Prof. Myers Speaks on Aristotle

On Thursday, March 30th 2023 Professor Susan Suavé Meyer gave a talk at Boston College on Social and Natural Virtue in Aristotle. She will be publishing a new translation of Aristotle soon. In her talk, she analyzed the central problem Aristotle seeks to solve, the question of, “How should you live.” She responded that his classic answer is, “we live well when we exercise virtue.” Professor Meyer noted that, “the theory of virtue of character and the rich moral psychology counts for the bulk of why we are fascinated with Aristotle,” further noting that, “there is a lot of debate about what the theory amounts to.”

Professor Meyer distinguished between Aristotle’s virtues of character and virtues of intellect.  She described three social virtues: “Honesty, good sense of humor, and friendliness.” She further noted that, “Aristotle’s honesty is more than just not telling lies, but also about not bragging, honesty in presentation of self to other people.” Professor Meyer stated that, “details and self-presentation can be in source or deed, you can be a braggart by dressing but not living like a Spartan.” She also spoke about social honesty and appropriate responses to joking in Aristotle. Under Aristotle’s framework, one must be prudent when to take pleasure in a “put-down” of another person in a social setting.

She also stated that, “bullying is a [social] vice,” because by bullying you do evil to another in a social context. Comparing bullying and laughing, Professor Meyers mentioned that laughing is considered a social pleasure in Aristotle’s thought, but bullying is a social vice because it uses laughter in the wrong way. Moving to the next part of the talk concerning implementing Aristotle’s theories. Aristotle posits that phronesis, or right judgment, is needed to be a good person. She noted that phronesis helps individuals determine what to do in light of a human’s goals (in Aristotle’s thought the primary goal should be to strive for the good).

However, Professor Meyers made the point that, “Aristotle’s virtue of character has many different goals, not just one goal.” She continued by giving the example that, “to be gracious, you have to care about other people’s feelings.” After asking a question if the subordinate goals to the good (for example caring about other people’s feelings) are totally separate from striving for the ultimate goal, she answered that the Kalon (the ultimate good) should always be strived for. She also commented on the distinction between the intrinsic good versus the good that is contingent on circumstances. Her brief summary of how one should live life in an Aristotelian way is, “keeping in mind what is admirable and decent.” She continued by explaining that the virtuous person is said to be aimed at the good, but there are multiple levels of goals in Aristotle’s philosophy. However, Professor Meyer said that even virtuous people fail at being virtuous sometimes. Consequently, improving in virtue is a lifelong task. In order to live a happy life in an Aristotelian worldview, one must practice virtue and do good in order to act in accordance with a human’s telos, or purpose.