Aristotle

Piety requires us to honor truth above our friends.
- Aristotle, (384-322 B.C.) Nichomachean Ethics

Aristotle

as a

Greek philosopher whos

ideas are often cited by contemporary ethics

instructors.

Aristotle

lived from 384 B.C. to 322 B.C. and studied under Plato. Ethics, according to Aristotle,

is the endeavor to

determine our chief end or highest good. He believed that a persons aspirations and

desires must have

some

final object. Such a chief end is

universally called happiness. (1)

Many interesting quotes and ideas are attributed to Aristotle. Regarding human nature and motives,

Aristotle said,

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions,

habit, reason,

passion, desire." (2)

For Aristotle, ethical behavior was partly a matter of practice. He said, "Men acquire a particular quality by

constantly acting a particular way...you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing

temperate

actions, brave by performing brave actions." (3) More simply put, according to Aristotle,

are what

we repeatedly do." (4)

Aristotle had interesting ideas about law and justice. He believed that the discourse and study of

philosophy helps

create an understanding of society that guides one towards proper action. He said: "I

have gained this by

philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the

law." (5)

Aristotle believed in law and order. He knew that without education, training, and laws, insurrection results.

said, "Man perfected by society is the best of all animals; he is the most terrible of all when he lives

without law,

and without justice." (6) This simple statement, attributed to Aristotle, demonstrates his

respect

for rules, "Law is

order, and good law is good order." (7)

For Aristotle, laws were not meant to be cast forever in stone. He recognized the fluid nature of law when

said,

"Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered." (8)

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(1) Aristotle, (384-322 BCE.) Overview, The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Retrieved April 28, 2003 from

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/a/aristotl.htm

(2) Aristotle, Rhetoric, The Radical Academy, Philosophy Resource Center, Retrieved April 28, 2003 from

http://radicalacademy.com/philosophicalquotations27.htm

(3) Aristotle, Laura Moncur's Motivational Quotations, from The Quotations Page, Retrieved April 28, 2003 from

http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Search=&Author=aristotle&C=mgm&C=motivate&

C=classic

&C=coles&C=lindsly&C=poorc&C=net&C=devils&C=contrib&x=43&y=12

(4) Aristotle, Laura Moncur's Motivational Quotations, from The Quotations Page, Retrieved April 28, 2003 from

http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Search=&Author=aristotle&C=mgm&C=motivate&

C=classic&

C=coles&C=lindsly&C=poorc&C=net&C=devils&C=contrib&x=43&y=12

(5) Aristotle, Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers, Classic Quotes, from The Quotations Page,

Retrieved April 28, 2003 from http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Search=&Author=aristotle&

C=mgm&C=motivate&C=classic&C=coles&C=lindsly&C=poorc&C=net&C=devils&

C=contrib

&page=2

(6) Aristotle, Classic Quotes, from The Quotations Page, Retrieved April 28, 2003 from

http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Search=&Author=aristotle&C=mgm&C=motivate&

C=classic&

=coles&C=lindsly&C=poorc&C=net&C=devils&C=contrib&page=6

(7) Aristotle, Politics, Classic Quotes, from The Quotations Page, Retrieved April 28, 2003 from

http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Search=&Author=aristotle&C=mgm&C=motivate&

C=classic&

C=coles&C=lindsly&C=poorc&C=net&C=devils&C=contrib&page=5

(8) Aristotle, Politics, Classic Quotes, from The Quotations Page, Retrieved April 28, 2003 from

http://www.quotationspage.com/search.php3?Search=&Author=aristotle&C=mgm&C=motivate&

C=classic&

C=coles&C=lindsly&C=poorc&C=net&C=devils&C=contrib&page=

THEORISTS AND PHILOSOPHERS
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ETHICS TRAINING
- ARISTOTLE -

Dr. Frank Kardasz P.O. Box 45048 Phoenix, AZ 85064
e-mail: kardasz@kardasz.org
blog: www.kardasz.org/blog/
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