Aristotle's Regard for the Affective Elements of Moral Education

Abstract

Introduction:  Aristotle challended the traditional forms of Greek moral education.  A model for the position Aristotle confronted appears in Plato's Protagoras.  Aristotle's mentor there describes conventional moral training in the mouth of the philosopher Protagoras as a class of feelings.  It is an unthinking disposition to respond assimilated from the attitudes of one's family.  Plato's protagonist, Socrates, disputes Protagoras' argument.  Familial moral training dissatisfies Socrates both because of its unreliability and because of its failure to provide an account.