virtue ethics - key terms

Question 1

altruism

Answer 1

love of others

Question 2

egoism

Answer 2

love of self

Question 3

anthropocentric

Answer 3

human-centred, criticism of virtue ethics (animals are not objects of moral concern for Aristotle)

Question 4

dispositions

Answer 4

character traits

Question 5

eudaimonia

Answer 5

the good for humans; pleasure, happiness, complete well-being

Question 6

function

Answer 6

‘work, accomplishment’; something is “good” if it fulfills its function

Question 7

hierarchy

Answer 7

a system in which the parts/members are ranked according to status/authority; Aristotle ranks hierarchy of souls, at which humans are the highest

Question 8

mean

Answer 8

the median; specific virtues lie between excess and deficiency

Question 9

phronimos

Answer 9

the man of practical wisdom, who is best qualified to define virtuous behaviour in any situation

Question 10

soul

Answer 10

the form/blueprint of the body

Question 11

temperance

Answer 11

the virtue of self control

Question 12

theoria

Answer 12

the intellectual virtue of contemplation

Question 13

virtue

Answer 13

a disposition which is to be valued

Question 14

voluntary action

Answer 14

action brought about by the will