How is this bad habit harmful to your flourishing?
PROMPT: IDENTIFY A BAD HABIT THAT IS PREVENTING YOU FROM FLOURISHING BETTER. ATTEMPT TO BREAK THIS BAD HABIT USING STRATEGIES FROM EITHER ARISTOTLE’S NICOMACHEAN ETHICS OR EPICTETUS’ ENHIRIDION/MANUAL.
ARISTOTLE OPTION: YOUR JOURNAL MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS—PLEASE INCLUDE EACH OF THE THREE SECTION HEADINGS IN YOUR JOURNAL (1. GOALS; 2. BAD HABIT JOURNAL; 3. CONTEMPLATION)
Goals (2 paragraphs)
First, identity the bad habit that you want to break and describe in detail the virtue that you must master in order to do so. Address the following questions:
What are the extremes? Where is the mean?
How is this bad habit harmful to your flourishing?
Why is this virtue required for eudaimonia?
Give real world examples for this virtue—SHOW us where the mean is.
(If Aristotle did not include this virtue in his list, then explain this new virtue: describe the mean and the two extremes as well as which emotions you are balancing with this virtue.)
(This first step is crucial because you are setting CLEAR goals for yourself. Show us what desires are in accordance with right Reason.)
Second, identify two (2) specific lessons and strategies from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics that you will use to break this bad habit. Address the following questions:
Identify your moral weaknesses and triggers for vice
What is your plan for avoiding akrasia (Books VI-VII)?
(Optional) What else might help you achieve your goals? (an app perhaps?)
How will you find the mean? By what standard will you determine it? (Books II-IV, VI-VII)
(Plan it out: What Aristotelian strategies will help you cope and maintain steadfast in your quest for higher virtue?
Bad Habit Journal (7 paragraphs)
Keep a journal for one full week (7 consecutive days) that includes a daily summary of how you are working to break this bad habit. Write a paragraph for each day (5-7 sentences), outlining your successes and struggles.
Did you keep to your plan? Are your strategies working? Why/why not?
What can you do better next time? What adjustments do you need to make?
Are you gaining new insights into yourself?
Contemplation (500 words)
Lastly, write a critical self-reflection of your struggle to break this bad habit. Some good topics to contemplate are:
Were you successful overall?
What strategies helped you achieve your goals? Which didn’t help?
Are you flourishing more than you were a week ago? Why/why not?
What did you learn about yourself and The Good Life in this process?
*TOPIC 1 GUIDELINES
Follow length requirements in the section headings above
MLA format: 12-point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1-inch margins
This is not a research project—no outside sources—only the class text is allowed
Don’t cite from my PowerPoint slides—cite the text instead
Avoid long quotes to fill space
Cite Aristotle either using the standard line numbers + in-text citations or the page numbers from the assigned edition of the text
(Aristotle 1135a5) or (Aristotle 135) are acceptable citations
FILE FORMAT:Canvas only accepts the following file formats: doc, docx, pdf, txt, and rtf (Google docs and Pages files won’t work). Also, Canvas will not process file names that include special characters or dashes. If Canvas doesn’t accept your file, then I can’t grade it. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Submitting this assignment to Canvas will check for plagiarism and originality through Turnitin.com. Don’t plagiarize or buy essays online—it’s not worth it. I report all instances of plagiarism to the Honor Council.
EPICTETUS OPTION: YOUR JOURNAL MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS—PLEASE INCLUDE EACH OF THE THREE SECTION HEADINGS IN YOUR JOURNAL (1. GOALS; 2. BAD HABIT JOURNAL; 3. CONTEMPLATION)
Goals (2 paragraphs)
First, identity the bad habit that you want to break and describe in detail the negative passion (pathos) that you must banish in order to do so. Address the following:
To which good passion (eupatheia) will you assent instead?
How is this bad habit harmful to your flourishing?
Why is mastering this passion necessary for avoiding suffering and reaching ataraxia?
Give real world examples for this virtue—SHOW us where the mean is.
(This first step is crucial because you are setting CLEAR goals for yourself. Show us what desires are in accordance with right Reason.)
Second, identify two (2) specific lessons and strategies from Epictetus’ Enchiridion/Manual that you will use to break this bad habit.
You must select two (2) different passages from the text—passages are numbered
Explain the Stoic lesson or strategy from each passage—why is this important?
Identify your moral(i.e. intellectual) weaknesses and triggers for vice
How will these two passages help you avoid suffering and negative emotion?
(Optional) What else might help you achieve your goals? (an app perhaps?)
(Plan it out: What Stoic strategies will help you avoid suffering and maintain steadfast in your quest for higher virtue?)
Bad Habit Journal (7 paragraphs)
Keep a journal for one full week (7 consecutive days) that includes a daily summary of how you are working to break this bad habit. Write a paragraph for each day (5-7 sentences), outlining your successes and struggles.
Did you keep to your plan? Are your strategies working? Why/why not?
What can you do better next time? What adjustments do you need to make?
Are you gaining new insights into yourself?
Contemplation (500 words)
Lastly, write a critical self-reflection of your struggle to break this bad habit. Some good topics to contemplate are:
Were you successful overall?
What strategies helped you achieve your goals? Which didn’t help?
Are you flourishing more than you were a week ago? Why/why not?
What did you learn about yourself and The Good Life in this process?
Image preview for how is this bad habit harmful to your flourishing?
APA
1598 words