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A-level RS - Ethics > 1B Virtue theory > Flashcards

1B Virtue theory Flashcards

1
Q

What is virtue theory?

A
  • An ethical system based on personal qualities
  • Shift away from identifying ethical theory as being found in rules and principles, to the hexis (quality, manner, disposition) of a human
  • Right/wrong ≠ a matter of rules but of personal character/qualities exhibited in behaviour
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2
Q

Give a quote from Cave about virtue ethics.

A

• “Morality and personal happiness are entwined”

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3
Q

In which book did Aristotle outline his moral virtues?

A

• ‘The Nicomachean Ethics’

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4
Q

What is eudaimonia?

A

• Happiness in the sense of being fulfilled

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5
Q

What is the goal of virtue theory?

A

• Create the good life + achieve eudaimonia through cultivating virtues (virtuous actions)

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6
Q

What did Aristotle call virtues? And hence, what is virtue ethics also known as?

A
  • Arete

* Aretaic ethics

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7
Q

Why is virtue ethics a holistic philosophy?

A

• It must have a social context with the end result of enabling people to live together

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8
Q

According to Aristotle, what are the three aspects of happiness?

A

1) A life of enjoyment
2) A life with freedom
3) Being a philosopher (∵ of reflection and contemplation)

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9
Q

Which is the most important virtue that can maintain the three aspects of happiness?

A
  • Wisdom (phronesis)

* Such wisdom ≠ easily gained; it is achieved “in a complete life”

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10
Q

How are moral virtues acquired and developed?

A
  • Acquired through habit

* Developed through practice

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11
Q

Give three examples of moral virtues.

A
  • Temperance
  • Liberality
  • Patience
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12
Q

What are intellectual virtues?

A

• Developed by education

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13
Q

Give three examples of intellectual virtues.

A
  • Insight
  • Wisdom
  • Peace
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14
Q

What is the difference between justice and virtue?

A
  • Justice = “a relation to one’s neighbour”

* Virtue = “a certain state without qualification”

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15
Q

What balance is required to cultivate virtues?

A

• Excess and deficiency

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16
Q

Why is it difficult to balance virtues?

A
  • Each extreme brings an associated vice

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

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17
Q

What does Aristotle call the balance of virtues?

A

• The mean

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18
Q

What three types of person does the doctrine of the mean produce?

A
  • Sophron
  • Enkrates
  • Akrates
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19
Q

What is the sophron?

A

• Someone who naturally lives in the mean w/o effort

20
Q

What is the enkrates?

A

• Someone who is tempted, but has strong enough willpower to live in the mean

21
Q

What is the akrates?

A

• Someone who is weak and cannot live in the mean ∴ they are akrasia (incontinent)

22
Q

According to many commentators, what are the four key virtues in allowing a character to develop?

A
  • Temperance
  • Courage
  • Justice
  • Wisdom (manages and drives them all)
23
Q

According to Aristotle, what is the greatest advocate of virtue?

A
  • The philosopher
  • They pursue the ‘loving’ (philos) and the ‘wise’ (sophos)
  • The phrase was first used by Pythagoras to describe himself
24
Q

What are the excess and deficiency associated vices of patience?

A
  • Excess: Irascibility

* Deficiency: Lack of spirit

25
Q

What are the excess and deficiency associated vices of friendliness?

A
  • Excess: Obsequiousness

* Deficiency: Cantankerousness

26
Q

What are the excess and deficiency associated vices of temperance?

A
  • Excess: Licentiousness

* Deficiency: Insensibility

27
Q

How many virtues are there in total?

A

• 11/12

28
Q

Where can the history of encouraging virtues in the Christian tradition be traced back to?

A

• Ecclesiastes

29
Q

Which part of the Bible do people traditionally associate Christianity’s teachings on rules with?

A

• The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

30
Q

What does the first section of the Sermon on the Mount begin with?

A

• Jesus promoting specific virtues

31
Q

What are the beatitudes?

A
  • Blessings given by Jesus for certain personal virtues

* “Blessed are the/those…”

32
Q

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…

A

“…for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

• Interpreted as an understanding of poverty (physical, mental, spiritual) e.g. the oppressed

33
Q

“Blessed are those who mourn…

A

“…for they will be comforted.”
• Extends beyond the immediate concern of the loss of a loved one to possessions, status and health
• State of recognsiing concern/regret for the current situation of being separated from God

34
Q

“Blessed are the meek…

A

“…for they will inherit the earth.”
• Psalm 37:11: “The meek will possess the land”
• Not a weakness, but more a description of discipline/exhibiting self-control towards others

35
Q

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…

A

“…for they will be filled.”

• Desire for virtuous outcome of justice in a personal, spiritual, social, global sense”

36
Q

“Blessed are the merciful…

A

“…for they will be shown mercy.”

• Through humility/awareness of God’s character, C.tians = encouraged to display mercy to others ∵ it is a virtuous disposition in itself, not ∵ it brings reward of G’s mercy

37
Q

“Blessed are the pure in heart…

A

“…for they will see God.”

• Sincerity of character that wills/determines correct choices w/o contamination of selfish drives

38
Q

“Blessed are the peacemakers…

A

“…for they will be called the children of God.”

• Trad. ascribed to the role of Messiah; those who follow suit + work for peace appreciate the nature of KoG

39
Q

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness…

A

“…for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

• Willingness to suffer for religious + moral principles but display underlying determination to survive and stand up for what is right despite obstacles

40
Q

Why are the virtues a subject of theological debate?

A
  • Echoes of Isiah 61:1-3: refers to freedom from poverty, heartbreak, imprisonment, mourning + declaring hope for the righteous who are in despair, and comfort those who mourn
  • Antithesis of Proverbs 6:16-19, which describes the unrighteous character
41
Q

Give the challenge that virtue theory does not fall conveniently within deontological or teleological categories due to its focus on the characteristics of a person.

A
  • Links with Aristotle + Aquinas have caused some to question whether or not it is a form of Natural Law ∴ deontological in essence
  • Others see it as teleological ∵ of its focus on achieving eudaimonia
42
Q

Give the challenge that the virtues are not a practical guide to moral behaviour.

A
  • They are arbitrary, subjective, vague, imprecise ∴ lacks a focus on real behaviour in relation to real-life situations; more guidance = required if it is to be effective as a moral system
  • Too much dependence on potential goodness of others; unconditional trust that allows for no overall control or individual quality control - what is correct?
  • Too individualistic as it deals primarily w/ the individual ∴ not practical for society
  • Too complex for many to apply; Aristotle recognised that not everyone has the same ability when resisting vice ∴ maybe only relevant for the philosopher
43
Q

Explain the challenge of cultural relativism and the use of virtues for immoral acts.

A

• Do virtues really exist? Various instances in history where one society’s virtue = another’s vice
- e.g. courage could be seen as passively putting up with injustice/persecution, or actively participating in challenging tyranny (warriors = praised for courage)
• As a system, it can be contradictory: if there are differences in expressing a virtue, then which is the right one?
• Self-centred ethic means that the action a moral agent performs does not consider the consequences for others

44
Q

Explain the response that virtue ethics is an attractive/alternative way to pursue ethical standards.

A

• Although virtues are self-focused, the theory develops a character that responds best to others and builds an ideal community
∴ strong social context for virtue theory, makes it a practical system
• Focuses on the way we behave, not simply what we should believe to be the case

45
Q

Explain the response that the virtuous person is an exemplar of good character.

A
  • Virtue theory has clear, guiding principles
  • Such exemplars (philosophers) serve as good role models (however, Hitler saw himself as a “philosopher-leader”)
  • Aristotle argued that wisdom in application of justice for society ensures that is works and it is not subjective
46
Q

Why could virtue theory apply to feminist thinkers?

A
  • It provides an alternative to rules/duties stereotypically shown as a male way of approaching life
  • Most systems in place have been devised by men, for men

A-level RS - Ethics (25 decks)

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