Virtue Ethics Flashcards
What approach does virtue theory have to ethics?
An agent centred approach - this means that the person makes the action right or wrong, not the intention or outcome.
Who first spoke about the virtues?
Plato
Who developed virtue theory?
Aristotle
What happens when we all develop our moral character?
Society/polis will flourish
What was the name of Aristotle’s book?
Niomachiean Ethics
What is the end goal of virtue ethics?
To achieve eudaimonia
What is the ‘doctrine of the mean’
The perfect balance of the virtues, finding the golden mean is having the right amount of that virtue.
What is a virtue?
A desirable characteristic.
What is a practical/moral virtue?
Virtues you can practice to develop your moral character.
What are intellectual virtues?
These are virtues that you are born with, you improve them upon reflection.
What are cardinal virtues?
These are fundamental virtues that have to be utilized..
Give an example of practical/moral virtues.
Friendship, kindness
Give an example of intellectual virtues.
Common sense, scientific knowledge, practical wisdom.
What are the cardinal virtues?
Courage, temperance, justice and prudence.
How many virtues does Aristotle recommend?
12
Explain the analogy of the ship.
Aristotle said that polis is like a ship, on the journey to eudaimonia, to get there we need navigators. the navigators are the philosophers. He split society into three types of people, continent people, incontinent people and viscous people. Continent people only need a little bit of training because they almost always make the moral decision, incontinent people need much more training because they often make the wrong decision but through training can improve and viscous people will always make the wrong decision no matter what.
What was MacIntyre’s book called?
After virtue
Explain the jigsaw analogy.
He says that we have lost sight of morality, it’s like we have all the pieces to the jigsaw but no understanding of what we are trying to piece together.
What is MacIntyre’s solution to the jigsaw analogy?
We need to recover the virtues and work out as a society which characteristics are important to us. Once we have done this we can have a better understanding of what makes us a good person.
What are the three questions that MacIntyre asks about a practice to find out whether it is moral?
Does it have standards? Is it developing? Is it social?
What was Elizabeth Anscombe’s book called?
Modern Moral Philosophy
What did Anscombe think we needed to do in order to be moral?
She said that we need to develop our ‘moral psychology.’ Until we focus on the individual, morality won’t make sense.
How does eudaimonia compare to religion?
It is similar to the concept of heaven. When you reach heaven you have achieved full happiness and fulfillment.
How to the virtues compare to religion?
Christianity talks about the 7 deadly sins and the 7 heavenly virtues. Jesus also identifies 8 beatitudes which are similar to the virtues because they are good characteristics.
How does the phronimos link to religion?
Christians would see Jesus as an ideal role model, he demonstrated virtues such as compassion and justice.
How does training link to religion? (The analogy of the ship)
Priests are given guidance where needed - the pope could be seen as similar to the navigators in the analogy of the ship.
