Virtue Ethics

Question 1

What fundamental question does virtue ethics strive to solve compared utility and duty based ethics?

Answer 1

VE: What would a good person do?

Utility/Deontology: What is the right thing to do?

Question 2

Describe virtue ethics?

Answer 2

• Virtues are characteristics needed to become the best person you can.
• We cultivate these virtues through our actions
• Believe that the answer to ethics is “what would a good person do?”

Question 3

How does something (i.e. honestly) become a virtue in a person?

Answer 3

By continuously performing this virtue overtime thus making it a habit . Virtues are mutlitracked and cannot be determined from a single situation

Question 4

Why do most of us struggle to be virtuous all the time?

Answer 4

1. Being virtuous when it costs me is tough
2. hard to become virtuous if you are currently not (hard to be honest if you are a pathological liar)
3. lack of practical wisdom

Question 5

What is practical wisdom?

Answer 5

• Knowing how virtuous to be without being virtuous “to a fault”
• Tempering a virtue with a proper amount sensitivity to find “the golden mean”.
• Comes from life experience.

Question 6

What is eudaemonia and what is required for it?

Answer 6

Eudaemonia is to flourish or be happy, reflecting living the good life not just a psychological state.
- Virtues are necessary for eudaemonia.

Question 7

What are the critiques of VE?

Answer 7

1. Does not provide action guidance
2. No such thing as virtues according to psychology
3. Cultural relativity can change virtues
4. Conflicting virtues (what happens when different virtues point to different choices)
5. What are the virtues and why? (Who determines these things and why?)

Question 8

What critiques are applied to all frameworks thus far?

Answer 8

1. Cultural Relativity
2. Conflicting choices/virtues
3. Who determines what is right or wrong?

Question 9

What are the main virtues listed in the notes?

Answer 9

Self Control
Self Efficacy
Regard
Respect
Kindness