The Morality of the Aristotlean Virtue Ethics to the Contemporary Nigerian Man: A Philosophical Reflection

Abstract

The quest for happiness has been acclaimed by scholars to be the proper goal of human life. The means of actualizing this goal differs according to scholars.  Aristotle held that happiness is not constituted in honor, wealth or power but by rational activity in accordance with virtue in the journey towards self actualization. This rational activity, Aristotle claims, manifests as honesty, pride, friendliness, witness, rationality in judgment, friendship and scientific knowledge. By the virtue of our shared humanity, we are obliged to respect and honour one another. Each individual has an intrinsic value that can never be lost and ought not to be jeopardized with. However, this paper exposes the Aristotelian virtue ethics, offering its morality as a standard for the contemporary Nigerian man in the quest for happiness and to free himself from the unsalutary situation and the “galling yoke” of deprivation in which he finds himself.