virtue ethics Flashcards
What is Aristotle’s virtue ethics centred around?
Agent-centred, not act-centred
What is eudaemonia?
Happiness + eternal flourishing
What does everything have?
A function
What does goodness consist in? Give an example
Performing one’s function well
Even a knife’s goodness lies in its capacity to cut efficiently
What does every living thing have?
A soul
What does the nature of the soul determine? Give an example
Nature of the soul determines the function
A plant fulfils its function through taking in food + growing
What is unique about the human soul?
It’s capacity for rational thought
What does reasoning allow humans to do?
Attain goodness by exercising virtue
What are rational virtues?
They can be taught + are controlled by reason
What are non-rational virtues?
They are formed by repetition + imitating virtuous people
Give 3 examples of rational virtues
- Technical skill
- Scientific knowledge
- Phronesis (practical wisdom)
Give 3 examples of non-rational virtues
- Courage
- Modesty
- Generosity
What does the doctrine of the mean do?
Helps people act virtuously
What does practical wisdom steer people towards?
The mean of 2 extremes of excess or deficiency
What is the mean not?
A fixed point or rule
The mean is relative…
… to each individual
What is a phronimos?
A man of practical wisdom
What is it not possible to be?
It’s not possible to be virtuous by accident, ppl are only acting virtuously if they know what they’re doing
When are people acting/not acting virtuously?
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
What is essential to perform a virtuous action?
Proper intention
Name a modern day virtue ethicist and what virtue they value the most
Rosalind Hursthouse who argues for the virtue of compassion
Give 4 strengths of virtue ethics
- 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
Give 4 weaknesses of virtue ethics
- 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
What are Aristotle’s views on theft?
He denounces theft; there’s no excess/deficiency, its always the action of an unjust person
When might Aristotle’s views on theft seem harsh? But what do we need to consider
When applied to the situation of a starving child
But his teachings as addressed to his own social class: adult, free men
What is the excess + deficiency of truthfulness?
boastfulness + putting oneself down
What does Aristotle say truthfulness relates to?
How one fits into society
What does telling the truth often require acc to Aristotle?
Requires courage in admitting failings
What does Rosalind Hursthouse believe about the status of an embryo?
We can’t know at what stage personhood occurs
What would a compassionate person focus on in the issue of destruction of embryos?
Those who’s lives are ruined by infertility, Parkinson’s or life threatening genetic disorders
What is the hierarchy of souls?
Humans are above animals and plants in decision making
How may Aristotle respond to animal testing?
He may permit it if the purpose is to benefit human king
Why may Aristotle approve of todays genetic engineering?
It is undertaken with compassion, w the best interest of humans in mind
What did Aristotle take part in?
Animal dissection
What would Aristotle say about intensive farming
He may argue that it promotes the vice of greed bc it uses animals to produce an even larger amount of food
What did Rosalind Hursthouse say about blood sports?
It’s against the virtue of compassion + is purely for entertainment
What may Aristotle say about blood sports?
He may agree with Hursthouse
However he may claim that some blood sports require courage
What might modern virtue ethicists say about designer babies?
There’s a possibility it can lead to a rich/poor divide + therefore doesn’t exercise justice
What did Aristotle argue about abortion?
It may be permitted for the right reasons because it can benefit society in issues of overcrowding etc
What were Aristotle’s views on suicide?
He considered suicide to be cowardly
How may modern virtue ethicists view voluntary euthanasia/assisted suicide?
They would have a more understanding view towards it + some may argue it exercises courage
What were the views on assisted suicide/voluntary euthanasia in Ancient Greece?
The Hippocratic oath was signed by doctors, who agreed to never intentionally end a patients life
