What "Makes" a Person? Actions vs. Intentions

Our discussion throughout the last week has largely been based in selections from Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Specifically, we spent time discussing "actions" and how these define a person, or, make a person who he/she is. Taurean raised a great question about forgiveness--Is it possible to forgive actions while still "keeping them in mind" or do we need to "forget" that the action in question ever took place? We also discussed Stanley "Tookie" Williams and his actions, both as a founder of the Crips and as an author/activist working against gang violence in the United States. This raised questions about the possibility of one to be forgiven or "redeemed" for any act, even murder or assault.

 But consider the following passage from the Nicomachean Ethics: "we become just by doing just actions, temperate by doing temperate actions, brave by doing brave actions" (1103b). Here Aristotle is putting an emphasis on action as defining "what" or "who" a person is (How do I know if I am brave? If I act bravely I am brave). Now that we have thought about this in class--what do you think? What is most important in defining "what" or "who" a person is? Their actions?  Or, perhaps the intentions that guide actions are more significant? Perhaps neither of these is right and we need to look at another aspect of a person to define "who" or "what" they are?

Pleasure, Happiness and the Experience Machine

 

It has been a busy but rewarding few weeks! We have discussed the life of Socrates, friendship, happiness, justice, and the possibility of finding objective components of the good life (or, as we have sometimes called it, "the most excellent life possible for a human being"). We will see these topics come up again and again as we continue to seek the truth as philosophers.

In particular, you might recall the discussion we had on pleasure and happiness. Are they the same? Is having pleasure equal to being happy? There have been sound arguments put forward by members of the class, both maintaining that pleasure is happiness and, alternatively, holding that there is more to happiness than a feeling. Happiness is then seen as a state of being, or a continuing project in one's life.

As we think about this debate, here is something to consider--a thought experiment known as "The Experience Machine"(written by Robert Nozick in Anarchy, State, and Utopia):
"Suppose there were an experience machine that could give you any experience you desired. Scientists could stimulate your brain so that you would think and feel you were writing a great novel; or making a friend, or reading an interesting book [or any other experience you want to pick for yourself]. You can pick and choose from a large library of experiences, selecting your life experiences for the next two years. After two years have passed, you will have ten minutes or ten hours outside of the machine to select the experiences for your next two years. Of course, while in the tank you won't know that you're there; you'll think it's all actually happening...Would you plug in?" Explain why or why not?

What is Justice?

In our discussion of the Apology we have become familiar with Socrates' view of the good life. We have seen that he was willing to give his life for his beliefs--one must be virtuous and live an examined life to be good. Socrates feared the possibility of acting without virtue more than he feared death. But, we might ask, what does it mean to be virtuous and how do we know if we are virtuous? For example, how do we define a virtue such as "justice"? What, exactly, is "bravery"?

This week we will turn to Plato's Republic. Like the Apology, this work also features Socrates as he engages in discussion with friends and fellow Athenians (who are sometimes not so friendly to Socrates!). The Republic outlines the creation of Plato's ideal state, a republic ruled by philosopher kings. Among the many topics discussed in this work, the virtues are again taken up and examined. We will focus on some of the passages considering the virtue of justice and what it means to be just.

In preparation for this discussion it will be helpful to do some thinking about justice. Where and in regard to what do you hear the term "justice" used in our society? What does it mean for something or someone to be "just" or act with "justice"? As usual, considered thought is all that is required here. Perhaps if we make some initial attempts at an answer we can get closer to the truth about justice as a class.