Aristotle believed that morality was based on reason and that people could use their reason to figure out what the right thing to do was. He thought that people had a built-in sense of right and wrong, but he also thought that we could develop this sense through education. He believed that it was important for people to learn about the world around them so they could understand how to live in it.
Philosopher thought that there were different types of virtues, or moral qualities. Some virtues were intellectual (e.g., intelligence), while others were moral (e.g., courage). He believed that all virtues were related to happiness, or living well. Virtues help us be happy because they make us better at doing things such as working hard, being fair and kind toward others, taking care of ourselves and our families, and being courageous when we have to make hard decisions.
In fact, Aristotle disagreed with Plato about whether virtues come from within or without — meaning whether they are part of who you are or something you learn from other people and experiences in life (and then try to imitate). Aristotle believed that virtues come from within because they are part of human nature — something each person has inside them already when they are born into this world.
In addition, Aristotle believed that people should be treated equally under the law, but he did not believe in democracy because he thought only the rich and educated could govern themselves properly.
