The speaker identifies a virtuous person as one who always: knows what to say, can diffuse a tense situation, can deliver a tough news gracefully, is confident without being arrogant, is brave but not reckless, and generous but never extravagant. Can you think of someone you consider virtuous? What qualities makes them so?
Does Aristotle's moral theory appeal to you personally, insofar as it emphasizes a person's moral character rather than following a set of rules?
Do you agree that if we just focus on being good people, the right actions will follow effortlessly?
Aristotle understood virtue as having a set of robust character traits that, once developed, will lead to predictably good behavior. Can you identify one or two good character traits that you have that helps you to be a good person?
What do you think of Aristotle's approach in responding to the man who is mugging the helpless person? That is, that the courageous person will not necessarily run over to help the person?
Aristotle thinks that virtues such as courage, honesty, and generosity fall in the middle between extremes of either excess or deficiency. Can you personally identify one of the above virtues that you think is easier for you strike the mean or midpoint in exercising?
Aristotle thinks that virtue is a kind of "practical wisdom" and that we become virtuous through habit. He said, "We are what we repeatedly do. (Moral) excellence is not an act then but a habit." Do you agree? Discuss.
Moral Exemplars are those people we want to hang out with so that we can become like them. Do you have a favorite moral exemplar?
Aristotle thinks we should become virtuous because it results in a state of eudaimonia(happiness) which translates as human flourishing or a life well-lived. Is there any particular virtue that you think is indispensable for the pursuit of happiness?
In what ways do you consider Aristotle's virtue theory applicable or inapplicable to present day problems and needs?