Aristotle - Vrtue Ethics Flashcards
Two main ethical theories
Deontological ethics (Kant) Consequentialist ethics
Deontological Ethics def.
Concerned with what people do. Doing the right thing, because it is the right thing to do and for not other reason
Duty
Consequentialist Ethics def.
You did the right thing if it leads to something good
How does Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics differ from the other two?
1) he believed ethics is not something entirely theoretical and you must observe people how behave
2) didn’t believe ethics were about what if situations, many of his ideas about ethics on what someone did and if this action improved their virtue
Summary difference of virtue ethics to others
Person based rather than action based, considers the virtue of a person carrying out an action rather than ethical duties or consequences
Virtues of virtue ethics
Provides guidance as to the sort of characteristics and behaviours a good person will seek to achieve
Main principles of Virtue Ethics
- an action is right if it is an action a virtuous person would’ve carried out in the same situation
- a virtuous person is someone who acts virtuously
- a person acts virtuously if they “possess and live the virtues”
- a virtue is a moral characteristic that a person needs to live well
Virtuous people act on rational thought rather than instinct
MacIntyre’s three questions for moral thinking
- who am I?
- who ought I become?
- how ought I get there?
Virtue theorists on generality
They think there is a list of virtues that we would all benefit from, rather than individual lists of virtues
These virtues are natural to mature humans - even if they are difficult to acquire
This list changes over time and societies
Positives of VE
Centres ethics around the person and what it means to be human
Includes a persons whole life
Negatives of VE
Doesn’t provide clear guidance for what to do in a moral dilemma - a virtuous person would know what to do but maybe I’m not virtuous?
No agreement on what the virtues are
