VIRTUE ETHICS Flashcards
What is the intro for virtue ethics (para 1)
virtue ethics is neither teleological or deontological but instead is agent centred because it is concerned with the morality of the individual and not the action or consequence
What is the intro for virtue ethics (para 2)
Aristotle defined a virtue as “a characteristic habit of excellence of the mind that aligns a person in accordance to right reason and the proper human end (telos) of happiness”
What is the intro for virtue ethics (para 3)
Aristotle believed that those who were not virtuous must practice their virtues in order to reach euadmonia, ‘the proper human end’. Other contributors to VE are GEM Anscombe and McIntyre
1st key feature of VE - What are Aristotle’s 3 approaches to happiness..
Aristotle identifed 3 approaches to hapiness. He said how people seek happiness through different ways.
- Pleasure-concerned with basic desires such as food and sex
- Honour- Concerned with their reputation e.g. celebrities and politicians
- Contemplation - those who seek wisdom and knowledge such as aristotle himself.
2nd Key feature of VE - What are Aristotle’s 4 types of people in this world
- Vicious - people who do not attempt to be virtuous at all and will always choose vice
- Incontinent -people who face moral dilemmas often and will usually choose vice over virtue
- continent - people who do the virtuous thing most the time but still have to overcome moral dilemmas as they may be tempted by vice.
- Virtuous - these people enjoy doing good things and as a result face no moral dilemmas in life.
3rd Key feature of VE- what is Euadamonia?
The reason why people should practice their virtues is because we all aim towards an end or telos. For Aristotle this end is eudaemonia
Euadamonia is a Greek word for happiness of flourishing. Aristotle believed that Euadamonia was the final purpose for all humans and so anything which helps us achieve this end was good in the eyes of Aristotle.
4th key feature - what are the two types of virtues?
the way that we achieve euadamonia is by practicing our virtues.
Aristotle identified 2 types of virtues moral and intellectual
a intellectual virtue = characteristics of thought and reason that contribute to the state of mind that leads to appropriate behaviour
a moral virtue= a characteristic of behaviour and attitude that contributes to appropriate behaviour, e.g. patience and courage
5th key feature - what are the 4 cardinal virtues?
Aristotle identified 4 cardinal virtues which are another key feature of virtue ethics as they are the hinges on which all the moral virtues depend on
- justice - the ability to treat others equally
- prudence- practical wisdom
- courage - the ability to act between cowardice and recklessness
- temperance - the quality of self control
6th Key feature - what is the golden mean?
in order to achieve these virtues aristotle believed that the key to a good life lay in the Golden Mean
The golden mean is the striking balance between the vice of excess and deficiency; too much and too little.
e.g. modesty is the striking balance between shamefulness - the vice deficiency and bashfulness, the vice of excess
What is the 1st strength VS weakness for virtue ethics? (selfish/non selfish)
STRENGTH-
it encourages people to do good for its own sake and not get a reward (non-selfish)
WEAKNESS-
virtue ethics can be seen to be very inwards - as it focuses too much on who you are rather than what you do in the world (selfish)
What is the 2nd strength VS weakness for virtue ethics? (too flexible/flexible)
STRENGTH-
virtue theory does not prescribe absolute principles like utiliatism or situation ethics so it becomes a lot more FLEXIBLE)
WEAKNESS-
Robert Louden says that virtue theory does not give specific answers to moral dilemmas. what should a virtuous persons do when faced with Euthenasia? (TOO FLEXIBLE)
What is the 3rd strength VS weakness for virtue ethics? (FEMINE/MASCULINE)
STRENGTH-
Virtue ethics leads to a happier life - something valued by everyone
WEAKNESS-
very little is given to the femine virtues such as compassion . Aristotle is simply valuing male virtues such as courage
