Date of Award
12-11-2017
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Timothy O'Keefe
Second Advisor
Andrew Jason Cohen
Third Advisor
Harold Thorsrud
Abstract
Aristotle believes that certain pursuits are objectively choice worthy regardless of our attitudes towards them. Moreover, in order to have the correct beliefs about which actions are choice worthy, they must have acquired the right dispositions during their upbringing. Bernard Williams argues that Aristotle’s theory of moral education undermines belief in objective values. In response to Williams, Julia Annas argues that Aristotle does not ground ethics in the external point of view, but rather in the desires and commitments that people already have. In this thesis, I argue that Aristotle held the view to which Williams objects and that Williams’ objection fails. Aristotle’s appeals to nature shows that he does not ground values in individual desires and commitments. Moreover, moral education does not alone undermine our confidence in the truth of our commitments.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/11232106
Recommended Citation
Kemp, M Dan, "Aristotle's Appeal to Nature and the Internal Point of View." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2017.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/11232106