Origins and Nature Flashcards
What does relative mean?
No fixed view of right and wrong
What makes the action right or wrong?
The person
What is the name given to a theory where the person makes the action right or wrong?
An agent centred ethical theory
Who 1st talked about virtues?
Plato
Who developed the theory?
The Greek philosopher Aristotle - niomachean ethics
What is this theory NOT?
Deontological - not about rules/ duty like utilitarianism
Consequentialist - consequences do not make the action right/wrong like NLT
Is it relative or absolute?
Relative
What did Aristotle argue was the purpose of developing our moral character?
To achieve eudaimonia
Who, according to Aristotle, could achieve eudaimonia?
Only freemen
What did Aristotle believe?
By picking actions that cultivate virtues/ looking to phronimi/ following the guidance of philosophers you can develop your moral character and move towards eudaimonia
What is the opposite of a virtue called?
A vice
What did Aristotle argue could be achieved if we all develop our moral characters?
Polis (flourishing society)
What is eudaimonia?
Human fulfilment/ happiness
What did Aristotle say in Niomachean Ethics?
All people have a telos
Telos= fully realise potential and achieve ultimate goal of being ‘good’
This meant a person must spend their lives developing their moral character through cultivating the virtues.
This could be done through actions, looking to phronimi and following the guidance of the philosophers,
This would help you move towards eudaimonia.
By everyone achieving eudaimonia a polis can be created.
