Modern scholars - Philippa Foot

Question 1

What was the name of her book in which she wrote her ideas on VE?

Answer 1

‘Vices and Virtues’ (2002)

Question 2

Why did she argue that virtues are necessary and beneficial?

Answer 2

humans do not get on well without them
being virtuous means an individual may not conform to the conventions of modern society, provoking positive change or highlighting negatives in society e.g. Rosa Parks, Oskar Schindler
Prompt people to act in a way that is beneficial to others

Question 3

Quote about the necessity of morality?

Answer 3

‘for human beings the teaching and following of morality is necessary’

Question 4

What did Foot argue was the difference between being virtuous in moral dilemmas compared to in everyday life?

Answer 4

more difficult in moral dilemmas - more willpower required to be virtuous

Question 5

Why may the lack of focus on moral dilemmas in VE be positive?

Answer 5

looks past outcome of moral dilemmas focuses instead on examining the heart of humans

Question 6

What makes a virtue virtuous + examples?

Answer 6

used to the right end - loyalty is not a virtue if it is loyalty towards Hitler
right intentions - a scoundrel is still a scoundrel, even if they are strong, healthy and possess all the virtues

Question 7

What type of virtue did Foot class wisdom as + why?

Answer 7

intellectual + moral
intellectual - knowing something
moral - willing something
need to know the goal and have the will to achieve it

Question 8

How did Foot view wisdom in terms of intelligence?

Answer 8

ultimate intelligence

Question 9

How do Foots ideas on wisdom differ from those of Aristotle?

Answer 9

believed that wisdom = no purely intellectual - does not depend on intellectual power
wisdom does not depend on starting in society or political power

Question 10

Quote regarding the importance of virtues?

Answer 10

‘Nobody can get on well if he lacks courage, and does not have some measure of temperance and wisdom’

Question 11

What did Foot state about modern philosophers regarding virtues and vices?

Answer 11

have neglected the subject

Question 12

What did Foot argue regarding equality of virtues?

Answer 12

all virtues are equal

Question 13

What did Foot argue was the difference between virtues and skills?

Answer 13

act non-virtuously - impacts reputation

make a mistake with a skill - reputation not impacted

Question 14

What did Foot believe was the difficulty for humans in always acting virtuously?

Answer 14

naturally selfish - more mentally demanding to act in interests of others, rather than just ourselves

Question 15

What did Foot believe virtues were?

Answer 15

innermost desires + our wish to act on these

Question 16

What analogy did Foot use to exemplify her view of what virtues are + quote?

Answer 16

scenario of someone saving an injured boy - ‘His action, which could not have been mulled over in his mind, showed a deep, instinctive love of life’

Question 17

What analogy did Foot use to describe the effect of consistently practicing virtues on character?

Answer 17

analogy of plank of wood - constantly needs to be straightened out after exposure to weather that has caused it to warp out of shape - virtues needed to ‘correct’ and ‘straighten out’ a person’s character

Question 18

What did Foot believe about the concept of eudaimonia?

Answer 18

cannot be guaranteed that this will be achieved, even if you are perfectly virtuous
however being virtuous can go some way to achieving happiness

Question 19

What are the strengths of Foot’s arguments?

Answer 19

1) places more emphasis on community than Aristotle did
being virtuous - gives aim and purpose
2) applicable to everyone - religious + non-religious

Question 20

What are the weaknesses of Foot’s arguments?

Answer 20

1) assumes everyone works towards similar goals - not true to humanity
2) happiness not guaranteed - may not reach eudaimonia
cannot follow virtues constantly
3) may not be applicable to all ages and times
4) everyone would become same person