Nicomachean Related Tasks

Archer Metaphor

An archer is used as a metaphor for the requirements of a virtue. An archer needs the capacity for shooting, meaning a bow arrow arms and a target. They also crucially need knowledge, for example an archer must know what and where the target is, they also need to know how to properly hit a target.

In Pennycook's "experiment", the first test had Rosie discombobulated. By removing any sense of bearings, it removed necessary knowledge required for her to hit the target. But her throw was still close in hitting Lachie. Since she had no knowledge of where he physically was, this can be described as luck. This situation has the target analogous to obtaining virtue and the throw analogous to action. Given no knowledge of the target (virtue), any act that hits the target can is purely luck based. Even if they they hit the target, any subsequent shots aren't going to maintain the same consistency. Not knowing what or where virtue is makes it as hard to achieve as hitting the target.

In the second test, Rosie was able to see. This means that she was given the knowledge required to hit Tyrese? Still this was not guaranteed, as she was not able to move or prepare. From her starting position, she was only able to use her knowledge in a single action/throw. The idea we can gain from this is that even if you have the knowledge of what the virtues are and how to obtain them, doesn't mean reaching them is guaranteed. Virtue is not possible in every situation. Given a random situation and a single action, virtue is as impossible to achieve as an archers target in the Fouv.

For the final test, she was able to see, move and move things. Given the knowledge, capability and want to change her situation to be more advantageous, she was a whole lot more successful. This corresponds to a contemplative life. Rosie's ability to move and throw when she has reasoned to be necessary is contemplative by nature. The concept of learning and adapting gives the most chance of hitting the target, in Matt and also virtue

Understanding Context

Defending a friend by getting into a punch on
In the typical case where a friend is getting attacked, the situation is usually non-violent. Because of this, getting into a punch on would be an excess. The action would be too rash and not appropriate. However, if your friend was already in a punch on and getting beaten up, defending your friend by join the fight would be a mean. If the opponent had a gun and you had a gun, punching them would be a major deficiency.

Swearing at a police officer
If the police officer is just doing their duty in a normal and reasonable way, this would be an excess. This is due to the situation being escalated in an unreasonable manner. However, if the police officer was your best friend and they pulled a silly prank on you, it would be the mean to light-heartedly swear at them. It would be a deficiency to only swear at the police officer as they unload into a unconscious person.

Helping someone by opening the door for them
This situation in the traditional sense is obviously a mean. A deficiency would be opening the door into someone. Banging their head on the door is unfriendly, a deficiency in the friendliness that would otherwise be obtained by the act. An excess would be opening a locked door for someone who would otherwise not have access. This is too much friendliness

Dropping a water balloon from a bridge onto people on a hot summers day.
This is an excess of action, without consent, the person on the receiving end will not enjoy the water balloon. A mean would be if they appreciated or understood the water ballooning. An example of this would be if they were on fire, or in a water balloon fight

Extra task: What is the difference in virtue from travelling 15km/h faster than the speed limit to get to work faster and 100km/h for the same purpose

- This will be copied out when I am less tired -