Ethics: Virtue ethics Flashcards
What is eudaimania?
Best translated as flourishing, living well or living a good life.
Explain why Aristotle thinks everything other than flourishing is a means to an end.
Flourishing is the only thing valued for its own sake. Therefore everything else we value is simply a means to an end
When does Aristotle call something good? Give an example?
Something is good when it performs its function well. Eg. an axe is good when it chops well, not when its used to play the piano.
According to Aristotle what is the function/distinctive characteristics of humans?
Our ability to reason. So when we are reasoning well we will be living well.
According to Aristotle, how do humans flourish?
Reasoning well.
What are virtues? How do they relate to function? Give an example?
Virtues are whatever enable a thing to perform its function well therefore the virtues which enable us to reason are our character traits, dispositions and habits eg. the virtue of temperance is having the right attitudes towards pleasure.
What is the doctrine of golden mean?
Virtues exist on a spectrum between the vice of excess and the vice of deficiency.
What, according to Aristotle, is a virtous person?
One who has cultivated all the virtues and fully developed the habit of choosing the golden mean.
According to Aristotle how do we cultivate virtues?
Through experience and education.
Explain the role of the virtue of practical wisdom (phronesis).
Mediating between our virtues and actions. It involves general knowledge of the world and the consequences of actions.
What are the non-rational virtues?
Excellence of the body
Excellence of the character
What are the rational virtues?
Excellence of theoretical reasoning
Excellence of practical reasoning
Which virtues are moral?
Non-rational
Which virtues are intellectual?
Rational
What can intellectual virtues be split into?
Theoretical and Practical. They contribute the most to the good life, as they’re under the control of reason.
