Paul Maverick B. Ward                                                                                      

Contemporary Moral Problems by James E. White (7^th Edition)

Library Reference: none

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0495553204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1233910528&sr=1-1

Learning Expectations:

I expect to learn how Happiness and Virtue can be used to fuel a person’s life in the world we are living in.  I also expect how these two (2) can be applied to other people who are having confusions, problems, and difficulties with their lives.

Review:

            Happiness and Virtue are things that can be merged together to form something that can help a lot of people in our current world. Happiness is something that helps a person to do anything he/she likes to accomplish or desires. Through happiness many people can help others and other people in a society. Unfortunately, there are times when personal happiness becomes something that destroys not create. There are some people who gain happiness from hurting others or doing bad things in the society. These people might be delusional or even have brain damage but still they have their principles in life.

            That is why there is the one they call Virtue to accompany happiness to form something that would almost benefit all. Virtue is something that can be learned by a person ever since they were young lads. It can be taught by elders or friends and be something that will be used as they grow up. Virtue is also connected to morality of which morality is based on the virtues learned by a person. Virtues can be something that gauges how moral a person can be. A person would be helpful and kind to others if a person grew up helping others and being taught of virtues by the person’s elders or friends.  

            For me, I grew up with virtues that of which are practiced by Christians worldwide. These virtues are respecting others, obeying the elders, and the like. As a result, presently I am still practicing these virtues and helped me put up an ethical view that gives respect to others and at the same time, respect for myself. I have also learned to help other people when they are in need and respect those people who are having a difficult time in their lives.

            All in all, Happiness and Virtue goes well together to form something that would benefit the society and at the same time, the person himself.

Lessons Learned:

I have learned how Happiness and Virtue can be used to fuel a person’s life and at the same time be someone who can help other people in the society. I have also learned how people are applying happiness and virtue to their lives for the great benefit for others and oneself.

 Integrative Questions:

1.  Who is Aristotle?
2.  What is happiness?
3.  What is virtue?
4.  What is the difference between the two?
5.  How does happiness and virtue affect the way people live?

Review Questions: 

1.    What is happiness, according to Aristotle? How is it related to virtue? How is it related to pleasure?

-       According to Aristotle, Happiness is not pleasure, honor, or wealth, but an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue. It is related to virtue because applying virtue in one’s life helps them accumulate and gain happiness to the things they are doing. Being at their prime or much better version of themselves gives them happiness that surpasses anything. Happiness is related to pleasure because through the virtues being practiced in one’s life, the happiness it achieves can be used to acquire pleasure. 

2.    How does Aristotle explain moral virtue? Give some examples. 

-       According to the teaching of Aristotle, Moral Virtue comes from training and habit, and generally is a state of character that is a mean between the vices of excess and deficiency. An example of a Moral Virtue is the virtues that people get when they are growing up. They can get this moral virtue from their family members, friends, and other people. 

3.    Is it possible for everyone in our society to be happy, as Aristotle explains it? If not, who cannot be happy? 

-       Yes, they can be happy as long as they put both their mind and body into it. A great example for this is the typical Filipino. Even though majority of Filipinos are having heavy difficulties in their lives, they still have the courage to smile and be happy. Those who cannot be happy are those who would let go of their virtues in life and grasp something that would be the center of their lives such as revenge, anger, and failure.

Discussion Questions: 

1.    Aristotle characterizes a life of pleasure as suitable for beasts. But what, if anything, is wrong with a life of pleasure? 

-       I think that the so called Life of Pleasure becomes wrong whenever a person focuses on it and solely for it. For example is if a person does everything for the sake of earning money, obtaining sexual desires, or enacting a revenge to satisfy their life. This kind of lifestyle is something that is very suitable for a beast. 

 2.    Aristotle claims that the philosopher will be happier than anyone else. Why is this? Do you agree or not? 

-       Well I think that philosophers would be happier because of the knowledge and wisdom they posses about the world they are living in. They know different kinds of things other people don’t even have the capacity to know. But all in all, I disagree with it. Why you might ask? It is because every person existing in this world is unique in its own. Not all people are interested in knowledge and wisdom; some of them are just fine with what they have. They are focused on what they are interested in.