Virtue Ethics Flashcards
Define ‘Virtue’
A positive characteristic that suggests moral excellence or goodness.
Define ‘Eudaimonia’
A contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous.
What was Aristotle’s understanding of happiness?
He believed happiness was the goal and purpose of life. He understood it in three different ways:
- Happiness as a life of enjoyment of pleasure
- Happiness as a free member of society
- Happiness as a philosopher
How are intellectual virtues developed?
By training yourself and being educated.
How are moral virtues developed?
By practice and habit.
What is the most important social virtue according to Aristotle and why?
Friendship is the most important social virtue because it will develop the person, but will also by nature develop the friend and therefore allow personal as well as societal flourishing.
What are the four cardinal virtues?
- Temperance
- Justice
- Courage
- Practical Wisdom
Define ‘Agent-centered’ ethics
Ethical approaches that are focused on the development of the person rather than on the morality of what they are doing.
Why is Virtue ethics classed as an agent centered ethics?
Because it focuses on the person performing the action, rather than the actions that they perform - moral actions performed may be right or wrong, it doesn’t matter as long as the person is developing his/hers virtues.
What is the purpose of being a virtuous person, according to Aristotle?
The achievement of eudaimonia.
What does one have to do if he wants to develop a virtue?
He must work at it and practice it. He also needs to make sure to maintain the proficiency in this virtue.
‘If you don’t use it, you lose it’
What is the impact upon society from practicing your virtues?
As people are practicing the virtues it will in turn cause the society to become more moral and therefore a much more virtuous and just place to live.
What is meant by the ‘vice of deficiency’?
It is the distinct lack of virtues.
What is meant by the ‘vice of excess’?
It is entirely too much of the virtue.
Define the Doctrine of the mean (golden mean)
The desirable middle between the two extremes.
What is the vice of deficiency/excess of the virtue - courage?
Vice of deficiency = Cowardice
Vice of excess = Rashness
What is the vice of deficiency/excess of the virtue - Right ambition?
Vice of deficiency = Unambitiousness
Vice of excess = Over-ambition
What is the vice of deficiency/excess of the virtue - Modesty?
Vice of deficiency = Shamelessness
Vice of excess = Bashfulness
Why should we look up to virtuous role models?
Because they provide an example for our own development and progression in attaining the virtues.
They can provide a inspiration and guidance in situations where difficult moral decisions need to be made.
However, virtuous people are not expected to be illustrations of perfect people, but they are a challenge for us to aspire to greater moral heights and to become the best we possibly can.
Why can Jesus be considered as a role model?
Jesus’ life was very virtuous; he showed compassion towards those who others rejected, he demonstrated righteous anger in the Temple courts, he showed great wisdom in dealing with the adulterous woman and great patience with his disciples.
What are the strengths of Virtue Ethics?
- Virtue ethics appeals to both secular and religious morality.
- It encourages people to do good for its own sake.
- It applies to real-life situations and doesn’t have a set of rules.
- It encourages us to become better people.
What are the weaknesses of Virtue ethics?
- Susan Wolf claims that if everyone is virtuous, then there will be no variety or excitement in the world.
- Aristotle gives no guidance in situations where virtues conflict.
- It is a rather selfish theory, which places greater emphasis on personal development than the effect our actions have on others.
- Some virtues can be incorrectly used to perform immoral actions.
Finish this quote: “We are inquiring not in order to know what virtue is but in order to…”
“… become good”
What is meant by “arete”?
It is the Greek word for “virtue”
According to Aristotle, how can you achieve eudaimonia?
Eudaimonia is intrinsic - the only way to truly achieve it is to truly deserve it; by having worked tirelessly to develop the virtuous character traits and quelling the negative ones.
What is the advantage of having a virtuous role model to look up to?
Role models, such as Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr, can provide inspiration and guidance in situations where difficult decisions need to be made.
Role models don’t have to be perfect, but challenge us to aspire to be better people due to their performance of the virtues.
What are the three additional cardinal virtues which Plato encouraged?
Faith, Hope, and Charity
