Aristotle's Virtue Ethics Flashcards
The mean
Aristotle believed that all virtues lay in the middle of two vices, for example the virtue of cowardice (vice of deficiency) and rashness (vice of excess) is courage.
Eudaemonia
The goal of life that everyone should pursue, it is achieved through a life of virtuous action and we must practice in order to achieve it.
Eudaemonia is for the community, not just the individual.
Cultivating our virtues
To cultivate our virtues we must find the mean, behaving in a proportionate way.
Virtues as habit
Virtuous behaviour could become a habit, but at no time should we forget that we are behaving virtuously because it is right.
Superior and subordinate aims
We do one thing to accomplish a greater thing. Ultimately, everything is subordinate to the supreme good, which is happiness.
Different forms of happiness
People have different ideas about happiness. Some seek pleasure, others seek honour and there are those who love contemplation (this is what Aristotle believed is the best).
Ethical and intellectual excellence
Aristotle links them. He singles out 5 intellectual virtues which we need to act well: prudence, intuitive intelligence, wisdom, scientific knowledge and craft/art.
Happiness and function
To say a human being is good we must ask “does he perform his function well?” To understand function we must look at what distinguishes us from animals - reason.
Jean-Paul Sartre challenge
The concept of humans having a function is flawed. In his work ‘Existentialism and Humanism’ he compares humans with artefacts. Without God humans create their own purpose. Unlike a paper knife for example we develop our Essence after existence.
David Hume and the “is-ought fallacy”
The fact itself is morally neutral: it is only when we apply that we “ought” to do something are we making a moral judgement.
The fallacy lies in that the “ought” statement logically follows from the “is”.
Nietzsche and friendship
He saw friendship as a problem, it is a retreat from society, Kant also had no place for friendship in his universalistic ethics.
The good
All human actions aim to some form of good.
Good must be self-sufficient, something which by itself makes life worth while.
J.L Ackrill
Argues that Eudaemonia must consist of a package of worthwhile things which are desired for their own sake.
Richard Kraut criticism of Ackrill
Ackrill seemingly suggests that Aristotle would have adhered that Eudaemonia is like a pick and mix collection.
Higher and lower pleasures
He outlines 3 types of life:
1) “Bovine” life - happiness is equated with sensual pleasure.
2) happiness is associated with honour.
3) contemplative type - happiness is synonymous with Eudaemonia.
