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.
Examples of excellence of characters?
Courage
Patience
Temperance
Friendliness
Modesty
Examples of excellence of practical reasoning?
Deliberation
Understanding
Judgement
Cleverness
Practical wisdom
Examples of excellence of theoretical reasoning?
Contemplation
Maths
Philosophy
Wisdom
Theology
What must a virtous person do/be?
Know what they’re doing in every situation
Not act through ignorance
Choose to act virtously
How are moral virtues formed?
By habit but helped by the rational soul and virtue of practical wisdom.
How should moral virtue in someone’s life be evaluated?
Assessed over someones completed life and not over a short period or how they operate in an isolated situation.
What does nature state we have the potential to become?
By nature we are neither good or evil but we have the capacity to become good or evil by training which we should start as soon after birth as possible.
How do we become virtous and just?
By immitating virtous people not by learning rules.
What is a plants soul type?
Vegetative
What is a plants soul characterised by?
Nutrition and growth
What is an animals soul type?
Sensitive
What is an animals soul characterised by?
Nutrition and growth
Movement
Sense perception
(Low level thought)
What is a humans soul type?
Rational
What is a humans soul characterised by?
Nutrition and growth
Movement
Sense perception
Reason
Aristotle Spring quote?
“One swallow does not make a Spring”
How does virtue ethics work?
Rather than following rules which are often unfair, copying the behaviours of those who are held to be virtous is instead better.
