Bücher von Roy M. Mattson

We are by nature moral beings who desire virtue.1 This fact is borne out by innumerablestudies.2 Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics and Eudemian Ethics remain among the mostinfluential works on ethics and human moral psychology. Aristotle claims that human beings candevelop good character traits and achieve virtue with the appropriate upbringing (what Aristotlecalled habituation). Much of what Aristotle says about character traits, virtue, and habituation isaccepted today and inspires character education.3 Yet recent results in experimental psychologychallenge the notion of character traits and virtue as understood by Aristotle. 4 The challenge isthe abundance of evidence showing that almost all human beings lie, cheat, steal, and harmothers; we lack virtue. Christian Miller captures the problem when he says, "the burden is on theAristotelian to show how realizing such a normative ideal is psychologically realistic for beingslike us."5 This dissertation argues that virtue is not a realistic ideal for us absent God's help. Icontend that Aristotle was mistaken about human nature and the power of a good upbringing tocreate good character traits and achieve virtue.