Aristotle Bravery Essay PDF

Preview

Summary

essay regarding the topic of bravery and how Eudaimonia (flourishing) is incorporated in the view of Aristotle...

Description

It humors me when someone claims a person to be brave for eating the hottest pepper in the world or chugging a bottle of vodka. To be completely honest, I think these types of people are just outright crazy. Aristotle would say that these people are not exercising virtuous action to be considered brave. Initially, fineness and rationality are the key foundations to construct bravery optimally. When it comes to bravery, the emotions of fear and confidence prevail within individuals. Aristotle describes how fear and confidence can lead to courageous and uncourageous activity. Bravery must entail an outcome or final goal that leads to flourishing (Eudaimonia). Every person will view their final goal of “flourishing” differently, but as long as they act upon it freely then they are aiming for the right values. With that said, the brave individual could potentially risk his/her own life for the objective of Eudaimonia. According to Aristotle, a brave act is not considered a brave act without rationality and fineness. Aristotle mentions throughout N icomachean Ethics that virtuous actions are brought upon for the sake of themselves, and because they are fine. Similarly, subjects that exercise fineness deliberately for the sake of itself are considered brave. Nothing is considered fine without respect to a goal, and Aristotle believes that the ultimate goal is to live a flourishing life (Eudaimonia). In order to achieve this final end, one must rationally acknowledge value and be driven for these reasons (Primary Rationality). When one is rational about something, they are rational about it because it makes sense to them. Their emotional dispositions, natural capacities, intellectual characteristics, etc, all come together to form values of a certain extent. Additionally, subjects are rational if they intuitively appreciate fineness from within the soul (Secondary Rationality). Subjects that listen and act accordingly to their genuine self are exemplifying fineness. They are representing honor for no other cause except for fineness itself. Primary and

secondary rationality aims at realizing a goal and behaving upon that goal out of fineness. Virtuous action is presented as long as the right reasons and motivations are utilized. A brave individual must be able understand why their courageous act is fine and that is done through the process of rationality. A brave person can be represented as fearful and confident. A brave person possesses fear and confidence through rational activity. Fear is essentially inevitable to all people because we carry emotions. The brave person is one that engages and endures fear for what it is. With that said, simply not fearing fearful things is not enough to be considered brave. Rather, an individual that is fearful for the right reasons, and convey fineness and boldness are regarded as brave. Imagine an individual that is by herself and jumps off a 50 foot cliff into water. This was something she wanted to cross of her bucket list, so there are no other motives for her to do this except for her own rationality. She is clearly fearful with numerous thoughts running through her mind, but she does not let her emotions impact her decision. Furthermore, she is fearful for the right reasons because her courageous action is coming from her rational means to an end. Crossing this off her bucket list makes her one step closer to completing the list. The significance of the bucket list is that it entails a final end, which Aristotle believes is imperative. The subject is portraying an internal end, which shows that she is illustrating fineness and rational function that constitutes Eudaimonia. Happiness (Eudaimonia) varies on a case-by-case scenario because we all carry different values. Ultimately, Aristotle suggests that being able to express our freedom freely is portraying courageousness. I agree with Aristotle because being able to express one’s own freedom eliminates any other ulterior motives that could interfere with one’s actions.

Although Aristotle makes an account for fear to be considered brave, not all fearful and confident actions are brave. There may be a case where a subject behaves courageously out of pain, desire, rage, or revenge. For example, James and Draymond do not get along very well after the time where James stole Draymond’s wallet. One night at a party, Draymond coincidentally sees James’ wallet on the kitchen counter. It is tough for Draymond to forget about the time James stole his wallet, so Draymond is seeking revenge. There are many people surrounding the counter, but Draymond’s “bravery” overcomes and he steals the wallet. This example does not show courage but alternatively resembles it. Draymond was brave enough to steal James’ wallet in front of everyone, but Draymond’s pleasure for retribution is what makes his situation not brave. Aristotle states, “The brave person, however, must be moved by the fine, not by compulsion.” (1116b3-4) Draymond acted upon impulse and that does not fit in the category of courage because a courageous person does not just react, but comparatively act to what is of optimum value. Draymond’s intent was formed from pure revenge while neglecting fineness. The end goal for courage consists of winning, or being “victorious”, but one can be courageous without winning. The process of rationality and fineness that leads to the end goal are the principal factors for courageous activity. For instance, a badminton team called the Jackers did everything in their power to win the match, but came short and lost. The players on the Jackers played the best game they possibly could and never gave up. The aim for the Jackers was to win the match and this ultimate goal is what influenced them to play well. This is a case where the Jackers had an external end to play well, which they initiated from the beginning of

the match until the end. Losing does not eradicate their courageous action. Courageous action is portrayed because the way they performed in the game subjugates the outcome of the game. Aristotle suggests that the value of freedom in practical and hypothetical situations is critical in courageous situations. The capacity to choose and act freely produces true bravery. A subject that is battling cancer is not believed to be brave because he/she is not freely choosing to be unwell. The concept of cancer falls in the category that entails an uncontrolled sequence of events. Because this is the case, the subject is not exercising free expression for his/her rational understanding of value. Bravery consists of rationally expressing fineness for value if it is done freely. The brave individual can go so far as risking his/her own life for the ultimate pursuit of flourishing (Eudaimonia). Aristotle emphasizes throughout Nicomachean Ethics that Eudaimonia is the final goal we should strive to aim for as a result of virtuous activity.  Everyone has a distinct view of happiness, but being happy requires knowing what makes the subject happy and doing it correctly. Creating happiness correctly involves securing virtuous activity because if one is virtuous, then they are happy. There are cases where the individuals that fight for their country in war constitute the final end goal of Eudaimonia. These individuals understand the circumstances and risks that they are getting themselves into---the idea that they could very likely get injured or die. The individuals that engage in war have the end goal of achieving victory. Because they have a final goal and the goal is of value, they are represented as brave. Whether they get injured or die, they are regarded as brave as long as they act upon the right reasons and motivations. The people that partake in war possess nobility by putting their lives on the line for the sake of flourishing.

Throughout Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle emphasizes the importance of Eudaimonia as a final goal. Eudaimonia is a result of the rationale activity portrayed within subjects. The rationality that individuals possess to be considered brave should be intrinsically fine. Consequently, nothing can be fine without respect to a goal. This final goal of flourishing consists of freely acting virtuously for what has value. I think happiness and flourishing carry a complex connotation because it is easy to be carried away by their definitions. Happiness and flourishing vary case by case because we all value life differently. Aristotle understands this because being happy involves doing what makes that individual happy---as long as they are doing it correctly.

Works Cited Aristotle, and Terence Irwin. Nicomachean Ethics. Hackett Pub. Co., 1999....