Virtue Ethics Flashcards
Who developed Virtue Ethics?
Aristotle
What are the cardinal virtues?
First developed by Plato: prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude
Define prudence
To have careful good judgement.
Define temperance
To live in moderation
Define justice
To ensure fairness.
Define Fortitude
To confront fears and show courage.
What did Aristotle believe that everything had?
Four Causes. The most important being a ‘final cause’
Define final cause
Purpose.
What, according to Aristotle is the final cause of a human being?
Eudaimonia
What is eudaimonia?
The whole of society being content, healthy and prosperous.
What must be developed in order to reach eudaimonia?
An individual’s virtue
What are the two types of virtues?
Moral and Intellectual.
How are moral virtues developed?
By habit
How are intellectual virtues developed?
Be training and education.
What did Barack Obama say about virtues
we must go back to the virtues as they have been lost in modern society.
What guidance is there to help us develop the virtues?
Following virtuous people as role models.
Name 3 moral virtues
courage, modesty, proper ambition
Name 3 intellectual virtues
Prudence, wittiness, wisdom.
What did Aristotle believe about the potential to develop the virtues.
We all have the potential to develop the virtues but few will cultivate this potential. (Gentleman philosophers)
QUOTE - How does Aristotle describe excellence?
“Excellence is a habit not an act”
What is the golden mean?
The virtuous midpoint between two vices
What is a vice of deficiency?
A lack of virtue
What is a vice of excess?
Too much of a virtue
Define virtue
A moral excellence
Define vice
Falling short or exceeding due to your passions or actions.
What does it mean to call a theory agent centered?
It focuses on the moral development of the person.
What does it mean to call a theory action centered?
It focuses on the moral actions performed.
What virtues are the basis of Christian Virtue Ethics?
Faith, hope and charity in addition to the 4 cardinal virtues
What are 2 vices to courage?
Excess: rashness, Mean: courage, Deficiency: cowardice
What are 2 vices to patience?
Excess: irascibility, Mean: patience, Deficiency: lack of spirit
What are 2 vices to wittiness?
Excess: buffoonery, Mean: wittiness, Deficiency: boorishness
Give 3 examples of Virtuous Role Models
Socrates, Jesus, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Should role models be perfect?
t does not matter as it’s only the virtuous aspects of their character which act as a role model and their flaws act as a challenge for us to aspire to greater virtuous heights
What are the 3 questions that Alasdair MacIntyre proposed are at the heart of moral thinking?
1) who am I?
2) who ought I to become?
3) how ought I get there?
What 3 virtues does MacIntyre believe are most important? Why?
Justice, courage and honesty
These help to prevent organisations from becoming corrupt which stops wider society being corrupt too
