Monday’s class focused on The Good Life and Virtue. For Socrates, happiness is a sign that we are living the good life and the knowledge equals virtue. In order to be virtuous, you must be able to define virtue (to have knowledge of the meaning of virtue). Plato sees happiness as human flourishing. That happiness is more than just a feeling.
By having knowledge of what virtue is, it is impossible for one to do something bad unless it is done out of ignorance. If one does something bad, it must be because one doe not have knowledge of goodness.
There are three components used to define good (and bad): Being coherent with all beliefs, universally applicable, and practical.
Universally applicable: Is our definition of courage universal? Is the courage of a mother similar to the courage of a warrior?
Practical: We must be able to use our definition. By understanding courage, we become courageous.
Are there moral experts? What are they virtuous in?
They can’t be lacking in temperance or justice
You can’t be virtuous in one virtue and not another
Are we taught to be virtuous or is it innate?
Are we taught actual virtue or simply how to express it?
Akrasia – weakness of will
Happens when desire overcomes knowledge
Is it impossible to do bad?
smoking example
smoking is bad, but in that moment of bad we are seeking the good in that cigarette
Virtue, Good, Happiness (all the same)
If you have knowledge of virtue, you can be good and then happy
King of Persia happy example?
I don’t know if he’s happy because I don’t know if he’s virtuous (Plato)
Socrates:
= happiness/virtuous
= ignorance
always knew himself to be ignorant
because he doesn’t know, he seeks knowledge of virtue
he questions good and counters his ignorance by seeking knowledge
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