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Virtue Ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What does character bases mean

A

More of a focus on what kind of person should I be rather then what should I do

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2
Q

Eudaimonia

A

That which is good for humans.

The supreme goal for human life. Ultimate happiness through doing good deeds

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3
Q

What is a vice

A

Bad qualities or immoral behaviour habits that a person possesses

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4
Q

How do you become virtuous

A

Practice the virtues until they become effortless

Act in a way to help you become morally perfect over time

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5
Q

What is VE concerned with

A

The development of ones character

Not the actions duties or consequences as much

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6
Q

What is virtue ethics based on

Where does it come from

A

Ancient Greek literature
Heroic society
People judged by their deeds
morally you are what you do

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7
Q

Basic principle of virtue ethics

A

Cultivating good deeds

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8
Q

What is the aim of VE

A

For every person to reach the ultimate good (eudaimonia)

Achieving happiness through being virtuous and doing good acts

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9
Q

Who came up with virtue ethics

A

Aristotle

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10
Q

What does it mean by virtue ethics as agent centred

A

There are no rules only the focus of the development of a character

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11
Q

Ehat is the unique aspect of the human soul

A

Ability to exercise reason

Humans difference to animals what makes us unique

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12
Q

What is the difference between the rational and irrational soul

A

Rational - calculative and scientific (factual knowledge) reason
Irrational - contains desiring (distinguish between wants and needs) and vegetive (basic needs)

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13
Q

Why can only voluntary actions be virtuous

A

Intention has to be pure in order to be virtuous

for example to help an old woman across the street is virtuous but not if it’s to impress someone

Must make a deliberate choice through reason nobody can be virtuous on accident

cannot make a decision through desire wish or opinion

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14
Q

Function

A

Work or accomplishment

something is good if it fulfils it’s function

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15
Q

Hierarchy

A

System in which the party members of went according to status authority

Aristotle refers to the hierarchy of souls- in which humans rank highest as they possess rationality and ability to reason

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16
Q

What was the hierarchy Aristotle believed in

A

Philosophers
Politicians
People

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17
Q

What is the philosophers role in society according to Aristotle

A

To work out what virtues should be extolled in a society and to be mindful of any vices that could develop

Then informed the politicians

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18
Q

What is the politicians role in society according to Aristotle

A

Their Job to nurture society in which these virtues develop and vices do not

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19
Q

What is the peoples role in society according to Aristotle

A

To live up to and develop these virtues within themselves and within the community

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20
Q

What were the three types of happiness Aristotle believed people could be

A

Pleasure seekers
Seekers of honour
Those who love contemplation

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21
Q

Define a pleasure Seeker

A

People who are driven by the basic desires and simply live from one pleasurable experience to the next

E.g. eating food sleeping drinking and having sex

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22
Q

Define seekers of honour 

A

Aristotle saw politicians as seekers of honour

These are people who try to find solutions to important problems and get a sense of honour from doing that

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23
Q

Define those who love contemplation

A

These are philosophers and thinkers

For Aristotle the intellectual virtues of contemplation is the highest good for humanity

Reason is the highest aspect of human life

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24
Q

What is virtue ethics also known as

A

Aretaic ethics

Meaning excellence or virtue

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25
What does aristotle argue all humans have
A telos All humans are aiming for something positive in the way that they behave they want to bring about good consequences and this is a teleological viewpoint
26
How does Aristotle‘s see eudaimonia
Happiness the supreme goal of human life Is achieved when we become virtuous This is the process that we grow towards by practising virtues Practice makes perfect
27
What are superior aims
Those that focus on the end goal The aim is that good for oneself in humanity
28
What are subordinate aims
The means of getting to the end goal The aim will be the growth of one’s character through practising virtues
29
Give an example that draws the distinction between superior and subordinate aims
``` Why do I study ethics To get a qualification I get the qualification to get a good job I want a good job because… (These are subordinate aims) ``` At some point you would have to say because that would make me happy This is the superior aim
30
What is the function argument
All objects have a Telos An object is good when it properly secured it’s Telos The telos of a human being is to reason The good for a human being is therefore acting in accordance with reason
31
What is the quote that Aristotle uses that separates mankind from the rest of the world
Humans are rational animals
32
What is the order for the hierarchy of | souls
Humans Animals Plants
33
How is a plantS soul characterised
Nutrition and growth
34
How is an animal soul characterised
Nutrition and growth Movement Low-level thought
35
How is a human soul characterised
Nutrition and growth Movement Reason
36
What did Aristotle say about humans in the hierarchy of souls
Pleasure alone cannot result in height happiness because animals are driven by the pursuit of pleasure Aristotle believed that man has greater capacity is an animals This is why humans are rational animals Humans can reason well and best when they exercise virtues moral excellence
37
What are the two parts of the soul
Rational – logic facts and truth | Irrational – wants desires and needs
38
What virtues are developed in the rational part of the soul
Intellectual virtues– Qualities developed through instruction Theological virtues – Philosophy and science Practical virtues – wisdom and judgement
39
What virtues are developed in the irrational part of the soul
Moral virtues Are cultivated by habit To become a generous person I must get into the habit of being generous They are guided by the rational soul
40
What are the two ways a human can practice aiming for a good telos
By behaving in a balanced way – considering the two extremes of our actions and following the middle path Following a virtuous teacher who performs virtuous actions so is a morally good person
41
Key quotes from Aristotle about habitual virtues
Anything that we have to learn to do we learn by the actual doing of it
42
Sum up how happiness is acquired
By habituation and constant practice of virtuous actions Eventually moral excellence becomes effortless/ innate
43
Mean
The median – specific virtues lie between the two extreams - the excess and deficiency The mean is relative to the disposition of an individual
44
Phronimos
The man of practical wisdom who in Aristotle system is best qualified to define virtuous behaviour in any situation His practical wisdom was acquired by constant practice and habit
45
Why is developing virtues are necessary for Aristotle
Qualities enable people to live together Only when those qualities are displayed can everyone enjoy happiness because they were necessary for one’s development as a social being developing the virtues is necessary feature of living alongside others – it is therefore social political and moral feature of life not just a personal
46
Why should using reason for a good life not be done in isolation
We are all part of communities and should concern ourselves the overall well-being of society Aristotle called us social animals meaning our well-being, our sense of the good life and a flourishing is bound with our communities flourishing
47
What are the two categories of virtues
Moral virtues | Intellectual virtues
48
What are moral virtues
Qualities of character e.g. bravery These are practised, habitual Learned through experience
49
What are intellectual virtues
Qualities of the mind | They are taught and improved by instructions
50
List are startles five intellectual virtues
Practical Wisdom/prudence - ability to learn from one’s mistakes Intuitive intelligence -developing the ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong Wisdom - having good life experience Scientific knowledge - ability to understand and test facts Art and craft - special skills we are trained in 
51
What is the Golden mean
Refers to the actions that are virtuous It is in the centre between two extremes known as vices The vice of deficiency and the vice of excess 
52
What is the vice of deficiency
Having too little of one characteristic
53
What is vice of excess
Having too much of ones characteristics
54
Is virtue ethics a flexible ethical approach
Aristotle recognised it was unlikely for people to hit the gold mean first time – appealing theory because it shows humans can get things wrong Must learn from mistakes and adjust behaviour Balance between moral and intellectual virtues is essential as they work together to fully guide human to the Telos Intellectual virtues help us exercise our reason to work out what we have done wrong If we followed moral virtues slavishly without intellectual values we would be robotic
55
What did Aristotle believe about intentions
An act is only virtuous if the motives are virtuous in themselves The intention must be genuine and they must understand what they are doing – you can never accidentally be virtuous Acting virtuously is thinking about the action and making reasoned choice
56
What did Aristotle say about justice and friendship
Neither have extremes of excess or deficiency | Both altruistic - means love of others opposed to love of self
57
What does Aristotle say on justice
Justice is concerned with fairness Means to make sure all goods in the community should be distributed so each person receives what is proportionate to his merit
58
What does Aristotle say on friendship
Import and social virtue that needed to be developed within society as a whole to encourage personal as well as societal and altruistic flourishing Friendship as a virtue will develop the person but will also by nature develop the friend as long as both continue to cultivate and develop the virtues
59
List three virtues
Courage Truth and sincerity Modesty
60
Describe the virtue courage and the two vices
Vice of deficiency – cowardice – being too afraid to act Courage – doing the right thing when necessary Vice of Excess – Rashness – acting without thinking
61
Describe the virtue sincerity and the two vices
Vice of deficiency – self-depreciation – constantly belittling one’s own achievements Virtue – truth – being sincere about yourself Vice of excess - boastful - boast about own achievements 
62
Describe modesty and the two vices
Vice of excess - shameless- no shame to cations Virtue - modest - modest about achievements Vice of deficiency - bashful - overly embarrassed about ones behaviour
63
TheoriA
Intellectual virtues of contemplation | Which are still finally decides constitutes the good life for humans
64
Voluntary action
Action brought about by the will
65
What is the basic premise of virtue ethics
To act in a way that allows One to become a better person
66
What is a hybrid theory
The theory that shares traits with deontology and teleology
67
What society is Aristotle form
Ancient Greek
68
What actions are always wrong according to Aristotle
Theft Murder Adultery
69
What is flourishing
When everyone in society is aiming for eudaimonia 
70
What does Aristotle mean when he says theoria is highest good
Reason in intelligence is the highest aspect of human life | Contemplation of the world brings the greatest happiness
71
What does Peter Vardy say on virtue ethics
Outdated | Can we really base our moral principles on the idea of a wealthy straight rich white male who existed a millennia ago
72
What does Peter Singer say on virtue ethics
Anthropomorphic basis of this theory is another subject of virtue ethics controversy Ignores the capacity of reason they can be found on animals
73
Deontix ethics are irrelevant according to anscombe
It’s boring Provides a list of thou shall nots Uninspiring on terms of trying to get people to be good
74
Strengths of virtue ethics
No strict rules to follow as rules don’t always make you a good person just blindly obedient Maintain integrity – true to our values Realistic - sometimes get it wrong and need to try again - this is accepted and expected
75
Weaknesses of virtue ethics
Subjective – no specific guidance on how to act, decide for ourselves Conflict – virtues can come into conflict with each other for example you can’t choose to be kind and honest at the same time and virtue ethics doesn’t tell us how to choose which virtue Anthro-centric - Put humans at the top of the hierarchy animal right supporters would disagree

Ethics ALEVEL (5 decks)

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