About Aristotle:
Aristotle (384 BCE – 322 BCE) was a Greek philosopher and one of the most influential thinkers in Western philosophy.
He was a student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great.
Aristotle made foundational contributions to ethics.
He was known as the Father of Virtue Ethics.
Aristotle’s Philosophical Teachings are as follows:
1. Doctrine of the Golden Mean:
Virtue lies between two extremes — excess and deficiency.
Example: Courage is the mean between rashness and cowardice.
Civil servants must act with balance, not being too harsh or too lenient.
2. Teleology (Purpose-Oriented Ethics):
Everything in nature has a purpose (telos), and the goal of human life is eudaimonia (flourishing or true happiness).
Ethical actions are those that help individuals and society achieve well-being, the core aim of public service.
3. Eudaimonia (Human Flourishing):
Real happiness comes from living a virtuous life, not from pleasure or wealth.
It reminds bureaucrats that public welfare and integrity bring deeper satisfaction than personal gain.
4. Virtue Ethics:
Ethics is about building a virtuous character, not just following rules or maximizing outcomes.
UPSC ethics focuses on qualities like integrity, compassion, and courage — all central to virtue ethics.
5. Justice as a Virtue:
Aristotle described justice as the “complete virtue” — giving to people.
It is core to governance and administration — fairness in policy-making and delivery of justice.
Conclusion:
Aristotle’s ethics focuses on character-building, balance, and public good, directly aligning with the values expected of a civil servant.
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