Moral Philosophy Flashcards
what is virtue ethics?
these are agent centred ( character habits and living) ethics
What are goods in VE?
Something which add value to our lives e.g.
- jobs aim for money
- medicine aims at health
- reading aims at knowledge
What is eudaimonia
A state in life where one is seen as flourishing but roughly translates to happiness
The final end without qualification
Why does Aristotle rule out UT and Kantian ethics
Aristotle sees UT as living a bovine life which is no different from living like cattle
even if someone is living a happy life they may still be going through horrible things
What is the function (ergon) argument in VE
Explanation:
- Every action and object has its function
- How well something performs its function is how good it is
- A quality like this is what Aristotle refers to as a ARETE (virtue)
e.g. sharpness would be a virtue in a knife
- our function of humans is to reach eudaimonia by using our rationality and reason
- Our way to reach eudaimonia is to live our lives guided by reason
Main points:
1) everything has a function in Aristotle’s world view
2) Humans must also have a function
3) Humans ability to act according to reason is our function
4) Virtues help enable our function
5) To be a good human we must act according to reason by practicing our virtues
6) Therefore a good flourishing life for humans is one lived with reason in where virtues enabling this are excercised (used)
what are virtues?
A part of our mind or character which helps us achieve a good life ( a life in accordance with reason)
What are the 2 types of virtues?
intelectual virtue = being able to make rational decisions on how to act in given situations e.g. common sense
Moral virtues = dispositions or traits of a character that make sure we do the right thing
What is a virtue and vice in VE
Virtue = good personality trait which helps us reach eudaimonia
Vice = bad personality trait which may take us away from eudaimonia
What is Aristotle’s skill analogy
to gain a skill you must:
1) observe and input by a professional with the skill
2) start practicing the skill or behaviour which may be difficult or painful
3)through practice you will get better at the skill which may cause it to become more pleasurable
4) The move from dependence of an expert to independence
5) The skill has been fully mastered
Autonomy: we must enter a stage where we understand understand the quality or skill fully and feel the emotions to become truly virtuous
What is the positive feedback loop of pleasure in VE
Pleasure is still considered important in VE as long as it pushes us to aim for more virtuos actions, by completing virtuos actions we get closer to reaching eudaimonia and gain pleasure by doing so
- too much pleasure may make us stagnate and follow our vices to receive more pleasure
What is the doctrine of the mean in VE
