Virtue Ethics Flashcards
What is virtue ethics?
It is a character based theory on ethical practice developed by Aristotle and would proceed to influence the Natural Law theory
What is the historical context of when this was written?
Ancient Greece was violent in the sense of war and capital punishment and misogynistic in the sense men were viewed superior. Slave keeping was common. Society based on elitism.
What is the function argument?
The relationship between good and function. A good knife is one that cuts well.
What is the function of man?
The soul determines function. The plant has the function of growth. The animal has function of sensitivity and the human then has rationality. So a good person is on that uses their rationality well.
How do we perform virtues?
Virtues lie in the golden mean. They are between the the vices. The extent will be different in each scenario and unique to us. To grasp the idea of virtue we may use moral exemplars. They are also habitual, if we practice virtuous behaviour deliberately then we grow into vitreous people.
How may someone be viewed as moral?
- Virtue needs the assessment of a full life
- A virtuous being knows what they are doing without ignorance and choose to act virtually
- People are naturally seeking virtue, they will act good in their manner
How does Aristotle view the soul?
Sees a soul hierarchy. Humans have this unique gift of rationality allowing us to be ethical.
Saw the soul as a blue print
Viewed two states of the soul, rational (maths) and irrational (patience). The irrational can still be a virtue.
What are the two aspects of actions?
We always do things for a reason, a goal. There are subordinate actions to the supreme good. Like studying is an subordinate to the good of education.
What is Eudaimonia?
Translates roughly into ‘human flourishing’ this is the state of ultimate pleasure.
How does one achieve Eudaimonia
Aristotle rejected the idea that honour or indulgence can bring ultimate pleasure so the only way to achieve it is by maximising our function through reason and intellect. So the good life is achieved through theoria where we are exercising the human intellect
What does he mean by voluntary actions?
That it’s not possible to be accidentally vitreous that one must intend for it. Our actions should only be recognised when we choose to do them. Proper intention is not desire or wish but based on reason and deliberation to be good people.
What is the issue with the idea of theoria?
- Bias to the preferences of his own
- Are physical pleasures really inferior to that of the mind?
What are the 4 causes determining purpose?
1) Material - What is it made from?
2) Efficient - What makes it’s existence
3) Formal - What is it’s design when flourishing?
4) Final - It’s ultimate goal or purpose
Name 3 positives of VE
1) It allows moral judgement. Unlike Kantian ethics it does not have conflicting rules and avoids guessing future events which happens in Utilitarianism as thus bad actions are not encouraged
2) You do not need to be mentally equipped with great intellect nor reason just use the example of others as guidance in behaviour
3) It is flexible. Meaning it can adopt for different situations for different people.
Name 3 Negatives of VE
1) Ignores cultural relativism. Different societies may have different virtues and perception of vices. Where tolerance and respect of rights is vital in modern Europe Athens encouraged male dominance.
2) Not applicable on mass scale. Individually it is helpful to act morally but in large societies or politics where individualism can’t be used how do we bring amount conclusions. Also what of those who choose disobedience.
3) Unclear in what virtue really is. If we created a society how would we possibly base the virtues and how can we be sure our idols are vitreous people when we do not know all to act rationally on their behaviour.
