01 Ethical Thought: B Virtue Ethics

Question 1

What is virtue theory also known as?

Answer 1

Virtue ethics

Question 2

What is virtue theory based on rather than right and wrong of actions?

Answer 2

Character - ethos - the flourishing of human character.

Question 3

What is a persons character made up of?

Answer 3

Virtues and vices

Question 4

What are virtues?

Answer 4

Good characteristics

Question 5

What are vices?

Answer 5

Bad characteristics.

Question 6

What does virtue theory concentrate on?

Answer 6

Developing a persons virtues and reducing their vices.

Question 7

What type of person would automatically do good actions?

Answer 7

Someone with good character.

Question 8

What are moral examplars?

Answer 8

A person with good virtues to be a role model.

Question 9

What is an example of a moral examplar?

Answer 9

Martin Luthar King

Question 10

How can we use Martin Luthar King as a moral examlar?

Answer 10

Once we have discovered his virtues we can develop those virtues in our own life.

Question 11

Who is Aristotle?

Answer 11

An Ancient Greek philosopher.

Question 12

What book did Aristotle write?

Answer 12

Nichomanchean ethics

Question 13

What did Aristotle claim about his set of virtues that he reasoned out?

Answer 13

They will help a moral agent to be a successful member of the community.

Question 14

How many moral virtues does Aristotle have?

Answer 14

12

Question 15

How are Aristotle’s 12 moral virtues cultivated?

Answer 15

Through practice or habit.

Question 16

What is Hexis?

Answer 16

A Greek word used by Aristotle for a persons manner or behaviour.

Question 17

What does arête mean?

Answer 17

A Greek term that means virtue. It conveys the meaning of moral excellence, intellectual excellence and physical excellence.

Question 18

What is eudaimonia?

Answer 18

Human flourishing.

Question 19

What does being virtuous bring about?

Answer 19

Happiness/eudaimonia

Question 20

What is well-being?

Answer 20

The sense of being successful or fullfilled

Question 21

How is eudaimonia achieved?

Answer 21

By cultivating a virtuous disposition through virtuous actions.

Question 22

What is Aristotle’s virtue theory?

Answer 22

Holistic philosophy with a social context- the end result is to enable people to live together.

Question 23

Why do you cultivate virtues?

Answer 23

To balance the two extremes of excess and deficiency.

Question 24

What is an excess of a virtue?

Answer 24

Too much of a virtue becomes a vice.

Question 25

What is the deficiency of a virtue?

Answer 25

To little of a virtue becomes a vice.

Question 26

What does each extreme of a virtue (excess and deficiency) come with?

Answer 26

An associated vice.

Question 27

What did Aristotle call the perfect amount of a virtue?

Answer 27

The golden mean

Question 28

What did Aristotle say about achieving the golden mean? *quote*

Answer 28

“Hence also it is no easy task to be good. For in everything it is no easy task to find the middle”

Question 29

How many intellectual virtues are there?

Answer 29

5

Question 30

What is the deficiency of wittiness?

Answer 30

Boorishness

Question 31

What is the excess of wittiness?

Answer 31

Buffoonery.

Question 32

What is the golden mean of boorishness and buffoonery?

Answer 32

Wittiness

Question 33

What is the deficiency of courage?

Answer 33

Cowardess

Question 34

What is the excess of courage?

Answer 34

Rashness

Question 35

What is the golden mean of cowardess and rashness?

Answer 35

Courage

Question 36

What are the 5 intellectual virtues?

Answer 36

-intelligence -scientific knowledge -wisdom -artistic endeavour -prudence

Question 37

What is the intellectual virtue of scientific knowledge shown through?

Answer 37

Demonstration and conclusion

Question 38

What is artistic endeavour shown through?

Answer 38

The guidance of reason

Question 39

What is prudence?

Answer 39

Good judgement

Question 40

What are moral virtues acquired through?

Answer 40

Habit

Question 41

How are moral virtues developed?

Answer 41

Through practice

Question 42

How are intellectual virtues developed?

Answer 42

By education

Question 43

How many fundamental virtues are there?

Answer 43

4

Question 44

What are the 4 fundamental virtues?

Answer 44

-temperance -courage -wisdom -justice

Question 45

What is temperance?

Answer 45

Self-control

Question 46

What is justice a collective outcome of?

Answer 46

Virtuous behaviour

Question 47

What are the 3 different types of people?

Answer 47

-the sophron -the enkrates -the akrates

Question 48

What is the sophron?

Answer 48

People who naturally live in the golden mean without effort.

Question 49

What are the enkrates?

Answer 49

People who are tempted but have strong enough will power to live in the golden mean.

Question 50

What are the akrates?

Answer 50

People who are weak and cannot live in the golden mean.

Question 51

What acronym is used to remember the 3 types of people?

Answer 51

SEA

Question 52

According to Aristotle, who is the greatest advocate of virtues?

Answer 52

Philosophers.

Question 53

Why is the philosopher the greatest advocate for virtues?

Answer 53

The one who pursues the ‘loving’ (philos) and the ‘wise’ (sophos).

Question 54

Where do we find encouragement to develop virtues?

Answer 54

Within Christianity

Question 55

When did Jesus promote specific virtues?

Answer 55

In the sermon on the mount.

Question 56

What are the beatitudes short for?

Answer 56

Beautiful attitudes.

Question 57

What does the beatitudes encourage?

Answer 57

Positive transformation of the inner character with particular emphasis on humility, charity, and brotherly / sisterly love.

Question 58

How many virtues did Jesus highlight in the beatitudes?

Answer 58

8

Question 59

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘poor in spirit’.

Answer 59

Poverty of any sense, those who have their rights taken away from them.

Question 60

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘mourning’.

Answer 60

Those who experienced any type of loss (not just a person)

Question 61

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘meek’.

Answer 61

A gentle disposition of. Character, self control.

Question 62

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘hungry and thirsty for righteousness’.

Answer 62

Seeking justice

Question 63

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘mercy’.

Answer 63

Forgiving and generous in spirit.

Question 64

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘pure in heart’.

Answer 64

Sincere and selfless.

Question 65

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘peacemakers’.

Answer 65

Work for peace

Question 66

*(beatitudes)* explain ‘prosecuted for the sake of righteousness.

Answer 66

Stand up for what you believe is right and be prepare to suffer for moral and religious principle.

Question 67

Why can it be argued that virtue ethics is arbitrary, imprecise and vague?

Answer 67

Because it lacks focus on real behaviour in relation to real life situations.

Question 68

What is the issue of cultural relativism in relation to virtue ethics?

Answer 68

Do virtues really exist or are virtues relative to time and culture?