Most Appealing Finalist Theory

Most Appealing Finalist Theory

Although the three finalist theories are not very much appealing to me, I will choose Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics if I have to make a single choice. It seems that finalist theories of substantial value have been formulated since the very ancient times and the more recent theories are not too brilliant compared to the old theories. I did not choose Mill's and Kant's theories because I find them degrading of people.


Mill's Utilitarianism Brings People Down to the Level of Animals

Mill in this case has joined the league of somewhat annoying theorists like Darwin and Freud. Mill's use of happiness as argument, which he shares with Aristotle, is just fine but Mill's association of happiness with pleasure is meager as compared with Aristotle's definition of happiness. Also, Mill's criteria for happiness restricts it to the most number possible. The determination of the greatest good for the hedonistic utilitarianism is not too concrete.


Kant's Bases for the Categorical Imperatives are not Concrete

Kant did not specify the universalizable maxims, I think maybe it is because there are no maxims that are universally accepted. For every maxim that is a candidate for universality, there would be arguments to counter it. Since the bases for the duties that people should adhere to do not have sound foundations, they are not authoritative. I personally would not like to be bound to a duty imposed on me that has no sound basis. That would be blindly following orders. Much like degrading people as done by the league of annoying theorists. This is not the most appealing but rather the most appalling theory among the three.


Aristotle's Virtue as the Mean Between Excesses is not too Concrete

There are also some excesses that are inherently bad so that may be the reason Aristotle did not categorize all excesses as having a negative version, and the mean be determined between them. Aristotle's reliance on virtue as means to happiness is not also universal; also the use of rationality as opposed to irrationality, people sometimes does not accept all rationality as universal. Aristotle's ethics also stated not only keeping virtue in people's hearts but make them into actions. This could lead to people being burnt out which could be candidate for unhappiness.