1.8 Virtue Ethics Flashcards
Define virtue
behaviour showing high moral standards
What is another term for virtue?
- excellence
- arete
What type of ethical theory is virtue ethics
Character based
What are character based ethics
ethical theories which focus on the character of the individual
Who proposed virtue ethics?
Aristotle
What is Aristotle’s main work?
Nichomachean ethics
Where does the term virtue stem from?
Greek work arete meaning virtue, excellence
What does virtue ethics emphasise?
virtues and vices of character
Finish Aristotle’s quote: “Excellence then is not an act …
“it is a habit”
What does the quote excellence is not an act, it is a habit, mean?
virtues are practiced
Why is VE culturally relativist?
It focuses on virtues prized by socieities at different times and cultures
How is VE also teleological?
It focuses on eudaimonia
What is eudaimonia?
supreme happiness
What is the highest form of happiness according to Aristotle?
theoria - contemplation
What is the function argument?
human good is a function of the soul in accordance with virtue
What kind of souls do we have according to aristotle?
rational
Finish Aristotle’s quote: “an activity of the soul …
in accordance with virtue
Finish Aristotle’s quote: “thus the good life is …
in which we exercise reason well
What are moral virtues?
virtues developed through repition, practice and emulating virtuous people
Examples of moral virtues
- courage
- temperance
- liberality
- patience
- truthfulness
- modesty
- wittiness
What are intellectual virtues?
virtues related to the mind which will help to calculate the golden mean
Examples of intellectual virtues
- scientific knowledge
- practical wisdom
- intelligence
What is the doctrine of tje mean
finding the middle point between the extremes of excess and deficiency
What is a problem with the golden mean?
the golden mean is relative to the individual
What is the excess and deficiency of courage
recklessness and cowardice
What are the three types of people according to Aristotle?
- sophron
- enkrates
- akrates
who is the sophron?
someone who lives in the mean without effort
Who is an enkrate
someone who is tempted but has the power to live within the mean
Who is an akrate?
someone who cannot live without being overcome by temptation
What are the 4 cardinal virtues
- justice
- prudence
- fortitude
- moderation
What did Aristotle teach about theft
that it was a ‘base action’
What actions did Aristotle say were always wrong?
- murder
- theft
- adultery
What does McIntyre argue about virtue ethics
It is a realistic ethical theory as it allows for spending money and time on oneslef
