Differences in Plato's, Aristotele's and Aurelius Augustinus' Understanding to Virtue

Bachelor's Thesis: Difference in Plato's, Aristotle's and Aurelius Augustinus' Understanding to Virtue Name: Blanka Kavanová Faculty: Faculty of Education, Charles University in Prague Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy Year: 2011 ABSTRACT The bachelor's thesis is concerned with the development and differences in Plato's, Aristotle's and Aurelius Augustinus' concept of virtue. The first part is focused on Plato's concept of four basic virtues, i.e. moderation/reasonableness, justice, courage and wisdom. In connection with these virtues, also his concepts of the good, soul, soul care and the duality of the worlds are outlined. From Plato's viewpoint, the virtue is seen as areté, i.e. excellence or the unity of soul goodness. In the second part of the work, the concept of Plato is compared with ideas of his disciple, friend and critic Aristotle. His concept of virtue is based on human experience in the sensual world. The crucial terms of his ethics are activity, pleasure, eudaimonia (bliss) and the golden mean. Aristotle distinguishes two classes of virtues; consuetudinary moral virtues, e.g. courage, justice, moderation and generosity, and learnable intellectual virtues, i.e. art, knowledge, reasonableness, wisdom and understanding. The third part of the word deals with comparison of ancient,..