Virtue ethics Flashcards
what type of ethical system is VE NOT
normative- theories which tell you what to do
what is virtue ethics also known as and why
aretaic ethics
arete means excellence
what does VE not do
tell you what actions to take
what does VE tell you
what sort of person to be
Main points for VE
- agent centred
- tells us what type of people to be in order to be moral
- focusses on the quality of the person making the moral chic rather than the actual choice
- concentrates on being rather than doing
what book did Aristotle write
Nichomachean ethics
what does Aristotle’s VE assume
that our goals for existing is to reach eudaimonia
what does eudaimonia mean
human flourishing
two types of virtues according to Aristotle
moral
intellectual
how are intellectual morals taught? EEE
emulate
educate
experience
how did Aristotle believe was the best way of become virtuous
copying virtuous people
what two types of people can become virtuous
philosophers
gentlemen
what is Aristotle’s final cause
eudaimonia
why is eudaimonia the highest good
because we desire it for our own sakes and not as a means to an end
three types of happiness that combine to form eudaimonia
- happines of life as enjoyment
- happiness as free members of society
- happiness as a philospher
best context of achieving eudaimonia
living in a community- we should develop qualities useful in our society
aristotle and the golden mean
the only way to achieve eudaimonia, was to achieve the golden mean in our lives
what is the golden mean
mid point between two vices- we should not develop qualities which are extremes, since this is not useful to society
what does aristotle argue happens to individuals who the virtues now come naturally to
they automatically do the right thing
good people perform good actions
are we born with virtues
no, we are not born good or bad, but we become good or bad depending ion the qualities we develop
what is becoming virtuous compared to
playing a musical instrument
12 moral virtues
wittiness right ambition high mindedness friendliness modesty just resentment courage liberality magnificence good temper sincerity temperance
intellectual virtues
primary: wisdom, intelligence, scientific knowledge, practical wisdom, art
secondary: cleverness, resourcefulness, understanding, judgement
how are moral virtues acquired
learned by living them
what are intellectual virtues the result of
talent and good education
for Aristotle why is VE not rule based
the virtues are not the same for everybody
famous Aristotle quote
‘we are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is then not an act but a habit’
5 points for Aristotle
- we are not born with are virtues, they must be developed
- only two types of people can become virtuous
- Doctrine of the golden mean
- Intelligent and moral virtues
- how to become virtuous- practice (like paling a musical instrument and EEE
- Eudaimonia
what are virtues
positive character trait
who taught Aristotle
Plato, who was taught by Socrates
who was philippa foot
wrote Virtues and vices in 1978
-founder of oxfam who believed ethics was about improving the world for others
what did Foot believe about aretaic ethics
does not guarantee happiness, but does play a part in achieving it
how did foot disagree with A
wisdom is both a moral and intellectual virtue.
believed that anybody can achieve wisdom–> wealth and status doesn’t matter
what idea of A did Foot develop
idea of the sophron by distinguishing between the moral hero and moral saint
what is a moral hero
someone who’s good intentions may not be pure
what is a moral saint
someone who does good and has pure intentions
what did Foot believe virtues did , quote
‘virtues are correctives against these temptations’
what did Foot compare VE to
navigation away and through obstacles, like charting a course at sea
which virtue does foot reject
pride as a virtue like christian tradition , however some argue that A didn’t mean pride as in an egotistical tendency, but more a realistic self-esteem
what did she compared humans to
a plank of wood
wood analogy
warps in the sun and the rain- life bends us out of shape. virtues act as weights (corrective), that help restore the shape of the wood
who are more virtuous according to foot
those who have to work hard to be virtuous- better than someone who is naturally kind and courageous. e.g. resisting temptation says much more about the strength of someones virtue
strength and health are
excellences of the body
virtues are
excellences of the mind e..g a scoundrel is a scoundrel even if they are strong and healthy
according to Foot what are virtues about
your intentions and your wish to act
Other key quote by Foot
‘it is primarily by his intentions that a man’s moral dispositions are judged’
key points for foot
- aretaic ethics does not guarantee happiness
- being virtuous is about your intent and your action
- distinguishes between moral saint and hero
- Virtues act as correctives
- ethics should be about improving the world
- more virtuous to find it hard to be virtuous
what book did Maclntyre write
After virtue 1981
what does Maclintyre argue about society
meta ethics has left society in a moral vacuum- the study of ethics has been drawn away from its social context. Modern ethics cannot show how ethics has been developed
what did maclintyre reject
quandary ethics- discussion about ethics based on unrealistic dilemmas e.g. ‘a terrorist has captured your daughter and the prime minister, he will detonate a nuclear bomb if not stopped’ however in society we have been told never to kill, therefore ‘lose-lose’ situation- nothing can be learnt from this
what did Maclntyre propose
a historical approach to ethics. should look at a persons narrative, to see what virtues they should have
Did Maclntyre believe virtues could change over time
yes, he believed virtues changed in terms of their importance and usefulness to society because we value different things as people
e.g. homeric –> athenian
how did Maclnytre agree with A
virtues such as truthfulness, courage and justice were essential virtues to maintain not only a good, moral character, but especially the integrity of a community
how did Mac develop As theory
internal and external goods
internal goods
obvious and direct e.g. giving money ton the poor
external goods
inspiring someone to behave morally
what did M say about his archetypes
that they have become dominant in modern society, therefore true virtue has been obscured. all three use money, people and materialism as ways of manipulating others for their own self interest
for M who were ideal role models
philosphers
three types of archetype
bureaucratic manager
rich aesthete
therapist
bureaucratic manager
- DOMINANT
- profits more important than principle
- efficient at using resources
- both resources and people are expendable
therapist
- needed to deal with peoples failed hopes and aspirations
- need them to help us pretend our lives aren’t meaningless and empty
rich aesthete
- dominant in celeb culture
- lies for pleasure
- admired by society, because of wealth and status
virtue ethics is centred on…
Virtue Ethics is centred on having the right character that enables you to do the right thing and in doing the right thing your character becomes further developed.
