Chapter 1 discusses the question of virtue according to Aristotle particularly why people are interested in being good. Aristotle starts by explaining the considerations in place while making a decision: the judgment of the decision itself; the impacts of the decision to be made; and the moral agent in relation to the decision. The moral agent is the most important aspect of the decision-making process in the sense that it dictates how people should live in the society. Moral behavior, therefore, involves both feelings and actions on people. One needs to culture virtues in an effort of ensuring a peaceful society where everybody appreciates each other’s beings.
The chapter goes to the extent of defining what a virtue is in the society. According to Aristotle, it is the midpoint of two vices: those in deficiency and those in excess. For instance, when one is generous in the society, he must not be extravagant or cheap. Therefore, the question again arises how one can become virtuous. Virtues can be cultivated as an exercise that grows into a habit. It is simply doing the right thing over time. More importantly, one needs to understand how virtues lead to a peaceful and happy life in order to learn the art of being virtuous. While everybody aspires to live a happy life, few people actually live a happy life they aspire. The secret of living a happy life, therefore, is being virtuous enough since it is the virtue that stops us from making inappropriate decisions in life.
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The society should enhance a culture that builds the habit of virtue among the children. For instance, there should be the reward for children who show virtue through ice creams and other things they like in an effort to encourage good behavior in the society. It is this rewards that will breed persistence in doing good. More importantly, people should be more concerned with the need of being good rather than judging those who tend to do badly in the society. The virtues should as well be incorporated into the politics of the society to bring trustworthiness, compassion, and kindness to make a good society.
Happiness goes in hand with the virtues and this can be the best reason to relate the virtues and the natural rules of the society. Through this, people will only be able to practice divine and noble actions for the good of the society. Achieving perfect happiness is possible if all people strive and make genuine efforts in practicing virtues in their lives.
It is quite important to note that there are two different types of virtues: moral and intellectual virtues. Intellectual virtue basically involves growth through experience and time while moral virtue is born out of habit that happens over time. A better example is when legislators attempt to form good habits in their electorates and with time the electorates learn the habit of being virtuous and doing well for their state in an effort of being good for the country. Over time, a good constitution is formed out of good virtues in the society.
In conclusion, the chapter discusses how virtues can be destroyed and produced by the same people who are interested in doing good for themselves rather than the good of the whole community. The main role of teachers in the society, therefore, is to help inculcate virtues in children and the general society.
