80 likes | 205 Views
Name a philosopher for each letter of the alphabet – mini-whiteboards. A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z – . Aristotle and Phronesis.
E N D
Name a philosopher for each letter of the alphabet – mini-whiteboards • A – • B – • C – • D – • E – • F – • G – • H – • I – • J – • K – • L – • M – • N – • O – • P – • Q – • R – • S – • T – • U – • V – • W – • X – • Y – • Z –
Aristotle and Phronesis • To revisit Aristotle’s virtue ethics and explore phronesis • To establish why and how the concept of phronesis is considered a strength and to question this
Aristotle and Phronesis Task • 1 - Task – I am going to give a speedy powerpoint presentation – on the mini-whiteboards you must draw symbols or images along the way to try and remember what was said • 2 – Now try and write a summary based on what you remember from the information given using the prompt words on the IWB to help. • 3 – Recap and re-run through as a class, ordering and ticking off each prompt word. • Ext – Is phronesis really a strength of Aristotle’s ethics?
Aristotle and Phronesis • Some key virtues for Aristotle stem from Plato’s tripartheid… Emotions, Wisdom and Temperance. • Emotions are seen in courage, temperance in modesty and wisdom is known as phronesis. • Phronesis is central to Aristotle’s virtue ethics and is a reason for the later Humean movement rejecting Aristotle for being too reliant on intellectual rigour.
Aristotle and Phronesis • Phronesishas a practical element of acquiring understanding a posteriori. “We become just by doing just acts.” This is known as habituation. • Of phronesis, Aristotle explains: “It is easy to become angry, anyone can do that; but to be angry with the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right aim, that is not easy.” Note – similar to Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path?
Aristotle and Phronesis • Aristotle does not reject or shut off emotions as Kant does or insist that we are a slave to them as Hume asserts. • Phronesis is the executive that directs us towards the golden mean, but emotions and inclinations are not left out in the cold. • Akrasia or weakness of will is seen as a major issue by Aristotle as emotions may overcome our ability to make moral decisions.
Aristotle and Phronesis • For Aristotle, phronesis is the answer to the problem of akrasia. • Phronesis is holistic in that we are guided to the golden mean by reason but the virtues incorporate emotions and inclinations. • In this way, Aristotle believes that the wisdom or phronesis in his theory helps overcome the paradox in ethics
And Finally… • Create an Aristotle ethics ‘Come dine with me menu’ – theme virtue ethics • Eg • Starter – A mini-fillet or seared… • Main – Slow cook… • Plenary – A trio of…