A ética das virtudes de Aristóteles

Abstract

The objective of this work is to present the Ethics of Virtues from the greek philosopher Aristotle. According to some presuppositions like the classification of knowledge, the anthropological conception of man as a rational and political animal, it intends to present the ethical and intellectual virtues as the means to arrive to happiness or eudaemonia. It will be stressed the rational aspects of Aristotle’s Ethics, specially prudence as an essential element of virtuous life. Prudence, although being an intellectual virtue, is indispensable to the success of moral life, because to be virtuous man must be prudent and to be prudent he has necessarily to be virtuous. Finally, the four ways of life and happiness of the Aristotelian teleology will be presented emphasizing that contemplation is life’s perfect form. Some paradoxes of Aristotle’s Ethics will be appointed, and then some final conclusions will be presented.