PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY PAPER

Personal Philosophy Paper

Personal Philosophy Paper

Introduction

In the virtue theories, the moral beliefs consist of developing good habits of character (Cooney, Cross, & Trunk, 2003). Plato emphasized the virtue theory. He focused on four basic virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. Plato believed that these virtues or moral education is more effective when developed during youth. These character traits were based on adult intervention. Therefore, adults were responsible for instilling these virtues. Aristotle, a student of Plato, indicated that these good traits would regulate one's emotions. Since emotions fall into a range from one extreme to another, Aristotle argued that one's reasoning would guide him/her to a medium between both extremes. One can see this layout in identifying the pros and cons of a trait. Not only is a trait a virtue but it is also a vice depending on where one would be on the reasoning spectrum (Beckner, 2004). Aristotle analyzed 11 specific virtues to conclude that virtues could also be vices. (Starratt 2004)

The teleological virtues were added to this list to emphasize the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and charity. These virtues formulated social traditions among different cultures and became social or cultural beliefs and values. These same virtues (faith, hope, and charity along with courage) are the foundations of the inner strength that guides me because of my beliefs in Christianity. Courage is based on one's faith; therefore, these traits were part of my childhood environment and were instilled in me through actions, teachings, and daily living. (Sadker 2004)

Discussion

Duties theories or deontological theories based morality on specific principles of obligations. These principles included one's duties toward God, duties to oneself, and duties to others. Samuel Pufendor (Cooney, Cross, & Trunk, 2003) identified two kinds of duties to God - a theoretical duty to know the existence and nature of God and a practical duty to worship God both inwardly and outwardly. Two types of duties toward oneself should be evident - duties of soul, involving the development of one's skills and talents; and duties of the body, involving protecting self from harm. Duties towards others include avoiding wrongdoing, treating people as equals, and promoting the good of others. All of these are strong beliefs of my fore parents and how I view duties. (Cooney 2003)

John Locke (Cooney, Cross, & Trunk, 2003) provided the mandate of natural rights, rights that associated with human dignity. These natural rights are exercised daily because every individual in the United States has the right to property, life, health, and the pursuit of happiness. These God given rights are the basis of the United States Declaration of Independence. These moral rights have four features, including natural rights, not created or are invented by the government. These rights are universal and equal despite gender, race, or handicap. These rights are also are inalienable.

The first, American Essentialism, is grounded in a “conservative philosophy that accepts the social, political, economic structure of American society. Essentialists believe that teachers should instill such traditional American virtues as respect for ...