virtue ethics

Question 1

What is Aristotle’s virtue ethics centred around?

Answer 1

Agent-centred, not act-centred

Question 2

What is eudaemonia?

Answer 2

Happiness + eternal flourishing

Question 3

What does everything have?

Answer 3

A function

Question 4

What does goodness consist in? Give an example

Answer 4

Performing one’s function well
Even a knife’s goodness lies in its capacity to cut efficiently

Question 5

What does every living thing have?

Answer 5

A soul

Question 6

What does the nature of the soul determine? Give an example

Answer 6

Nature of the soul determines the function
A plant fulfils its function through taking in food + growing

Question 7

What is unique about the human soul?

Answer 7

It’s capacity for rational thought

Question 8

What does reasoning allow humans to do?

Answer 8

Attain goodness by exercising virtue

Question 9

What are rational virtues?

Answer 9

They can be taught + are controlled by reason

Question 10

What are non-rational virtues?

Answer 10

They are formed by repetition + imitating virtuous people

Question 11

Give 3 examples of rational virtues

Answer 11

• Technical skill
• Scientific knowledge
• Phronesis (practical wisdom)

Question 12

Give 3 examples of non-rational virtues

Answer 12

• Courage
• Modesty
• Generosity

Question 13

What does the doctrine of the mean do?

Answer 13

Helps people act virtuously

Question 14

What does practical wisdom steer people towards?

Answer 14

The mean of 2 extremes of excess or deficiency

Question 15

What is the mean not?

Answer 15

A fixed point or rule

Question 16

The mean is relative…

Answer 16

… to each individual

Question 17

What is a phronimos?

Answer 17

A man of practical wisdom

Question 18

What is it not possible to be?

Answer 18

It’s not possible to be virtuous by accident, ppl are only acting virtuously if they know what they’re doing

Question 19

When are people acting/not acting virtuously?

Answer 19

Ppl act virtuously if the act is a reasoned choice
They aren’t acting virtuously is their act is motivated by desire or impressing others

Question 20

What is essential to perform a virtuous action?

Answer 20

Proper intention

Question 21

Name a modern day virtue ethicist and what virtue they value the most

Answer 21

Rosalind Hursthouse who argues for the virtue of compassion

Question 22

Give 4 strengths of virtue ethics

Answer 22

• It is agent centred + includes the whole person
• Emphasis on practical wisdom encourages use of moral judgement
• It accepts the fact that there’s not always a perfect answer
• It allows for making mistakes

Question 23

Give 4 weaknesses of virtue ethics

Answer 23

• Was created in Ancient Greece + may not fit well w todays ethics, science + tech
• The anthropocentric nature ignores interests around animals
• Lack of clear guidance makes it too vague for some people
• Most governments can’t make national/international judgements based on individual character

Question 24

What are Aristotle’s views on theft?

Answer 24

He denounces theft; there’s no excess/deficiency, its always the action of an unjust person

Question 25

When might Aristotle’s views on theft seem harsh? But what do we need to consider

Answer 25

When applied to the situation of a starving child
But his teachings as addressed to his own social class: adult, free men

Question 26

What is the excess + deficiency of truthfulness?

Answer 26

boastfulness + putting oneself down

Question 27

What does Aristotle say truthfulness relates to?

Answer 27

How one fits into society

Question 28

What does telling the truth often require acc to Aristotle?

Answer 28

Requires courage in admitting failings

Question 29

What does Rosalind Hursthouse believe about the status of an embryo?

Answer 29

We can’t know at what stage personhood occurs

Question 30

What would a compassionate person focus on in the issue of destruction of embryos?

Answer 30

Those who’s lives are ruined by infertility, Parkinson’s or life threatening genetic disorders

Question 31

What is the hierarchy of souls?

Answer 31

Humans are above animals and plants in decision making

Question 32

How may Aristotle respond to animal testing?

Answer 32

He may permit it if the purpose is to benefit human king

Question 33

Why may Aristotle approve of todays genetic engineering?

Answer 33

It is undertaken with compassion, w the best interest of humans in mind

Question 34

What did Aristotle take part in?

Answer 34

Animal dissection

Question 35

What would Aristotle say about intensive farming

Answer 35

He may argue that it promotes the vice of greed bc it uses animals to produce an even larger amount of food

Question 36

What did Rosalind Hursthouse say about blood sports?

Answer 36

It’s against the virtue of compassion + is purely for entertainment

Question 37

What may Aristotle say about blood sports?

Answer 37

He may agree with Hursthouse
However he may claim that some blood sports require courage

Question 38

What might modern virtue ethicists say about designer babies?

Answer 38

There’s a possibility it can lead to a rich/poor divide + therefore doesn’t exercise justice

Question 39

What did Aristotle argue about abortion?

Answer 39

It may be permitted for the right reasons because it can benefit society in issues of overcrowding etc

Question 40

What were Aristotle’s views on suicide?

Answer 40

He considered suicide to be cowardly

Question 41

How may modern virtue ethicists view voluntary euthanasia/assisted suicide?

Answer 41

They would have a more understanding view towards it + some may argue it exercises courage

Question 42

What were the views on assisted suicide/voluntary euthanasia in Ancient Greece?

Answer 42

The Hippocratic oath was signed by doctors, who agreed to never intentionally end a patients life