virtue ethics

Question 1

U + D are act centred
VE is agent centred
what does this mean

Answer 1

• U+D=moral value of acts
• VE = character of a person and what it means to be a good or bad person

Question 2

utilitarianism

Answer 2

an act is considered good if its consequences bring about the best possible outcome for the greatest number of people

Question 3

deontology

Answer 3

an act is considered good or bad depending on the intentions of the individual doing the action
- must be an act done out of duty

Question 4

what does aristotle claim is the final cause for humans

Answer 4

• to live a happy life with virtue and reasoning
• eudiamonia/flourishing
  —> the only thing people desire in and of itself

Question 5

what are the 4 causes - chalice example

Answer 5

• material cause - what an object is made out of - silver
• formal cause - essence of the object - chalice shape
• final cause - end goal - use in religious ceremony/to drink out of
• efficient cause - what made the object - silversmith

Question 6

why is Aristotle’s claim of eudaimonia objective rather than subjective

Answer 6

-it is something we aim for in virtue of being a human being
- we cannot choose to have this final end
- it doesn’t change with time

Question 7

what are eudoxus’ 4 reasons for why pleasure is the ultimate good

Answer 7

• all things aim at pleasure
• all things avoid the opposite of pleasure - pain
• we choose pleasure for its own sake
• any other good can be improved upon if you add pleasure

Question 8

how does Aristotle argue against eudoxus’ 4th point that any other goo can be improved on by adding pleasure

Answer 8

• pleasure is not the ultimate good because it can be added on and improved
• eudaimonia cannot be improved upon
• animals also experience pleasure so it is not unique to humans
• impossible to get pleasure from immoral acts —> sadistic torture
• so someone whose life is filled with pleasure and happiness may have a bad character

Question 9

what is a function

Answer 9

that which a thing does which characterises it as that thing
- function of an eye is to see
- something functions well if it can perform this activity well

Question 10

what is the function of a human being and how does this link to our final cause to flourish - Aristotle

Answer 10

• to be guided by reason
• the function of something allows it to fulfil its purpose so being guided by reason will help us flourish

Question 11

what is the formal version of the function argument
P1)P2)P3)C1)P4)C2)

Answer 11

P1) the function of a thing is its characteristic form of activity
P2) being alive or perception cannot be the function of humans as this is shared wit animals
P3) being guided by reason is distinctive to humans
C1) therefore the function of a human being is to be guided by reason
P4)a human is good if they perform this function well
C2) therefore, a good human lives a life guided by reason

Question 12

what is practical wisdom and how does this link to our function/final purpose

Answer 12

• PW = the ability to make the right decision at the right time in the right context in relation to the right people, with the right means, achieving the right ends
  —> deliberately vague so it can be easily applicated to many situations
• ability to make appropriate decisions in each situation means being well guided by reason

Question 13

what is a virtue with an example and what is a vice

Answer 13

• virtues aid the function of an object, vices stop it
• virtue of a knife is sharpness
• virtues are positive characteristic dispositions
• dispositions are tendencies to act in a specific way