1B: Virtue Theory Flashcards
What is virtue theory?
it is interested in defining what are good people and the virtues that make them good
What is a virtue?
the good characteristics we have eg kindness, patience
What is a vice?
bad characteristics we have eg greed and jealousy
What do virtue theorists believe makes a ‘good’ person?
developing virtues and reducing vices - a good person of character would automatically do good actions
What would a virtue theorist say in regards to lying?
They would focus less on the action of lying, and instead concentrate on what a decision to lie says about a persons character ie was the lying associated with a virtuous or vice characteristic
What question is virtue theory most interested in?
“What sort of characteristics do I have?”
What is the name of Aristotle’s book?
‘Nicomachean Ethics’ (it is a collection of his lectures on Ethics, compiled by his son Nicomachus)
What are some moral virtues?
courage and wittiness
What does excess vice mean?
too much of a certain virtue
What does a deficiency vice mean?
too little of a virtue
What does Aristotle say is the key to a good life?
following the moral virtues and practicing until it becomes a habit ; allows human flourishing (eudaimonia) by the end of life
Name 3 of the key virtues
- justice
- temperance
- fortitude
What is every virtue stuck in the middle of, and what is Aristotle’s way of describing virtues?
Excess and deficiency vice: tells us what the good moral virtues are and also how to follow them
How can we develop moral goodness, according to Aristotle?
By steering clear of the vices of excess and deficiency in order to identify the ‘golden mean’ where the virtue is situated. By practice it will become habitual and we will be able to make excellence our habit
What does Aristotle mean by ‘the golden mean’?
we all have the potential to develop these moral virtues. The way we do this is to ensure that we keep away from either the excess or deficiency of the
virtue; so we hit the ‘mean’ or midway point. He argued the good virtues were a matter of balance between the extremes.
Example of wittiness applied to the golden mean
The way to achieve this virtue is to avoid the two extremes. No one likes ‘hanging around with’ someone who is boorish (boring) and therefore they will not be a successful member of a group. On the other extreme nobody likes ‘hanging around’ with a buffoon because they quickly become irritating and thus they too will not be a successful member of a group. Therefore, the way to develop the virtue of wittiness is to take the golden mean (middle way) between the two extremes of boorishness and buffoonery. If you can do this (with practice) you will become happy because you will be a successful (popular) member of a group because people like to ‘hang around with’ witty people.
What is the name of Kotva’s book?
The Christian Case for Virtue Ethics
What does Kotva argue?
- Christianity and Virtue Theory are compatible and this can be seen in Biblical passages
Kotva: “the most obvious __________ between _____ and virtue theory is his concern with the ______ qualities of human action, not just the _____ acts themselves”
similarity, Jesus, internal, overt
Where can Jesus’ teachings on virtue generally be found?
Sermon on the Mount
What are the beatitudes?
the virtues referred to by Jesus in Sermon on the Mount
Beatitude of ‘poor in spirit’
- “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
- relates to physical, mental and spiritual poverty eg those oppressed and slaved: they are humble before God
Beatitude of ‘mourn’
- “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted”
- extends beyond the loss of a loved one to loss of possessions, status, wealth, recognising concern and regret for being separated from God
Beatitude of ‘meek’
- “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”
- discipline and self control exhibiting a gentle disposition towards others