PHIX1032 Goodness, Morality and Justice Assessment Answer

1.

According to Arenson, 2020, the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius made a statement widely analyzed for centuries. The universe is changing; the life is what our thoughts make it. This quote encapsulates an important aspect of Stoic philosophy. They are controlling one's perceptions and thoughts to find inner peace. For Marcus Aurelius, the idea that the universe is changing reflects his belief that everything undergoes constant transformation. Furthermore, he realized that humans are not immune to this natural process (Connery et al . 2023). They, too, are subject to ongoing changes at a physical and psychological level; however, instead of being fearful or despairing about these inevitabilities.

Aurelius focused on finding ways to control his reactions so as not to be overcome by external events (Harriman, 2019). It brings us to the second part of his statement that our life is what thoughts make it. He argued that they have power over how we perceive things happening around us because perception determines reality. Hence, individuals can choose whether they react positively or negatively towards experiences depending on their mental outlook rather than merely reacting instinctively (Kelly, 2021). For example, sulking during adverse situations displays negativity, whereas taking them with grace highlights positivity.

2.

Stoicism's teachings emphasize the importance of focusing one's efforts on what we can control and not worrying about things beyond our control (Komenská, 2019). As an illustration, let us consider the statement that It is not what happens to them but how they react that matters. This statement reflects a Stoic belief that people cannot control external events and circumstances. They can only be accountable for their reactions or attitudes towards them (Levin, 2021). It echoes another central teaching by Epictetus, the dichotomy of control, where he distinguishes between things within human power and those outside one's authority. One who has internalized this philosophy tolerates difficult situations with resilience.

Further, emphasizing inner deliberation suggests recognizing emotions as thoughts predefined inside every individual modifiable through cognitive thinking researched through habituation over time, also referred to under the Stoic axiology division ruling morality today (McGrath, 2021). While it does not mainly state situational adjustments benefit its adherents profoundly where humans aim for stabilization instead versus biased emotional tendencies resisting rational advice anticipated from voluntary interests regarding life choices while extending compassion optimistically empowering agent deeds invalidating ecological adversity enhanced via collaborative contributions. Ramrattan & Szenberg, 2021 said that conversely, outside shows misdirect attributions unstable ethics; hence, brazen confronting nuances discourage benevolent relationships without constructive arguments explaining rationale consolingly perceived contrasting opinions validating practitioner crucial inquiries shaping social behavior.

3.

Aristotle, one of the most influential philosophers in history, would disagree with Aurelius' statement that if external things pain them, it is not they that disturb them, but the judgment of them (Ruszkiewicz 2023). Moreover, it is in their power to wipe out that judgment now. Aristotle believed our emotions and judgments were intertwined and could not be separated easily. He posited a concept called virtue ethics, emphasizing the importance of developing good habits or character traits over time through repeated actions. It meant continually striving for excellence rather than focusing on an end goal. In Aristotle's view, our reactions to external events are determined by our internal dispositions based on the formation of these habits and virtues (Sola, 2023). Therefore, he did not believe they could choose to clear out negative judgments as Aurelius suggested; instead, they needed ongoing practice working towards virtuous dispositions.

Moreover, Aristotle argued that true happiness comes from leading a life of purposeful action guided by rationality, which he referred to as eudemonia (Arenson, 2020). Happiness was seen as achievable only through exercising practical wisdom throughout life, a lifelong journey rather than an isolated state achieved overnight. Therefore, while there may be some truthfulness in Aurelius' claim about how they perceive external events affecting us internally, changing those feelings completely would require more involved work/effort beyond wiping away negative judgment at will (Connery et al . 2023). This sentiment is closer aligned with Stoic thinking like Marcus Aurelius'.

4.

The attitudes of Aurelius and Aristotle are important in understanding morality's nature. As a Stoic philosopher, Aurelius believed they should always strive to do what is morally right, regardless of the consequences (Harriman, 2019). On the other hand, Aristotle argued that it is not enough to follow rules or principles. They must also consider how our actions will affect others. To find more inclined towards Aristotle's viewpoint. At the same time, having an unwavering commitment to doing what is right no matter the cost is admirable. Kelly, 2021 confirm that it can lead to individuals becoming so focused on their moral purity that they lose sight of the larger picture. For example, there was a time when they found out one of my classmates was cheating on exams by copying answers from my paper without my knowledge. At first, reporting him would be doing the right thing (Komenská, 2019). However, they realized telling on him might result in his expulsion, which could ruin his future career prospects as well as the accomplishments he earned over the years with effort, hence affecting people around them, such as family members who relied upon them for fulfilling dreams/needs and relationships built over the years at university. Instead, I chose to talk directly with him about how plagiarism harms everyone involved, including them, in the long run.

References

Arenson, K. ed., 2020. The Routledge Handbook of Hellenistic Philosophy. Routledge.

Connery, A., Cavanna, A.E. and Coleman, R., 2023. Can Stoicism inspire stuttering intervention? The clinical usefulness of an ancient philosophy. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders.

Harriman, B., 2019. Disjunctions and natural philosophy in Marcus Aurelius. The Classical Quarterly, 69(2), pp.858-879.

Kelly, J., 2021. The philosophy of stoicism: relevance in today’s healthcare system. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 114(11), pp.839-840.

Komenská, K., 2019. Hugolín Gavlovič on moral education: Enlightenment ideas in baroque literature?. Ethics & Bioethics, 9(3-4), pp.139-147.

Levin, S.B., 2021. Anger and Our Humanity: Transhumanists Stoke the Flames of an Ancient Conflict.

McGrath, R.E., 2021. Darwin meets Aristotle: Evolutionary evidence for three fundamental virtues. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(4), pp.431-445.

Ramrattan, L. and Szenberg, M., 2021. Ideas (fundamental) of happiness and well-being: ancient, medieval, and modern. In Fundamentals of Happiness (pp. 17-72). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Ruszkiewicz, D., 2023. Imagination and the Cosmic Consciousness in Chaucer’s The House of Fame. Religions, 14(8), p.959.

Sola, A., 2023. Virtue Ethics: An Alternative to Theories of Right Action. In Ethics and Pandemics: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on COVID-19 and Future Pandemics (pp. 165-204). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
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