Aristotelian Virtue Ethics Flashcards
Arete
An ‘excellence’, or more specifically, a ‘virtue’ - a quality that aids the fulfilment of a thing’s ergon (Aristotle).
Eudaimonia
Flourishing or happiness. The ultimate telos for which all acts are undertaken.
Virtue
An attribute which enables something to perform it’s function well eg a virtue of a knife is sharpness.
Function
Characteristic activity. The function x tells us what kind of thing x is. So, the function of an eye is to see.
Rational Action
The function of humans because only humans can reason, a distinctively human life is a life which is ruled by reason.
How is Aristotle’s theory teleologist?
It assigns every object some ‘final end’ or ‘final cause’
Doctrine of the mean
Each virtue of character is the mid-point between two vices, a vice of excess and a vice of deficiency
Virtue of Character
A character trait which enables a person to live well as a human being eg courage. These virtues aim at the good. A person with a virtuous character has the right emotional response to any situation.
Intellectual Virtue
The virtues of the rational part of the soul. They aim at truth.
What is the skill analogy?
An analogy comparing how one might acquire vitures to how one might develop technical skills. It works as follows,
1. A child is not born with the innate knowledge of how to play the piano, but we are born with the capacity to know how to play the piano. In the same way, nobody is born virtuously, but they have the capacity to become virtuous,
2. Learning to play the piano by reading books and studying musical theory is insufficient - you must actually do it. The same applies to virtue, you must act virtuously for it to be come part of your character,
3. When starting to learn the piano, the child will follow the rules and try not to depress the wrong keys - but they don’t understand what they are actually doing. Similarly with virtue, we might start by teaching children rules for good behaviour and they will follow these rules because they are told to - not because they understand why,
4. As the child progresses with playing the piano, they are able to play as though it is as if it is second nature, able to improvise and understand what sounds good. So too, by following the norms for acting according to virtue it habitually becomes part of our character. As well as this, we start to understand the nature and extent of virtue and this allows us to interpret a response to situations as they arise.
Practical Wisdom (Phronesis)
The intellectual virtue relating to acting in the world. The person with phronesis can make the right decision in any situation.
Voluntary Action
Those actions which we are responsible for because we choose them ie they are not forced.
Involuntary Action
Those actions which we are not responsible for because we are compelled to perform them (psychologically or physically) or because we are ignorant of what we are doing (but only if we are not responsible for our ignorance).
The Function Argument
1) For any x that has a function, a good x is one that performs its function well.
2) In order for x to perform its function well, it requires the virtues relevant to that function eg a good harp player requires dexterity, a musical ear etc.
3) The function of human beings is rational action.
4) Rational Action requires possessing the correct dispositions (virtues) to respond appropriately in any situation.
C) Thus, a good person will act well and choose wisely because they possess a virtuous character, and will express their character in the way they live.
Virtue Ethics does not provide sufficient guidance about how to act (against VE)
VE has no decision making procedure for dealing with difficult cases. Morality sometimes requires clear cut answer eg in cases of abortion.
There can be conflicts between virtues (against VE)
To reach eudaimonia, you must abide by many virtues, but sometimes these clash. Eg a man’s wife is terminally ill and in unimaginable pain, so he helps her to end her life. This is a conflict between the virtues of justice and kindness.
Aristotle’s account of virtues is circular (against VE)
How to be a virtuous person?
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Have virtuous actions
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How to have virtuous actions?
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Be a virtuous person
> > This becomes circular. Doesn’t tell you how to actually gain virtues.
There is a conflict between what is good for the individual and what is good for humanity (against VE)
Some people could live a virtuous life but not reach eudaimonia eg if a nurse works in a war out of duty rather than enjoyment and then dies, she would have been virtuous but didn’t reach happiness. Too focused on individual flourishing.
