Virtue Ethics

Question 0

Give the name of the thinker who said “All men by nature desire knowledge”

Answer 0

Aristotle (384-322BC)

Question 1

Give the four cardinal virtues

Answer 1

~ Prudence
~ Justice
~ Courage
~ Temperance

Question 2

Define eudaimonia and how it is achieved

Answer 2

The highest state of virtue and happiness, achieved by moral and intellectual virtue

Question 3

What does it mean to say that virtue ethics is agent-centred?

Answer 3

It revolves around the individual

Question 4

What three forms of happiness did Aristotle believe in?

Answer 4

~ Being a free member of society
~ The enjoyment of pleasure
~ Being a philosopher

Question 5

How can intellectual virtues be developed?

Answer 5

Through training/learning

Question 6

How can moral virtues be developed?

Answer 6

Through habit

Question 7

Into which 4 groups did Aristotle categorise people?

Answer 7

~ Virtuous - Enjoy doing good
~ Continent - Virtuous most of the time
~ Incontinent - Face moral conflict and choose vice
~ Vicious - Make no attempt to be virtuous

Question 8

Name the thinker who said “Moral statements are neither true nor false but express the feelings of the individual”

Answer 8

Alasdair MacIntyre (1929-)

Question 9

Name the thinker who said “Vices are essential elements of human flourishing across societies and time”

Answer 9

Martha Nassbaum (1947-)

Question 10

Who criticised Aristotle’s Virtue a Ethics by saying that important virtues change?

Answer 10

Alasdair MacIntyre

Question 11

What was Homer’s view on virtue ethics?

Answer 11

Virtues apply to specific roles and vary according to your function in society