What is real for Aristotle, and how does he analyze these things?
1. What is real for Aristotle, and how does he analyze these things? Explain how Aristotles theory of forms leads to his view of mans purpose or end. (Im NOT asking you to summarize the entire theory of forms, but you must cover the basics.) What IS mans purpose, goal or end? What is mans proper function?
2. Explain Aristotles theory of moral virtue, including the doctrine of the mean, and his requirement that the agents reason(s) also be virtuous (he must be in the right frame of mind).
3. Ethics is supposed to be practical providing norms to ground judgments about the morality of human actions. Apply Aristotles theory to the following account, which appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle 2/16/91:
Elder Paul Dunn, one of the most popular speakers and authors in the Mormon Church, made up many of the stories about baseball and battles that he told as personal experiences, a newspaper is reporting today. Dunn’s best friend did not die in his arms in WWII…nor did he (Dunn) ever play major-league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. Dunn, 64, acknowledged that these stories and others were untrue, but he defended the fabrications as necessary to illustrate his theological and moral points. He receives royalties from 23 inspirational cassette tapes and 28 books, many of which contain his fabricated war and baseball stories.
Based on this information (and what you know about the world), apply Aristotles theory of moral virtue to Dunn’s actions. Would Aristotle judge Dunns actions to be virtuous or not? Be sure to work through the various considerations, saying where Dunn does or does not meet the conditions for virtuous action. What virtues or vices does Dunn manifest? How does Aristotle define character? Give an overall evaluation of Dunns character.