Virtue Ethics (3) Flashcards
What is a virtue theory
ethical theory that emphasises the importance of a persons character rather than following a set of rules.
If we focus on being good people, good actions follow
Proper functioning
Because we are animals we must grow be healthy and be fertile. But because we are also the ‘rational animal’ and a social one our function also involves using reason and getting along with our pack.
virtue is a ‘practical wisdom’, a skill you practise and learn. You can do this with other people who already posses virtue ( moral exemplars), to follow in their steps.
What’s the doctrine of the mean
- choosing the ‘golden mean’ = the midpoint between the two extremes of vices
- extremes of excess and deficiency
Eg:
Courage is the midpoint between cowardice ( deficiency of courage ) and the excess of courage ( recklessness )
Part of having courage is being able to recognise the right way to act.
To act with temperance (self control)
Why be virtuous
You will reach eudamonia
Eudaimonia = a life well lived, human flourishing. A Eudaimonistic life means you will have a happy life because you will push yourself and accomplish and push yourself to your best self.
This is morality for Aristotle, pushing to be the best person you are whilst working on your weaknesses.
“ Therefore a good life is not the kind in which we eat, reproduce, move or remeber, but how we excessive reason well. “
Eudamonia quote
“activity of the soul in accord with virtue, and if there are several virtues, then in accors to the best and most complete one.”
Quote for reason
“ Therefore a good life is not the kind in which we eat, reproduce, move or remeber, but how we excessive reason well. “
All parts of the soul:
Rational> intellectual > practical and theoretical reason and
non rational > irrational : nutritive and appetitive
Rational = intellectual virtues
Intellectual v = theoretical virtues ( math physics .. ) , practical virtues ( understanding, judgment .. )
Non rational = emotions, appetites and desires
= excellence of body / character
Excellence of character = courage, patience ..
Aristotles physics : the causes
The four causes : The soul
Material cause: what its made of.
Formal cause: its literal form/ how its arranged
Efficient cause: what/ who made it
Final cause: telos ( goal/purpose )
Hierarchy of souls ( most to least important )
The rational soul: reason
The locomotive soul: motion, imagination
The appetitive soul: desire, passion, wants… ( all animals have senses “whatever has a sense has the capacity for pleasure and pain..therefore has pleasant and painful objects present to it…”( De anima ) therefore we desire what is pleasant.
The sensitive soul: sense; ability to feel and perceive
The nutritive soul: bodily functions, food and nutrition…
Aristotle says that the rational soul is something that we have that is different to animals.
Aristotles metaphysics : the unmoved movers
The function argument
the chief good is the function of the object
‘The ‘well’ is thought to reside in the function’ : the prior good is to fulfill your function
If parts of a man have a function, then man as a whole has a function. EG: an ear listens a foot walks
Mans chief good must be to do with rational soul cause only humans have it
A rational life is consistent of two things; ‘life in the sense of activity’ which means we must do: we must use our brains and rationale and think
“There therefore be an activity of the soul implying a rational principle, and the function of a good man is the noble performance of these.”
Human good= activity of the soul according to virtue, and if there is more than one virtue, then it must be in accordance with the best and most complete one.
Richard kraut: ‘Aristotles ethics ’ - summarising function argument
