Term Paper on Nicomachean Ethics
What is the difference between a
voluntary and an involuntary action?
Nicomachean Ethics is a philosophical investigation that deals into the
character of the good quality life for a human being. Aristotle commences
the work by positing that there resides some eventual good toward which, in
the final examination, all human actions ultimately aim. Aristotle's
Nicomachean Ethics is not a manuscript of ethical theory. It determines the
direction to become a virtuous man. The expression "virtue" used as is the
level to which it achieves the ultimate purpose of its being. Practically,
this activity is expressed through ethical virtue, when a person directs his
actions towards particular reasons.
Voluntary Actions
Voluntary actions are in which "the origin lies in the agent, who knows the
particular circumstances in which he is acting" (NE 1111a22). So, voluntary
action needs to be free from compulsion and some type of understanding of
particulars. It requires acceptance of chance, but he also emphasize that
anger and desire do not discharge a person from moral responsibility, as
"the irrational feelings are just as much a part of human nature as reason"
(NE 1111b12). This force of mind appears to rank bravery firmly within the
area of voluntary actions, courage along with self-control are said to be
virtues of the irrational elements of the soul.
The complexity of human control over fear and confidence is supported by
Aristotle's adding the virtue linking to sentiments or emotions in the
irrational parts of the soul. More broadly, the human control over by chance
situations can be learned and encouraged with any stability level through
his treatment of choice and deliberation. He argues that an act of virtue
must be clearly defined than a simply voluntary act. These acts should be an
expression of human prudence expressed through deliberation and choice.
Aristotle coincides with general outlook that actions originating in the
agent can be the result of wish, desire, strength, or opining, but he argues
that none of these can be identified as choice (NE 1111b12-1112a13).
Involuntary
For an action to be categorized as involuntary there must be some exterior
standard reasoning the action and the individual must not supplement
anything to the action. An action done through fear and ignorance are
involuntary actions. Aristotle initiates his account of moral responsibility
with a treatment of involuntary actions. These are unsuitable for praise and
blame and the legal and social devices of punishment and reward. Even though
these actions can be ignore or regret, he never regard them as virtuous acts
in his investigation. There are two origins of involuntary action that are
compulsion and ignorance. Compulsion is recognized when the action commences
from outside the individual, making the recipient passive.
Actions done through "fear of a worse alternative" are not involuntary. Yet
the compulsion, does not confiscate an individual from the doing voluntary
action but actions perform, as compulsion must be painful and hurting.
Ignorance is the second basis for involuntary actions. Ignorance that
escapes blame is not an ordinary ignorance exposed in moral alternative.
While pleasure and nobility connecting them to supply the motives of all
actions whatsoever, it is the alertness of meticulous environment that
decides whether the action is voluntary or involuntary as well the
likelihood of virtue.
Works Cited
Ambler, Wayne H. 1985. "Aristotle's Understanding of the Naturalness of the
City." The Review of Politics 47 (April): 163-85.
Aristotle. 1960. Posterior Analytics, trans. Hugh Tredennick. Cambridge, MA:
Harvard University Press, Loeb Classical Library.
Aristotle. 1984. Politics, trans. Carnes Lord. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.
Bodeus, Richard. 1991. Collection D'Etudes Classiques, Volume 4: Politique
et Philosophie chez Aristotle. Namur, Belgium: Societe des Etudes Classiques.
Joachim, H. H. 1951. Aristotle: The Nicomachean Ethics. Oxford: Clarendon.
Orwin, Clifford. 1994. The Humanity of Thucydides. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press.
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