Spring 2013 Ethics Course Practice Exam Questions
Return to Ethics
We'll use this page for you to post some practice exam answers. Please follow the pattern below in posting your answers:
(pseudonym)
(Answer)
Practice Question: How does Aristotle argue that happiness is goal of human existence? Identify a couple of strengths of this view. How might someone argue against it? (2 paragraphs)
Harold Holt
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence by stating that we attempt to achieve happiness for happiness in it of itself- happiness is not a means, but rather the ultimate end. He compares happiness to many other popularly held life ends, including money and honor. However, each of these is just a means to another end and honor is bestowed onto someone and there cannot act us on objectives goal for life.
The strengths of this view can be seen through one's own personal experience, in which one might recognize that many of the things one do are the means to another end, save for happiness. However, one argument against this view would be that one who strives for happiness may not be leaving a virtuous life. Therefore, happiness must also involve a combination of virtue and "living the good life".
Gill F. Mayweather
Aristotle believes that the goal of human existence should be self-serving. He gives examples that could be mistakenly seen as the goal to prove his point. One is the idea that we should try to be rich, but money is an entirely external idea, so he throws it out. He also suggests that it may be honor, however honor must be given to us by others, and therefore is also not self-serving. These precursors definitely strengthen his point because it is simply refreshing when he arrives at happiness as the only thing worth basing life around. His point is strong because it is easy to identify with; we all want to be happy. It lacks, however an outside aspect to morality. This may have to do with the fact that his definition of morality has more to do with being your best than helping others, however, there is an important part of morality, a collective aspect, that this idea misses.
Colin Kaepernick
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence. Throughout our lives, we will make decisions that ultimately affect our level of happiness. We reason and contemplate through each decision to reach our goal of happiness. It is a constant effort to make conscious decisions to continue to be in a elated state. However, one could argue that a life cannot be judged until after the person has died. Morality is tough to judge, but once the person is deceased, it becomes more clear on how to reflect upon their decisions. In essence, if the person is judged to live a moral life, then happiness is to follow. But, the ultimate goal of happiness would not have been attained in their lifetime.
Chicken Little
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence through the explanation that no morally, mentally sound person chooses things that are "bad" or "unhealthy" willingly. This then only leaves us with the alternative which is to choose "good" for ourselves. Aristotle also states that the only way to be happy is to be a morally minded individual. The strengths of this argument is that when you get down to the core of what he's saying, and we ask ourselves what do "we" really want and what we really is always in favor for our advancement. On the reverse side someone may also argue that what humans "choose" for themselves hasn't always promoted whats best for the individual. An example of this is when people choose to smoke. We know that smoking is unhealthy and has bad consequences so why do people knowingly choose it. From Aristotle's point of view though, people who choose to smoke must not truly know, or understand that it's bad for them or they wouldn't actually choose it.
167
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence. It is that which all things aim. Aristotle argues that each action we perform in or lives is done to pursue the end goal of happiness. He says that we become virtuous people by performing virtuous actions. Once we voluntarily or freely choose to perform these actions we will be able to achieve a fulfilling life. He defines happiness as the end to our means. The means or actions we pursue have the final goal in mind, which is to achieve happiness. Happiness is the ultimate end because there is nothing we can pursue happiness for. There is nothing that goes beyond living a flourishing and fulfilling life.
The argument against Aristotle's claim would be that as individuals we aim at several goods. We can be virtuous human beings, but still not be happy. Luck also plays a role. We need some sort of luck in order to be happy and flourishing people. Happiness is the ultimate goal, but we also need luck and good fortune to achieve it.
Hannah Montana
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence because it is an end, not a means. Things like wealth and status are a means to make a person happy-so how can these things be a goal of existence? He also argues that an end goal should come from within yourself, it shouldn't be granted to you by another person. People may argue against it by saying that reaching an afterlife(like the Christian Heaven) is the goal to life. This argument, however, is not necessarily plausible because you are trying to reach happiness- whether is be your own or trying to make God happy.
Chuppacabra
According to Aristotle, happiness is the goal of human existence because it is an end in itself. Even through virtue a person can find happiness. Whatever humans do they do for happiness as a means to happiness. The strengths are that people do actions or try to accomplish something to bring pleasure to themselves and happiness is the ultimate goal.
Someone might argue against it by questioning whether another action may be done for the sake of the action and not a means to an end but the end. Happiness could be considered another means to an end to attain something higher than happiness. The argument would be whether happiness is truly the ultimate end.
Muhammad
Happiness is the goal of human existence because everything we do works up to it. Little goals we have ultimately are aimed toward our happiness and even when these smaller goals change over our lives, happiness as a goal remains. Someone could argue against it.
Party Joe
One could argue that another goal to human existence is experience. People need experiences whether good or bad to learn. Bad experiences are not define with happiness, but one could say they are necessary to learn about life. People often say how they learned more about themselves or got more out of experiencing hardships and coming back from it, than just coasting through life without these experiences.
Plato Jr.
Aristotle sees human beings as pleasure seeking organisms and each of us are only concerned with our plearure (happiness). This view defines human existance of self serving.
Marshawn Lynch
Aristotle aruges that happiness is the goal of human existence by demonstrating that if it is the only objective in the world that can be worked towards as an ed in itself. One stirves to make money so that they can buy things, and one practices and instrument so that they can be a good musician. Everything that one does in life could considered both a means and an end, but happiness is the only thing that could be purely considered an end. There is nothing further in life than pure happiness. Therefore Aristotle argues that this overarching gaol is in fact the one true goal of human existence.
This argument seems to make sense. Happiness itself is a large goal, and if a person were to die "happy" many might say that his or her life was fulfilled. However, one might counter this argument by proposing a similar notion, such as peace. Couldn't the ultimate goal of human life be to find peace? this might be similar to the happiness argument, but it is not happiness per say. Peace itself is an ultimate goal. in a likewise manner, one might argue that the goal of an individual's existence is to completely fulfill their unique talents. happiness is not universal by definition, and may look different to different people. However, one could argue that if a person worked to the best of their abilities and talents then their life could be counted as fulfilled.
Chalupa Batman
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence by first trying to show that perfection in whatever action you do is trying to achieve happiness. For example, a carpenter wishes to be the best carpenter he/she can be, and by achieving this is achieving happiness. Aristotle goes on to show that money, fame, etc., aren't really happiness, furthering that point that perfection is happiness and is the goal of all human beings.
Aristotle also argues against this by raising arguments such as one cannot achieve happiness by this definition, since no one can achieve perfection. When a person is dead, they can say they achieved happiness, but saying a dead man is happy is an illogical thought in itself. Another way to argue against it is by looking at infants. They don't appear to be pursuing perfection, but to say that they aren't capable of happiness is illogical as well.
Ben
Aristotle believes that a non-virtuous life is a pointless life. He says that you strive to be happy in life and that you try your whole life to achieve it. One good thing about this view is that money is not a component to happiness, which shows that you don't have to be rich to be happy. One argument against Aristotle might be that in order to achieve certain aspects of happiness, certain material needs are required.
Latisha
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human experience by suggesting that one must find their strengths, work to perfect them, and become the best possible version of themself. Looking at Aristotle's view of society, this would be a strength because humans are entirely unique, we have differing passions and skills. If one focuses on their own individual traits and aims to perfect them, a society will be granted with many differing, real and potential beneficial civilians. The system will work as a whole, while individuals like their best life, best profession, happily.
Another strength is that by encouraging people to look within themselves to determine their own strengths and passions, they do not feel external pressure to conform in a society. This sticks out to me, especially because at home in America, we are less likely to be encouraged to lead a life that is focused around ones passions. If one loves coffee, they may be judged and ridiculed for "settling" for a job as a barista. Even when they themselves are entirely content with that position.
Rusty Shackleford
Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence by arguing that it is the ultimate end we seek in all of our activities. It is the only thing whose end doesn't lead to something else. Through relatable examples, Aristotle provides much strength for this argument. His shows how some pursuits lead to other pursuits that ultimately end with happiness.
Someone might argue against this by citing the self-interested nature of happiness. Because happiness is incredibly self-interested and relative, it may not be the ideal goal for human existence. Other pursuits, such as self-sacrificing for your community, might be a better goal. It might be painful but would be the most beneficial.
Dr. Seuss
Aristotle argues that happiness is a goal of human existence by pointing out that humans make decisions based upon what is pleasing to us. As humans, we strive to live good and happy lives, and therefore we will choose what our emotions say is something that will make us happy. On the contrary, humans would not choose to do something that would make us unhappy.
Aristotle's argument can be refuted by saying that you must also consider others when making a decision. For example, a person could decide to do something that brings him happiness while negatively affecting others' happiness. It could be said that happiness is not the true goal or end to our existence.
Paul Walker
Aristotle believe happiness, ultimately, drives human existence. He explains this belief in his words "words of wisdom" to his son. Aristotles Nichomacean ethics proves that being virtuous can make one happy. He utilizes a "golden mean: method; this methods suggests that a middle between emotions - anger and courage, for example - anger and courage; for example - can lead to a virtuous life. Furthermore, a virtuous life gives way to a happy life. Aristotle also argues that everything we do in in the pursuit of happiness. Someone, however, may argue that we do things for someone else's happiness. For example, giving up money to charity in order for someone else to not starve.
Dr. Alfino Jr.
Each human, according to Aristotle has a telos - a purpose, a good oriented behior. This behavior allows us to strive for what is worth aiming for. That being said, the question then becomes, what are we living for? Aristotle would argue we are working to live a happy life. He argues this because he believes that happiness is only for itself. This is truly the strength of the argument. Aristotle states that happiness is only for itself, whereas things such as pleasure, which is temporary selfish interest, or money, which is only a mean to an end are things that should not be sought after. What should be sought after is happiness and Aristotle believes that happiness derives from habitually practicing in reason - our number one attribute that sets us apart. Pretty good, right? Well one might then argue and ask, are there limitations or perhaps even checkpoints that are necessary for achieving happiness? Aristotle would answer in saying that one must be lucky and live a long life, and be a male. With these facts it seems that if you are a young female, you will never be able to achieve happiness, but is that actually plausible?
Goodies
Aristotle argues that happiness is the only goal that is aimed at for the sake of itself. Therefore, it is the goal of human existence.
Some strengths are that it is the sake of itself, our function done well is the best of us, and it's not just survival or reproduction. A weakness is that it is not perfectly realistically attainable. And if humans exist in reality, how can we have a goal for our existence that has never had an ideal/paradigm example. Also how can we conceive perfection of happiness without never having experienced it?
