Virtue Ethics Flashcards
What is a virtue?
A characteristic which is to be valued
What does it mean to be a virtuous person?
Knowing what the best thing to do in a situation all the time aswell as having good judgement
What is virtue ethics?
An ethical theory that emphasizes an individuals character rather than following a set of rules.
Agent-centered.
It’s important to look upto a role model and copy their behavior.
What is meant by “agent-centered”?
The idea that the good isn’t within the act but within the person instead
Who created virtue ethics?
Aristotle
Who was Aristotle?
384-322BCE.
A greek philosopher.
His writings include science, politics and morality.
He wrote “Nicomachaen Ethics” which concerns how we live.
How does Aristotle start “Nicomachean Ethics”?
“Every art, enquiry and action as well as choice, is held to aim at some good” which is a teleological claim that there is some final end to which all activities are directed.
Who was Aristotle’s audience?
Rich white highly educated men (politicians)
What do most people agree is the final end?
Happiness (Eudaimonia)
What is meant by eudaimonia for Aristotle?
the good for humans, defined
finally as the intellectual
virtue of theoria (scientific)
contemplation.
What are the different views on happiness?
Some say that happiness is pleasure but Aristotle rejects that.
Others say happiness is receiving political honour but can easily be lost.
Others says happiness is wealth but it is just a means to the end.
How does Aristotle argue his account of eudaimonia?
Through the function argument
What is a function?
Work or accomplishment.
What is the function argument?
Everything has a function and a thing is good if it fulfils it’s function and bad to the extent if it doesn’t
According the function argument, what is the souls function?
The human good is a function of the soul in accord to virtue
Why do we need to find the right human function?
We need to find the right function for humans, because whatever
the human function is, human goodness will be in fulfilling it.
How is virtue in humans defined?
Virtue in a human is defined by the natural characteristics of the human
soul