Aristotle Selflessness

Arguing Aristotle’s Views on Selflessness I would like to preface this paper with stating that the study of ethics is an attempt to understand what is "good" or "bad" for the good of society and the development of human character. It attempts to test ideas and values scientifically, and the study of ethics is justified by the fact that strong, heathy societies cannot exist without an ethical system. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics the book XI he tries to explain perfect and imperfect friendship. As well as self-love and how these relate to bettering the community. While all the ideas I agree with Aristotle about self-love being important I believe that he dismisses selflessness with being inferior.
Aristotle believes that friendship is working for the common good. He says that by having friends it helps us to better ourselves and while at the same time we help them to better themselves. He defines friendship as necessary for life, …show more content…
Aristotle believes that a person like Mother Teresa who devote themselves fully to others are not living up to their full potential. They do not make time for themselves. I see both ways. It is the matter of the particulars of the situation and perspective of the witnessing it and being a part of. An example of this is say that a community needs a building to be brought up for the homeless to live. In order to do so they need to raise enough money. So everyone community gives a small portion of their money to the project but it’s not enough for it to come to fruition. So say that a rich man decide he’s going to give everything has to finish the project but in doing so he makes himself homeless instead. Aristotle will not like this may saying that he doesn’t look into his own well-being. The thing though about the situation is he does still have a home and that is there the shelter that the community and he put