Virtue Ethics Flashcards
Who came up with virtue ethics
Aristotle
What is virtue ethics
The focus on developing one’s moral character and not blind obedience to ethical codes. To develop virtuous habits
What is a virtue
A moral action
What is eudaemonia
Flourished, happiness
What are the two types of virtues
Intellectual: habits and moral: education
What were the 12 virtues?
Courage,temperance, liberality, magnificence, proper ambition, patience, truthfulness,wittiness, friendliness,modesty, righteous indignation
Why is ve called agent centred and teleological.
Agent centred: is the agent good or bad not the act
Teleological: based on facts
strengths of virtue ethics
1.It allows everyone too have the same chance and rules
2. It can be used by both non and religious people
3. It focuses on becoming a better person for society.
4. The theory makes us actually think about our actions and how good they are.
What is weakness’ of ve
1.Not even has the same idea of what is the perfect amount of each of the virtues
2. Who decides what’s good and bad
3. It’s not a practical guide
4. You may not have the right intentions whilst following the ve
Where was virtue ethics wrote?
In aristotles book nicochen.
What is the doctrine of the mean
The virtuos behaviour is the mean between extreme of excesses. This is called the doctrine of the mean which produces three type of person
What are the three persons
- Sophron: who naturally lives in the mean with no effort
- Enkrates: who is tempted but strong enough will power to live in the mean
- Akrates: who is weak and cannot live in the mean.
Quotes from Aristotle
“Happiness, then, is something final and self sufficient, and is the end of action”
“ it is no easy task to find the middle…wherefore goodness is both rare and laudable and noble”
“Virtue,then, is a state of character concerned with choice but lying is a mean…”
“Moral virtue comes as a result of habit”
Jesus and virtue ethics.
Some see Jesus’ teaching of the beatitudes as promoting virtue ethics .
They are different and less comprehensive than Aristotle’s list.
Jesus announces that’s those with these virtues are blessed because they will receive an award
Challenges too ve
- It is not a precise science - the idea of virtues is vague. It does not provide specific ethical norms for concrete ethical dilemmas such as abortion and war. This makes it difficult to apply.
- The notion of a specific virtue Is relative to individuals and cultures, making the theory arbitrary.
- Aristotle admitted himself it was difficult to define the mean; how can this be a suitable moral guide for society?
- As an arbitrary system it is open to abuse. For instance, one can be virtuous but commit acts which others would find immoral.
