Aristotle and Nicomachean Ethics
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Aristotle provides the teleological approach of how to live well in his collection of lectures, Nicomachean Ethics. In Book II of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle presents his definition of virtue in which it is “a kind of mean” (N.E. 129). According to Aristotle, moral virtue is a means to an end, happiness. By using Sophocless Antigone, I will support Aristotles theory of virtue in which he reasons it to be a state of character between two extremes. A virtue that remains relevant today as it did during Aristotles era is that of courage. By using Aristotles account on what represents the virtue of courage, I will demonstrate how it could be applied to the dilemma the characters of Antigone encounter. Even his definition of justice is based on the notion that rule and legal doctrine should lie somewhere in between a spectrum of two polar ideologies. Nonetheless, Aristotles statement, “virtue is always concerned with what is harder; for even good is better when it is harder” illustrates his belief that usually what is morally correct stands closer to the side of excessiveness than that of deficit (N.E. 136).
Aristotle holds the view that the goal of a human life is to be happy. He rationalizes this to be so because humans, unlike plants and animals, hold the ability to reason (N.E. 129). This is clearly evident in mundane situations such as picking what color shirt to wear as well as the thought processes that occur when life defining decisions are to be made. Let us consider the position in which Antigone and Ismene found themselves in the tragedy of Antigone. Neither decided how to act simply based on internal impulse, both found reasons from peripheral sources to defend their decisions. In the quote, “it was not Zeus that made that proclamation; nor did Justice”, demonstrates that Antigone based her decision on what she interprets to be heavenly rule (Antigone 450-451). On the contrary, when Ismene states “we are only women, not meant in nature to fight against men”, she clearly delegated that her decision was based on earthly laws that will affect her livelihood now (Antigone 61-62). Although one sisters decision was motivated by what she believed would happen to her in the after life and the other worried about the consequences she would encounter in her existing life; it is clear that both rationalized their decisions by what they believed to be right. Not to say what they did is good or right in relation to Aristotle. What is obvious is that as human beings we have the capacity to deliberate and decide how an action will affect our ability to flourish and prosper.
Consider again the virtue of courage. You may ask why courage is referred to as a virtue. According to Aristotle courage is a means between cowardice and rashness. His theory can be clearly applied to Antigone in regards to Antigone and Ismene. These sisters were equally faced with the dilemma of upholding their brothers honor or unquestionably obeying King Creon, their uncle. However, neither decided to act virtuously and choose the mean of the situation. On one side we have Antigone which chooses to completely disregard the law and secretly bury her brother. Her rashness can be manifested in her statement, “I know that I will die, of course I do, even if you had not doomed me by proclamation” (Antigone 460-461). It is clear that Antigone was not even considering alternative options to uphold her brothers honor while resolving her current situation. One might argue that Antigone had no other option. Then again, is it not the purpose of life to be happy? In order to reach this purpose Aristotle states that one must “deliberate on things that are in our power and can be done” (N.E. 143). Did Antigone use what was in her power to flourish and live well? Based on Aristotles theory, her rashness and inability to deliberate led her to an action which deprived her of happiness. Even after she had made her decision and sentenced by King Creon to live out the rest of her days in a cave, her lack of experience in deliberating well and habit of making impulsive decisions led her to create the ultimatum of death by her own hands. Again this rashness prevented her from being saved by King Creon when he had realized his rule to be too rigid. On the other hand, Ismene decided to act upon deficit and give in to fear. Ismene did not even contemplate disobeying King Creon in order to pursue the endeavor of restoring her brothers honor which she also held he deserved. Instead she succumbed to the feeling of trepidation, which although it did not directly threaten her life, did hinder her capacity to reach her full potential as a human being. Although there may never be a clear and concise course of action defined for Antigone and Ismene; what is apparent is that they represented