Question

6. Augustine and Aristotle both focused on the summum bonum or highest good. Briefly discuss one point of agreement and one point of disagreement between the two philosophers on the summum bonum or highest realizable good..  

7. Describe one similarity and one difference between Aristotle’s and Augustine’s views on moral virtue.

8. Describe one reason the will to love is pivotal in Augustine’s thought.

9. Which do you find more convincing the shareholder theory or stakeholder theory of corporate social responsibility? Why?  

10. Consider the Merck/Vioxx case or the Beer Marketer case of the CEO Appliance Case. Discuss one reason we might see the case as about the actions of individuals and one reason we might see the case as about the actions of a corporation as a moral agent and one reason we might place it on the societal level.

Answer 1

Q. 7.Aristotle defines moral virtue as the disposition to behave in a right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficiency and excess ,which are vices. According to Aristotle, virtue is a trait of mind or character which helps us to achieve a good life, which Aristotle argues a life in accordance with reason.Whereas Augustine's viewon moral philosophy centered around the attainment of happiness. According to Augustine, love particularly love to God is the ultimate to attain happiness in life. Augustine regards moral philosophy as an enquiry into the summum bubum, the supreme God, which affords the happiness all persons seek.

Q. 8.The will to love is pivotal in Augustine's thought, because the love is the active Center of our moral life,as love moves us where it desires. Like material object that is pulled by its weight toward the center of the earth, we are pulled by the desires of our own heart towards that which we consider as the center of our lives.