S10 - Aristotle

Question 1

What are three main principle of virtue ethics according to Aristotle?

Answer 1

1. The ethics of Aristotle as the search for the common good, for the good life. Ethics consist of living a good life everyday. Having a virtuous character is the key to achieve this objective.
2. The teleological thought / The telos (purpose, objective, ultimate goal). Meritocracy: we receive what we deserve based on merits/virtue.
3. Ethics refers more to the individual and his character than to his specific actions

Question 2

Are ethics virtue neutral?

Answer 2

No, it is an ethics that is not neutral (vs Kant), which involves a judgment.

Question 3

What is a virtue according to Aristotle? Examples?

Answer 3

Virtues: honourable; linked to moral merit.

Prudence, justice, courage and self-control are examples of basic virtues.

Question 4

What is virtuousness according to Aristotle? What fosters virtual acts?

Answer 4

Virtuousness: What individuals aspire to be when they are at their very best (highest of the human condition,).

Contemplation (self-reflection) fosters virtual acts; and performing virtual acts leads one to become virtuous.

Question 5

What is the Doctrine of the Mean?

Answer 5

A tendency or disposition that lies between vices of deficiency and vices of excess.

Extreme behaviours are often unethical.

Virtues connected with strong feelings, beliefs and convictions… BUT these must be drawn on in ways that are appropriate to a situation.
Ex.: amount of anger proportionate to the act.

Question 6

What is the main strenght of the doctrine of the mean?

Answer 6

The strength of this doctrine lies in its heuristic qualities:

The doctrine help
- Show what is attractive about the virtues
- Systematize our understanding of which qualities are virtues

Once we see that generally recognized characteristics (ex.: temperance, courage) are mean states, we are in a position to generalize and to identify other mean states as virtues, even though they are not qualities for which we have a name.

Question 7

How can practical wisdom be learned?

Answer 7

The idea of “practical wisdom” cannot be learned through the study of rules, but rather acquired through practice.

Question 8

Why is the philosophy of Virtue Ethics often criticized?

Answer 8

1. Subjectivity of the evaluation of virtues (not neutral, involves a judgment)
2. Virtues varies according to the different cultures

Question 9

What is justice according to Aristotle?

Answer 9

Giving people what they morally deserve:

Allocating goods to reward and promote virtue.