Aristotle on improving one character essay

Albeit, unjust people can become just through determination and significant effort. If one is unhealthy, being determined to exercise and stick to a diet plan is demonstrating significant effort to change one’s health. In the context of being unjust, one would have to change their character; one could start becoming a selfless person or committing to actions that benefit society as a whole. While this self-fulfilling journey may be difficult, it is necessary for one to improve their character. Aristotle argues that while one could commit to these actions, it is impossible to change their character; their innate beliefs will lead them to revert back to their unjust ways (Muzio 211). In the article, Muzio is arguing that Aristotle is proposing that there are two different types of individuals to name a few.

The main ones mentioned were the self- indulgent people and the incontinent people in a society. Muzio uses these two character types to exemplify the differences each person has when it comes to changing a specific behavior. Although a majority of the time one’s character cannot be changes, it comes to be contrary when an individual has an incontinent attributes. An individual who stands within the incontinent character has a harder time going through certain situations, thus would “have a better chance at perform”( Muzio 211). Although it can be significantly beneficial to be self- indulgent, there is a downside to this because these individuals tend to be “incurable and the incontinent man curable” (Muzio 211. Individuals who are within this group decide to be in a sense difficult when trying to make a certain changes.

Muzio argues that persuading a self- indulgent person would “fail because there are no times when the self- indulgent person would be receptive to it” (Muzio 213). With this one can conclude that these individuals are incurable when it comes to changing their attributes on a certain situation. In all, Muzio is arguing that there are mainly two different characteristics according to Aristotle. He argues that it is impossible for one to change his character. Rather, change may be initiated through accidental trial with virtuous acts (Muzio 215). I also argue that Aristotle did not believe that a character can change. Character is initiated by utter chance and external coercion (Ison, 2006). Aristotle thinks that one is a slave to his own character and at the same time, he holds individuals accountable for their own characters (Miller, 1998).

But again, a virtuous person tends to experience love on his part. While a wicked man may not understand how to eliminate his misery, he be well aware of it. Muzio believes that a wicked man may not understand the cause of his misery but he may choose not to remain in the same state. The author argues that if a wicked man desires to stop being miserable he should understand that he is presented with the opportunity of realizing that a virtuous person does not experience suffering from his misery, something that may tempt him to imitate such a person. Such a person has the capacity to experiment with virtue. jstor. org/stable/4182646 Ison, A. J. G. Leadership, character and virtues from an Aristotelian viewpoint.