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Ethics > virtue ethics > Flashcards

virtue ethics Flashcards

1
Q

what is the eudaimonia

A
  • the fulfilled life
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2
Q

what is aristotles function argument

A
  • everything has a function and goodness depends on performing that function well
  • everything living has a soul and the nature of the soul determines the function
  • the human soul is unique because it has the capacity for rational thought and reason
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3
Q

what are the two parts to the soul

A
  • rational
  • non rational
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4
Q

what are the 5 primary intellectual virtues in the rational part of the soul

A
  • technical skills
  • scientific knowledge
  • practical wisdom
  • intelligence
  • theoretical wisdom
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5
Q

what are the 4 secondary virtues

A
  • resourcefulness
  • understanding
  • judgement
  • cleverness
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6
Q

what are the three features of the rational part of the soul

A
  • the nine intellectual virtues
  • these can be taught
  • they are controlled by reason so contribute most to the virtuous life
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7
Q

what are 5 moral virtues

A
  • courage
  • temperance
  • generosity
  • friendliness
  • modesty
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8
Q

what are the three features of the non rational part of the soul

A
  • the 12 moral virtues
  • they are formed by repetition, practice and imitating virtuous people
  • these virtues are directed by the rational soul, especially by practical wisdom
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9
Q

what is the doctrine of the mean

A
  • helps people act virtuously
  • emotions can be excessive or deficient, so practical wisdom steers a person to the mean between the two extremes: this is where the moral virtues lie
  • the mean is not a fixed point or rule. it is relative to the individual and takes in the context. (when getting attacked it would not be appropriate for a soldier to respond with restraint)
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10
Q

why is proper intention important in virtue ethics

A
  • people are only acting virtuously if they know what they are doing (risking your life without knowing your risking your life doesn’t count)
  • people are also only acting virtuously if their act is a reasoned choice
  • a proper intention is essential to a virtuous action
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11
Q

what is theoria

A
  • the intellectual virtue of contemplation
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12
Q

why is theoria the highest good for humans

A
  • it leads to eudaimonia for three reasons
    1. reason/intelligence is the highest aspect of
      human life, particularly when used in
      learning
    2. contemplation of the world leads to the
      greatest happiness and because it is done
      for its own sake, it is intrinsically good
    3. theoretical reasoning is essentially
      contemplation of the divine whereas
      practical reason is only human
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13
Q

why do people disagree with Aristotles view on the highest human good

A
  • it is seen as a subjective judgement, arising out of Aristotles personal inclinations
  • most people do not have the opportunity for the contemplation he referred to
  • some see human flourishing in terms of a well rounded character, with no virtue superior to another
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14
Q

strengths of virtue ethics

A
  • it includes and develops the whole person (intellectual and character)
  • it is person centered rather than focused on rules
  • it allows for making mistakes
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15
Q

weaknesses of virtue ethics

A
  • its ethnocentric and doesn’t account for the variety of different cultures
  • its anthropocentric and ignores the needs of animals
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16
Q

how would virtue ethics apply to theft

A
  • aristotle denounced all theft as a base action. its included in the list of actions that has no mean
  • when applied to the situation of a starving child it seems harsh however VE was addressed to his own ruling class where this would not be an issue.
    • he may have seen taking what was needed
      to prevent starvation as an act of justice not
      theft
17
Q

how would virtue ethics apply to lying

A
  • lying would seem to contradict Aristotles moral virtue of truthfulness however unlike theft, truthfulness does have a mean
  • in some circumstances, friendship, loyalty and honour might require a lie to be told
18
Q

how would virtue ethics respond to issues around embryo research, cloning and designer babies

A
  • germline therapy could show a vice of too much courage, leading to recklessness
  • it might seem callous and not virtuous (compassionate) to not prevent the birth of a child with a painful condition
19
Q

how would virtue ethics apply to abortion

A
  • aristotle stated that abortion ‘before sense and life have begun’ should take place if there were too many children
  • this was a social rather than moral judgement
20
Q

how does virtue ethics apply to euthanasia

A
  • aristotle regarded murder as a vice without a mean
  • he presumably agreed with the hippocratic oath
  • however an integral part of the definition of murder is that its unwanted
  • even so aristotle opposed suicide as it was a cowardly vice
21
Q

how does virtue ethics apply to capital punishment

A
  • it applies to the virtue of justice
  • the killing of murderers might be justified on the grounds that they pose a threat to the security of society
  • Aristotle would have seen it as restoring a balance
  • he might have seen murderers as being motivated by vices like greed deserving of the ultimate punishment
22
Q

how does virtue ethics apply to issues involving animals

A
  • using modern practices of intensive farming might be incompatible with being virtuous because the ethos of making large amounts of money is greedy, mistreating animals isnt compassionate and is unjust
  • cloning and animal testing is virtuous and he even dissected animals in his own research
  • hard to justify blood sports

Ethics (7 decks)

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