Normative Ethical theories - Virtue Ethics Flashcards
virtue ethics
things needed to practice virtues, emotions
- a character-based ethical system –> focuses on who u are rather than the actions/result
- starts from a natural way of thinking about your life
- actions are reflective of your character
- can only improve your character by practicing being virtuous
- need self knowledge and awareness of yourself to practice being better
- takes emotions into account, unlike other ethical systems which say emotions weaken you
care ethics
- sees personal relationships as a primary place for ethical behaviour
historical origins of Virtue Ethics
- Platos 4 cardinal values: prudence, temporance, fortitude, justice
- adoped as well as faith, hope and charity into moral philosophy (eg aquinas and cardinal hume)
aristotles theory on virtues
- moral and intellectual
- intellectual are theoretical wisdom and moral is justice
- moral virtue is mean between 2 vices
two vices
- a virtue is the GOLDEN MEAN (courage)
- a vice deficiency is when u lack this virtue (cowardice)
- a vice excess is when you demonstrate this virtue to a fault (rashness)
Good and Eudaemonia
aristotles view
- purpose of life is to achieve EUDAEMONIA: happiness
- it is the greatest good for yourself and everyone
- aristotle: spent time in Athens –> forward thinking society (democracy) –> supreme happiness must be part of a society not as an individual
- there is a problem of happiness as a definition
Eudaemonia types
- seeks pleasure + does not engage intellectually
- gets happiness for doing good for others
- philosophers: use reason to achieve happiness
Human reason
why is reason needed in virtue ethics
- reason separates us from animals –> reason should help us achieve happiness, by guiding emotion and virtue
- wisdom, courage and self control come where there is a balance of the soul
happiness of the soul
rational and irrational
- soul = distinguishes living from the dead
- soul has an unrational and rational half
- rational = scientific/intellectual virtues
- irrational = what keeps us alive + desires/moral virtues
Aristotles definition of virtues
2 types of virtues
- 9 intellectual virtues
- 12 moral virtues –> between 2 vices, deficiency and excess
3 examples of Aristotle’s intellectual virtues
- scientific knowledge: EPISTIME - knowledge of the nature and universe (science). we need the ability to control the world through knowledge
- PHRONESIS: practical wisdom. balances our needs and desires with other peoples. it gives our actions a moral compass
- resourcefulness and deliberation: EUBOLIA - knowledge of the relevant facts and the implications and connections of those facts
3 examples of A’s moral virtues
GOLDEN MEAN: PATIENCE
V of Deficiency = indifference
V of Excess = irritable
GOLDEN MEAN: MODESTY
VD - shamelessness
VE - shyness
GOLDEN MEAN: COURAGE
VD = cowardice
VE = rashness
aristotles and phillipa foot opinion on ethicality
A: easy to be ethical if attractive
PF: more virtuous if u have to work to be moral (kleptomaniac resisting the urge to steal)
aristotle’s definition of success and problems
excellent and virtuous activity, with a good fortune throughout your entire lifetime
- sees life as a narrative: can change life trajectory quickly so should look holistically
PROBLEMS:
- does not see things outside of his class (Athens, first democracy, very affluent)
- greek/roman culture is abusive (slavery, sexual abuse)
morality
pleausre, reason, moral value, morally weak vs vice
- pleasure: ‘unimpeded activity of a natural condition’ –> what a good person would want to do and is succeeding at
- reason controls the irrational
- goodness and moral value of any action depends on the CHARACTER of the person doing it
- difference between morally weak and vice –> if there is a self awareness of moral shortcoming (morally weak) a person can become more virtuous through their actions
social justice
who deserves in society?
- A claims injustice is done when someone does something wrong for his own advantage
- justice demands equality
- the more a person contributes to society, the more they deserve back
- virtuous citizens contribute more to society and therefore should receive greater rewards of honour and respect
- fairtrade + attitude of equity
Aristotle and his view on social justice
why is it controversial
- sheltered: coming from a privileged perspective
- talks of equality within his experiences
Aristotelian circle
- improve virtues (eg practical wisdom)
- leading to improved wellbeing leading to more virtue, leading to more practical wisdom
- cyclical spiral upwards or downwards
arete
- what is good seems good to the virtuous
- more virtuous you become the better you will understand and know what virtue is
- good determined by the virtuous –> if born into virtuous family, it is easy to follow
target practice and virtue
government role in virtue
- practice makes perfect; instilled while young to stay with them for all their life –> virtues are a skill practiced to become more virtuous
- good government: instills the highest moral standards in citizens and encourages moral growth –> can only be done if they are of the highest moral standards
does virtue ethics help
- virtuous varies from community to community (eg criminals)
- which virtues are correct?
- situation and character –> Nazi Germany, Stanley Milbourn, ‘learning test’
9 strengths of virtue ethics
- you can develop as a moral agent
- relative, no absolutes
- stresses the need for improvement + importance of practice
- universal - not specialist or needs religious knowledge
- character-based: improvement in self = improvement in society
- golden mean
- both aspects of deontology and teleology
- relevant today in society: Jubilee centre
- sees life as a narrative: holistic worldview, mistakes arent damning
