Aristotle's Ethics
Aristotle states that ethics is relational. This means that the decisions we make, involve other people. Even the smallest choices we make like "What should I eat for lunch?" will affect others.
The following example is a short clip from the movie The Little Mermaid. In this scene, Ariel angers her father, Triton, by going on land and saving a human boy from drowning. Her decision to save the human affected both the human boy, and her father. The human boy's life is saved because of her, but by doing so, her father gets angry. Triton is angry because there are rules in the sea separating humans from sea creatures, and Ariel broke that rule to save him.
Note: (Stop video at 2:18)
The following example is a short clip from the movie The Little Mermaid. In this scene, Ariel angers her father, Triton, by going on land and saving a human boy from drowning. Her decision to save the human affected both the human boy, and her father. The human boy's life is saved because of her, but by doing so, her father gets angry. Triton is angry because there are rules in the sea separating humans from sea creatures, and Ariel broke that rule to save him.
Note: (Stop video at 2:18)
Humans find happiness within community.
Since ethics is understood to be relational, Aristotle tell us that even our happiness is in relation to others. He says that we can only find happiness when we are with other people. Without other people there for us, we often feel lonely or sad, that is why we feel happy when we are with other people.
The video below is a clip from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In this scene, you see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs all dancing and singing happily together. If Aristotle were there, he would say they are happy because they are together as a community.
The video below is a clip from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In this scene, you see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs all dancing and singing happily together. If Aristotle were there, he would say they are happy because they are together as a community.
Be moderate in all things.
Aristotle states that we should be moderate in all things. This means that we should be keeping reasonable limits in everything that we do; or more simply, we don't need too much or too little of everything. We need to keep a balance in our actions, and avoid excess. Basically he is telling us to stay in the middle.
Down below is an episode from Berenstain Bears. In this episode, Brother and Sister are constantly asking their parents for more and more, even though they don't really need it. But later in the episode, their grandparents come and tell them a story, causing them to regret what they did. They learn from their mistake, and decided to start fresh.
Down below is an episode from Berenstain Bears. In this episode, Brother and Sister are constantly asking their parents for more and more, even though they don't really need it. But later in the episode, their grandparents come and tell them a story, causing them to regret what they did. They learn from their mistake, and decided to start fresh.