Section 1: Who was Aristotle?
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, born in 384 BC, who studied under Plato at Plato’s Academy in Athens and later tutored Alexander the Great. His works cover various subjects, including physics, biology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, aesthetics, poetry, theater, music, rhetoric, psychology, linguistics, economics, and government. Aristotle is often considered one of the greatest philosophers in history, whose thoughts have profoundly influenced Western philosophy and sciences.
Section 2: Basics of Aristotelian Ethics: Teleology, Virtue Ethics, and the Golden Mean
Aristotle’s ethical theory is fundamentally based on the concept of ‘teleology,’ the study of purpose in nature. According to Aristotle, everything in nature has a purpose, a final ‘end’ or ‘good’ that it seeks to fulfill. This ultimate end for human beings, he argued, is ‘eudaimonia,’ often translated as ‘happiness,’ ‘flourishing,’ or ‘the good life.’
Building upon this teleological view, Aristotle proposed a theory called ‘virtue ethics.’ Unlike other ethical theories that focus on rules (deontology) or outcomes (consequentialism), virtue ethics emphasizes character and virtue. According to Aristotle, virtues are dispositions to act in ways that benefit the individual and society, leading to the good life. Virtues are habits that we develop over time through practice, just as an athlete might train to become good at their sport. For Aristotle, being ethical is not merely about following rules or maximizing utility; it’s about becoming a certain kind of person – a virtuous person.
One crucial concept in Aristotle’s virtue ethics is the ‘Golden Mean.’ Aristotle believed that every virtue lies between two vices – one of excess and one of deficiency. For example, the virtue of courage lies between recklessness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency). The Golden Mean is the ‘just right’ amount, not too much and not too little like the blogpost: Virtues and the Golden Mean: Balancing Ethics and Excellence in Cybersecurity
Section 3: Brief comparison with other ethical frameworks: Deontology and Utilitarianism
To better understand Aristotle’s ethics, it is helpful to compare it with two other main ethical theories: deontology and utilitarianism.
Deontological ethics, proposed by philosophers like Immanuel Kant, asserts that the morality of an action should be based on whether that action itself is right or wrong according to a set of rules, rather than based on the consequences of the action.
On the other hand, utilitarianism, proposed by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, is a form of consequentialism. It argues that the best action is the one that maximizes utility or ‘the greatest good for the greatest number.’
Unlike deontology and utilitarianism, Aristotelian virtue ethics emphasizes the importance of moral character rather than adherence to rules or the evaluation of consequences. While all three frameworks can provide guidance in ethical decision-making, they approach ethics from fundamentally different perspectives.
This blogpost digs deeper to compare the different views: Comparing virtue ethics with deontology and utilitarianism
In this course, we will dive deeper into Aristotle’s ethical theories and explore how they can be applied in the context of cybersecurity.
Key Takeaways
- Aristotle was a Greek philosopher whose ethical theory, centered on achieving ‘the good life,’ has significantly influenced Western philosophy.
- Aristotle’s virtue ethics focuses on moral character and the cultivation of virtues, which are habits developed through practice.
- The Golden Mean, a key concept in Aristotle’s ethics, suggests that every virtue lies between two extremes: a vice of excess and a vice of deficiency.
- Aristotle’s virtue ethics differs from deontological ethics, which focus on rules, and utilitarian ethics, which focus on outcomes.
Activity
Reflect on some of your past actions in your cybersecurity work. Can you identify instances where you leaned towards rule-based (deontology), consequence-based (utilitarianism), or character-based (virtue ethics) decision-making? Write down your thoughts, as we will discuss them in our next session.
Some scaffolding to help you out: Chapter 1: Activity: Reflection on Past Actions
Recommended Reading
Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” – A foundational text for understanding Aristotle’s ethical philosophy.
Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” consists of ten books:
- Book I: The Good for Man
- Book II: Moral Virtue
- Book III: Voluntary Action and Choice
- Book IV: The Mean and Virtuous Action
- Book V: Justice and Fairness
- Book VI: Intellectual Virtues and Wisdom
- Book VII: Continence and Incontinence
- Book VIII: Friendship and Relationship
- Book IX: Pleasure and Happiness
- Book X: The Contemplative Life
These books collectively delve into various aspects of Aristotle’s ethical philosophy, covering topics such as the nature of virtue, the role of reason, the importance of friendship, the pursuit of happiness, and the relationship between ethics and other fields of inquiry.
Group discussion prompts to ensure comprehension and engagement
- Understanding Ethics: Discuss the three main branches of ethics: deontology, consequentialism, and virtue ethics. How are they different and where do they overlap? Can you think of situations in your cybersecurity work where one might be more applicable than the others?
- Relevance of Ethics in Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity often involves dealing with ambiguous situations and making difficult decisions. How might an understanding of ethics aid cybersecurity professionals in their roles? Share examples from your experiences.
- Ethical Frameworks and Cybersecurity Decisions: Discuss how each of the three main ethical frameworks might guide a cybersecurity professional in deciding whether to disclose a vulnerability to the public. What would a deontologist do? How about a consequentialist or a virtue ethicist?
- Ethical Challenges in Cybersecurity: In groups, brainstorm some of the ethical challenges unique to the field of cybersecurity. How might different ethical frameworks approach these challenges?
- Building Ethical Cultures: Discuss the role of ethics in building a cybersecurity culture within an organization. How can understanding and applying ethical frameworks contribute to a healthier, more effective cybersecurity team?
These prompts should get your students actively engaged in thinking about the role of ethics in their work and how different ethical perspectives can inform their decision-making. Remember to encourage open, respectful dialogue and active listening within the group.