VE

Question 1

“Heroic society”

Answer 1

People were judged by deeds. Became known having good/bad character. Morally, “You are what you do”

Question 2

Eudaimonia

Answer 2

Ultimate happiness through living a virtuous life.

Question 3

Flourishing society

Answer 3

-refers to society where everyone is bale to exercise their ability to strive for eudaemonia

Question 4

Why is V.E hybrid?

Answer 4

• Hybrid theories synthesise teleological + deontological aspects.
• Telos - humans do have ultimate purpose according to Aristotle, Argued perfect telos for people to achieve through “eudaemonia”, meaning ultimate happiness through doing good deeds.
• Deontological; there are some set rules proposed by Aristotle eg: always wrong to steal, as it prevents society from flourishing.

Question 5

Basic principles

Answer 5

Basic intention:

• learn how to be a better person, theory suggests a good person is 1 who does good deeds, thus a person needs to consider both actions + intentions when meeting this.
• In things they do; should think of questions “ how can I be a better person”

Role of a teacher:
-Tells people to find a moral teacher who exhibits virtuous behaviour + to learn from them first. VE could be seen to have room for teachings of work religions, despite Aristotle being atheistic.

Learning from mistakes;
Theory = realistic, allows growing pains that comes with learning morality- when people make mistake , it is how they correct behaviour in future makes them virtuous.

Question 6

Explain nature + role of intellectual virtues

Answer 6

Achieve eudaemonia + live virtuous life, Aristotle claims 5 intellectual virtues ;

1) Prudence/ practical wisdom- ability to learn from mistake.
2) Intuitive intelligence - Developing ability between right + wrong
3) Wisdom- having good life experience
4) Scientific evidence- ability to understand + test facts.
5) art/craft - special skills + arts that we are trained in.

Question 7

Why the theory is realistic?

Answer 7

Role of leisure time:
A.MacIntyre
Other theories don’t allow for leisure time, spending money or time on oneself.
- VE most realistic theory allows people to have time for themselves, as more likely to lead to eudaemonia + helps society overall.
-EXample;
Cinema- tel and del theories suggest a man with money should give money to charity, rather than spending money on trip to cinema . Sometimes VE is appropriate to look after oneself, so occasional leisure time is acceptable.

Question 8

Strengths of Virtue ethics

Answer 8

1) not set of rules to follow, V.E is a part of everyday life, Aquila’s believes any human action is moral action helping to form our moral character.
2) Gives people hope, as they have the potential to learn to be moral.
3) Although, secular could be argued it fits with Christian teaching: people should be more Christ- like + develop their behaviour to follow Jesus.
4) Can apply to atheists, good for society as a whole, unlike, S.E that is exclusively Christian.

Question 9

Weaknesses of virtue ethics

Answer 9

1) Annas, 1992, Virtue ethics is too “nostalgic” + focuses too much on feelings of happiness + charity, while ignoring hard ethical cases + moral dilemmas. Eg: euthanasia
2) Outdated; based on principle from Ancient Greece.
3) Times where the “unity of virtues” seems impossible, + its not clear how to realistically uphold characteristics of Golden mean at the same time.
4) The focus is on personal development, there is not much room for self-sacrifice in theory, depriving oneself so others can be happy.
5) External acts appear virtuous may have unvirtuous inner motives + vice versa.

Question 10

What is virtue ethics?

Answer 10

• synthesis of teleological + deontological