01 Ethical Thought: B Virtue Ethics Flashcards
What is virtue theory also known as?
Virtue ethics
What is virtue theory based on rather than right and wrong of actions?
Character - ethos - the flourishing of human character.
What is a persons character made up of?
Virtues and vices
What are virtues?
Good characteristics
What are vices?
Bad characteristics.
What does virtue theory concentrate on?
Developing a persons virtues and reducing their vices.
What type of person would automatically do good actions?
Someone with good character.
What are moral examplars?
A person with good virtues to be a role model.
What is an example of a moral examplar?
Martin Luthar King
How can we use Martin Luthar King as a moral examlar?
Once we have discovered his virtues we can develop those virtues in our own life.
Who is Aristotle?
An Ancient Greek philosopher.
What book did Aristotle write?
Nichomanchean ethics
What did Aristotle claim about his set of virtues that he reasoned out?
They will help a moral agent to be a successful member of the community.
How many moral virtues does Aristotle have?
12
How are Aristotle’s 12 moral virtues cultivated?
Through practice or habit.
What is Hexis?
A Greek word used by Aristotle for a persons manner or behaviour.
What does arête mean?
A Greek term that means virtue. It conveys the meaning of moral excellence, intellectual excellence and physical excellence.
What is eudaimonia?
Human flourishing.
What does being virtuous bring about?
Happiness/eudaimonia
What is well-being?
The sense of being successful or fullfilled
How is eudaimonia achieved?
By cultivating a virtuous disposition through virtuous actions.
What is Aristotle’s virtue theory?
Holistic philosophy with a social context- the end result is to enable people to live together.
Why do you cultivate virtues?
To balance the two extremes of excess and deficiency.
What is an excess of a virtue?
Too much of a virtue becomes a vice.
What is the deficiency of a virtue?
To little of a virtue becomes a vice.
What does each extreme of a virtue (excess and deficiency) come with?
An associated vice.
What did Aristotle call the perfect amount of a virtue?
The golden mean
What did Aristotle say about achieving the golden mean? quote
“Hence also it is no easy task to be good. For in everything it is no easy task to find the middle”
How many intellectual virtues are there?
5
What is the deficiency of wittiness?
Boorishness
What is the excess of wittiness?
Buffoonery.
What is the golden mean of boorishness and buffoonery?
Wittiness
What is the deficiency of courage?
Cowardess
What is the excess of courage?
Rashness
What is the golden mean of cowardess and rashness?
Courage
What are the 5 intellectual virtues?
-intelligence
-scientific knowledge
-wisdom
-artistic endeavour
-prudence
What is the intellectual virtue of scientific knowledge shown through?
Demonstration and conclusion
What is artistic endeavour shown through?
The guidance of reason
What is prudence?
Good judgement
What are moral virtues acquired through?
Habit
How are moral virtues developed?
Through practice
How are intellectual virtues developed?
By education
How many fundamental virtues are there?
4
What are the 4 fundamental virtues?
-temperance
-courage
-wisdom
-justice
What is temperance?
Self-control
What is justice a collective outcome of?
Virtuous behaviour
What are the 3 different types of people?
-the sophron
-the enkrates
-the akrates
What is the sophron?
People who naturally live in the golden mean without effort.
What are the enkrates?
People who are tempted but have strong enough will power to live in the golden mean.
What are the akrates?
People who are weak and cannot live in the golden mean.
What acronym is used to remember the 3 types of people?
SEA
According to Aristotle, who is the greatest advocate of virtues?
Philosophers.
Why is the philosopher the greatest advocate for virtues?
The one who pursues the ‘loving’ (philos) and the ‘wise’ (sophos).
Where do we find encouragement to develop virtues?
Within Christianity
When did Jesus promote specific virtues?
In the sermon on the mount.
What are the beatitudes short for?
Beautiful attitudes.
What does the beatitudes encourage?
Positive transformation of the inner character with particular emphasis on humility, charity, and brotherly / sisterly love.
How many virtues did Jesus highlight in the beatitudes?
8
(beatitudes) explain ‘poor in spirit’.
Poverty of any sense, those who have their rights taken away from them.
(beatitudes) explain ‘mourning’.
Those who experienced any type of loss (not just a person)
(beatitudes) explain ‘meek’.
A gentle disposition of. Character, self control.
(beatitudes) explain ‘hungry and thirsty for righteousness’.
Seeking justice
(beatitudes) explain ‘mercy’.
Forgiving and generous in spirit.
(beatitudes) explain ‘pure in heart’.
Sincere and selfless.
(beatitudes) explain ‘peacemakers’.
Work for peace
(beatitudes) explain ‘prosecuted for the sake of righteousness.
Stand up for what you believe is right and be prepare to suffer for moral and religious principle.
Why can it be argued that virtue ethics is arbitrary, imprecise and vague?
Because it lacks focus on real behaviour in relation to real life situations.
What is the issue of cultural relativism in relation to virtue ethics?
Do virtues really exist or are virtues relative to time and culture?
