Truthfulness

Question 26

According to Aristotle, what is the ultimate form of human happiness?

A) Understanding the nature of God
B) A life of contemplation
C) Seeing one's children and grandchildren grow up
D) Being rich and powerful

Question 27

Aristotle began to be known as "The Philosopher" in European intellectual circles

A) during the Middle Ages.
B) during the Macedonian era.
C) in the fourth century C.E.
D) in the nineteenth century.

Question 28

There are four major modern criticisms of the teleology of classical virtue theory. Select the one that does NOT belong in the list.

A) Must what is good for someone always be linked with what he or she does best?
B) Why should rationality be the overriding purpose for humans?
C) Why should we be virtuous if there is no personal profit involved?
D) Why should there be just one purpose for humans?

Question 29

Thomas Aquinas sees four elements to his natural law theory encompassing God's purpose for humans. Which one should NOT be on the list?

A) We are obliged to preserve our own lives.
B) We are obliged to treat animals with compassion and dignity.
C) We are obliged to procreate within marriage.
D) We are obliged to live as good citizens among other people.

Question 30

Who made the following statement? "But to seek death as a refuge from poverty, or love, or any painful thing, is not the act of a brave man, but of a coward. For it is effeminacy thus to fly from vexation; and in such a case death is accepted not because it is noble, but simply as an escape from evil."

A) Socrates, in the Apology
B) Sir Thomas More, in A Man for All Seasons
C) Aristotle, in Nicomachean Ethics
D) Bergthora, in Njal's Saga

Question 31

Lord Jim is a good example of applied virtue ethics, because the story examines the virtue of

A) graciousness.
B) gratitude.
C) courage.
D) acceptance.

Question 32

In Njal's Saga, how do Njal and Bergthora choose to meet their deaths?

A) They lay themselves down on the bed while the house burns around them.
B) They try to fight off the flames as long as possible.
C) They rush out to meet Flosi and his men, weapon in hand, and are hacked down on their own doorstep.
D) They kneel down and pray until they succumb to smoke inhalation.

Question 33

What is the origin of the story of Icarus?

A) Norse mythology
B) Greek mythology
C) A Hollywood film from 1934
D) A novel by the German writer Goethe

Question 34

Which of the following is true of Singer's "A Piece of Advice"?

A) It is an account of how irredeemable and selfish human beings can get.
B) It is an account of how good habits can help a temperamental person turn into a nice person.
C) It is an account of how you will ultimately be made to pay for your bad deeds by those who bore the brunt of it.
D) It is an account of how it sometimes takes evil deeds to achieve success in life.

Question 35

For Aristotle, the Forms have no existence outside the world of things.

Question 36

A teleological theory is a theory about the nature of God.

Question 37

According to Aristotle, everything has a function in the order of things, except for man-made things.

Question 38

According to Aristotle, we determine what a thing's purpose is by investigating what the thing in question does best.

Question 39

According to a teleological explanation, giraffes have long necks because of natural selection and mutation.

Question 40

According to a teleological explanation, giraffes have long necks so that they can reach high branches.

Question 41

For Aristotle, there is no difference between fulfilling one's purpose, being virtuous, doing something with excellence, and being morally good.

Question 42

Aristotle's virtue theory says that there are three kinds of virtues: one that is in deficiency, one that is just right, and one that is in excess.

Question 43

For Aristotle, we are morally good if we are capable of choosing the mean between extremes.

Question 44

In general, actions and emotions have a mean, a deficiency, and an excess.

Question 45

According to Aristotle, a deficiency of honor is high-mindedness.

Question 46

There is a marked discrepancy between Aristotle's list of virtues and vices and the Catholic list of cardinal virtues and sins.

Question 47

For Aristotle, true happiness is to be found in contemplation.

Question 48

Aquinas's rule of self-preservation encourages suicide.

Question 49

For Christian ethics, the moral rightness of following God's laws became more important than the belief in the human ability to shape one's own character.

Question 50

Aristotle was accused of the same crimes as Socrates.

Question 51

For Aristotle, some means are closer to one extreme than the other.

Question 52

Today, the assumption that everything has a purpose is commonly accepted.

Question 53

Aristotle served as a powerful inspiration for Thomas Aquinas because Aristotle was Aquinas's teacher. When Aristotle died, Aquinas opened up his own school based on Aristotle's principles of teaching.

Question 54

In the Christian approach to morals, following commandments is far more important than striving toward virtues.

Question 55

According to Thomas Aquinas, the entire universe is run by God according to eternal rules, the eternal law.

Question 56

In Njal's Saga, Njal's wife and grandson choose to stay with him and are burned alive.

Question 57

In Njal's Saga, the little boy Thord is rescued at the last minute by Flosi's son.

Question 58

The "Flight of Icarus" is an excellent illustration of Plato's theory of Forms: The higher Icarus flies, the closer he gets to the Form of the Good.

Question 59

In Singer's "A Piece of Advice," a rabbi tells Baruch's father-in-law to say nice but insincere things to everyone he meets regardless of who they might be.