Dear Childhood Self,
I hope this letter finds you well and brings you some valuable insights about life and ethics. As I reflect on my journey and the lessons I have learned along the way, I want to share with you my current view of the Good and ethical life. I believe that understanding different philosophical perspectives can help shed light on these concepts, so I will discuss two prominent ethical theories and how they relate to my own views.
One philosopher who would likely agree with my view of the Good is Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher known for his virtue ethics. According to Aristotle, the Good life is achieved through the cultivation of virtues and the development of character. He argues that living a virtuous life, where one embodies virtues such as courage, honesty, and compassion, leads to human flourishing and happiness. This resonates deeply with me as I have come to believe that being a good person and striving for moral excellence is essential for a fulfilling life.
Aristotle’s virtue ethics aligns with my own views because it emphasizes the importance of character development and the pursuit of excellence. I believe that by consistently practicing virtues and striving to improve ourselves, we can lead a more meaningful and fulfilling life. This resonates with my personal experiences and the values I hold dear.
On the other hand, Immanuel Kant, a renowned philosopher associated with deontological ethics, might disagree with my perspective. Kant argues that the Good is determined by reason and moral duty rather than personal virtues or character traits. According to Kant, individuals have a moral obligation to act in accordance with universal moral principles, such as the categorical imperative. For Kant, the morality of an action is not determined by its consequences or the cultivation of virtues but rather by the intention behind it.
While I respect Kant’s emphasis on moral duty and universal principles, I find his approach too rigid and detached from the complexities of real-life situations. Kant’s deontological ethics prioritizes following rules and duty without considering the context or consequences. In contrast, virtue ethics acknowledges the importance of context, personal character, and the pursuit of human flourishing.
To support my account of these theories, I refer to our textbook “Ethics: Theory and Practice” by Jacques P. Thiroux and Keith W. Krasemann. According to Thiroux and Krasemann (2017), Aristotle’s virtue ethics focuses on character development and moral virtues as essential components of the Good life (p. 78). They explain that virtues are qualities that enable individuals to act ethically and pursue excellence (p. 78). In contrast, Kant’s deontological ethics places emphasis on moral duty and universal principles as the foundation of ethical behavior (Thiroux & Krasemann, 2017, p.
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