Modern scholars - Alisdair MacIntyre

Question 1

What was the name of the book in which MacIntyre wrote his ideas on VE?

Answer 1

‘After Virtue, a Study in Moral Theory (1985)

Question 2

What did MacIntyre argue were the weaknesses of deontological and teleological ethical systems +examples?

Answer 2

too time consuming + overly complex e.g. UT - hedonic calculus - difficult to use in moral dilemmas
naturally turn to virtue based answer in moral dilemmas e.g. SE - agape = compassion + kindness etc

Question 3

What did MacIntyre view to be a strength of VE that deontological and teleological ethical systems do not possess?

Answer 3

realistic + applicable to everyday situations

e.g. laws = sometimes outdated

Question 4

What did MacIntyre point out regarding the flexibility of virtues?

Answer 4

not static or unchanging
change according to place - come out of communities in which they are practiced
changed throughout history
changed as culture has changed

Question 5

What did MacIntyre state regarding the importance of practice (quote)?

Answer 5

‘By practice…goods internal…are released in the course of trying to achieve those standards of excellence which are appropriate to that form of activity with the result that human powers to achieve excellence are extended.’

Question 6

What are ‘goods internal’ + how can they be achieved?

Answer 6

good in themselves - allow to reach standards of excellence
achieved through participation e.g. through social activities such as chess or qualities such as diligence - helps in concentrating + working hard

Question 7

What are ‘goods external’ + how are they achieved?

Answer 7

practical goods
part of eudaimonia life - will make a person happier
achieved through e.g. good food, safe home, clean clothes

Question 8

Why have virtues improved over time?

Answer 8

earliest times - small communities - needed to defend themselves - most important virtues = masculine e.g. strength + courage
time of Aristotle - city states - main virtues = wisdom, temperance + justice

Question 9

What are the strengths of MacIntyre’s arguments?

Answer 9

flexible
allows for virtues to be diff depending on diff cultures
takes whole life into account
applies to everyone

Question 10

What are the weaknesses on MacIntyre’s arguments?

Answer 10

sometimes need complex processes when making big decisions

no definitive way to tell if someone is virtuous - subjective

Question 11

How did Macintyre define a virtue (quote)?

Answer 11

‘an acquired human quality…which…enables us to achieve…goods.’