Virtue Ethics

Question 1

Define ‘Virtue’

Answer 1

A positive characteristic that suggests moral excellence or goodness.

Question 2

Define ‘Eudaimonia’

Answer 2

A contented state of being happy, healthy and prosperous.

Question 3

What was Aristotle’s understanding of happiness?

Answer 3

He believed happiness was the goal and purpose of life. He understood it in three different ways:

1. Happiness as a life of enjoyment of pleasure
2. Happiness as a free member of society
3. Happiness as a philosopher

Question 4

How are intellectual virtues developed?

Answer 4

By training yourself and being educated.

Question 5

How are moral virtues developed?

Answer 5

By practice and habit.

Question 6

What is the most important social virtue according to Aristotle and why?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What are the four cardinal virtues?

Answer 7

1. Temperance
2. Justice
3. Courage
4. Practical Wisdom

Question 8

Define ‘Agent-centered’ ethics

Answer 8

Ethical approaches that are focused on the development of the person rather than on the morality of what they are doing.

Question 9

Why is Virtue ethics classed as an agent centered ethics?

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

What is the purpose of being a virtuous person, according to Aristotle?

Answer 10

The achievement of eudaimonia.

Question 11

What does one have to do if he wants to develop a virtue?

Answer 11

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’

Question 12

What is the impact upon society from practicing your virtues?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What is meant by the ‘vice of deficiency’?

Answer 13

It is the distinct lack of virtues.

Question 14

What is meant by the ‘vice of excess’?

Answer 14

It is entirely too much of the virtue.

Question 15

Define the Doctrine of the mean (golden mean)

Answer 15

The desirable middle between the two extremes.

Question 16

What is the vice of deficiency/excess of the virtue - courage?

Answer 16

Vice of deficiency = Cowardice

Vice of excess = Rashness

Question 17

What is the vice of deficiency/excess of the virtue - Right ambition?

Answer 17

Vice of deficiency = Unambitiousness

Vice of excess = Over-ambition

Question 18

What is the vice of deficiency/excess of the virtue - Modesty?

Answer 18

Vice of deficiency = Shamelessness

Vice of excess = Bashfulness

Question 19

Why should we look up to virtuous role models?

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Why can Jesus be considered as a role model?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

What are the strengths of Virtue Ethics?

Answer 21

1. Virtue ethics appeals to both secular and religious morality.
2. It encourages people to do good for its own sake.
3. It applies to real-life situations and doesn’t have a set of rules.
4. It encourages us to become better people.

Question 22

What are the weaknesses of Virtue ethics?

Answer 22

1. Susan Wolf claims that if everyone is virtuous, then there will be no variety or excitement in the world.
2. Aristotle gives no guidance in situations where virtues conflict.
3. It is a rather selfish theory, which places greater emphasis on personal development than the effect our actions have on others.
4. Some virtues can be incorrectly used to perform immoral actions.

Question 23

Finish this quote: “We are inquiring not in order to know what virtue is but in order to…”

Answer 23

“… become good”

Question 24

What is meant by “arete”?

Answer 24

It is the Greek word for “virtue”

Question 25

According to Aristotle, how can you achieve eudaimonia?

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

What is the advantage of having a virtuous role model to look up to?

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

What are the three additional cardinal virtues which Plato encouraged?

Answer 27

Faith, Hope, and Charity