Virtue Ethics

Question 1

Virtue

Answer 1

A disposition which is to be valued

Question 2

Eudaimonia

Answer 2

that which is the good for humans, defined variously as: pleasure, honour, happiness, complete well-being

defined finally as the intellectual virtue of theoria - (scientific) contemplation

Question 3

The Function Argument

Answer 3

The human good is a function of the soul in accord with virtue

Question 4

What is virtue in a human?

Answer 4

Defined by the natural characteristics of the human soul - the form or blueprint of the body

Question 5

The function of humans

Answer 5

The exercise of reason/the rational part of the soul

Question 6

The two aspects of the human soul

Answer 6

rational and non-rational

Question 7

Types of virtues

Answer 7

intellectual
- the rational soul has intellectual virtues

moral
- the non-rational soul has moral virtues

Question 8

examples of moral virtues

Answer 8

courage, patience, modesty

Question 9

examples of intellectual virtues

Answer 9

• theoretical virtues (e.g., maths, physics, philosophy)
• practical virtues (e.g., understanding, judgement, practical wisdom)

intellectual virtues contribute most to the good life, as they are under the control of reason

Question 10

examples of intellectual virtues

Answer 10

• theoretical virtues (e.g., maths, physics, philosophy)
• practical virtues (e.g., understanding, judgement, practical wisdom)

intellectual virtues contribute most to the good life, as they are under the control of reason

Question 11

What must a virtuous person do?

Answer 11

• know what he/she is doing in any situation, and not act through ignorance
• choose to act virtuously

Question 12

The doctrine of the mean

Answer 12

A virtuous person must seek the middle way, between the two vices of excess and deficiency

Question 13

Strengths

Answer 13

• holistic: the whole personality is considered
• human-centred
• allows for moral judgement
• does not make the claim that there is a perfect solution for every moral problem, but instead equips people to deal with these problems
• has a teleological focus of eudaimonia
• doctrine of the mean means virtue ethics is flexible with regard to situations and persons
• sees human emotions as important

Question 14

Weaknesses

Answer 14

• ignores cultural relativism
• circular
• only good for individual morality, and not for politics and governments
• Function Argument commits the Fallacy of Composition
• anthropocentric
• people need laws in order to have an understanding of what they should and shouldn’t do - some will refuse to act virtuously
• virtuous people can be dull, and most people admire the kind of character that does not conform to rules or common ideas of virtue

Question 15

phronimos

Answer 15

the man of practical wisdom who is best qualified to define virtuous behaviour in any situation, his practical wisdom having been acquired by constant practice and habit

Question 16

the ‘nested’ hierarchy

Answer 16

Each level of the hierarchy has all the characteristics of the lower degrees, so humans possess all the functions and capabilities of plants and animals and possess rationality in addition to those

Question 17

altruism

Answer 17

love of others, as opposed to egoism (love of self)

Question 18

anthropocentric

Answer 18

human-centred

Question 19

function

Answer 19

[ergon] ‘work’, or ‘accomplishment’

something is ‘good’ if it fulfills its function

Question 20

temperance

Answer 20

the virtue of self-control
excess: licentiousness
deficiency: insensibility

Question 21

courage

Answer 21

the virtue in the field of fear and confidence
excess: foolhardiness
deficiency: cowardice

Question 22

justice

Answer 22

a virtue that concerns not just legality, but the whole system of law, rule and custom

1. distributional - proportional distribution of goods in a community
2. rectifying - restoring the distribution of gain and loss between two people

considers the good of others as an end in itself, and therefore an altruistic virtue

Question 23

friendship

Answer 23

Aristotle discusses three kinds of friendship, based on usefulness, pleasure and goodness

• altruistic virtue
• friendship based on goodness is the perfect type of friendship that exists between good men who are alike in excellence or virtue

Question 24

virtue and intention

Answer 24

• the agent must have a proper intention
• a proper intention does not include desire, wish or opinion
• one can only intend something which one has the power to do