Aztec Moral Philosophy
July 11, 2018
An interesting article on Aztec moral philosophy, which is a virtue ethics different from the Greek tradition.
While Plato and Aristotle were concerned with character-centred virtue ethics, the Aztec approach is perhaps better described as socially-centred virtue ethics. If the Aztecs were right, then ‘Western’ philosophers have been too focused on individuals, too reliant on assessments of character, and too optimistic about the individual’s ability to correct her own vices. Instead, according to the Aztecs, we should look around to our family and friends, as well as our ordinary rituals or routines, if we hope to lead a better, more worthwhile existence.
One reason the Aztec's had this difference view is because they viewed life on Earth as "slippery." Which means that fortune will eventually turn against us, or we will fail. So instead of exercising great worry over whether or not a virtue person can suffer misfortune or make any mistakes (the way Greek virtue theory has), they simply assumed this and developed a virtue ethics where we must rely upon one another because life is "slippery."
This article left me wanting to know more about this tradition. I'll likely incorporate something from this in my philosophy classes.
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