Virtue Theory Flashcards
What is Virtue Theory?
Virtue ethics is a normative theory focused on the kind of person you should be, rather than how you should behave. It emphasizes developing personal qualities that lead to a good character, rather than following rules or laws. Rooted in the Greek concept of arete (excellence), it is teleological, aiming to cultivate virtue through mental states and actions. Virtue is learned by imitating ethical individuals. Aristotle describes three types of people: Sophron (naturally moderate), Enkrates (work hard to achieve virtue), and Akrates (weak-willed and unable to resist temptation).
Aristotle (284-322 BCE)
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher, student of Plato, and an empiricist who emphasized observing the natural world through the senses. He is renowned for his ethical work in Nicomachean Ethics.
Aristotle’s moral virtues?
Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia refers to flourishing or well-being, which is the ultimate goal in life. It encompasses happiness in three forms: individual, communal, and philosophical. Achieving eudaimonia requires developing virtues, which are qualities of character that help you live harmoniously. There are two types of virtues:
Intellectual virtues (e.g., wisdom, scientific knowledge), which are rational and contribute to the good life.
Moral virtues (e.g., courage, sincerity), which are non-rational and relate to character.
Both types are essential for living a fulfilling and harmonious life.
The moral virtues?
Aristotle’s 12 moral virtues are balanced between excess and deficiency, with the “golden mean” representing the ideal balance. Examples include:
Courage: between cowardice (deficiency) and recklessness (excess)
Temperance: between lack of awareness (deficiency) and being overly strict (excess)
Liberality: between stinginess (deficiency) and overspending (excess)
Patience: between easily angered (deficiency) and being unbothered (excess)
Modesty: between shamelessness (deficiency) and bashfulness (excess)
Sincerity: between lying (deficiency) and boastfulness (excess)
Friendliness: between surliness (deficiency) and over-eagerness (excess)
Ambition: between unmotivated (deficiency) and overambitious (excess)
Magnanimity: between bitterness (deficiency) and people-pleasing (excess)
Wittiness: between boorishness (deficiency) and buffoonery (excess)
Just resentment: between callousness (deficiency) and spitefulness (excess)
These virtues are developed through habit and practice, emphasizing the importance of action in cultivating moral character.
Jesus’s teachings on virtues?
In the New Testament, Jesus teaches virtues through the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), listing 8 moral virtues and their rewards:
Poor in spirit (humility) – Reward: Kingdom of heaven
Mournful (sadness from loss) – Reward: Comfort
Meek (gentle) – Reward: Inherit the earth
Hunger and thirst for righteousness – Reward: Justice
Merciful – Reward: Mercy (Matthew 5:7)
Pure in heart (sincerity) – Reward: See God
Peacemakers – Reward: Children of God
Persecuted for righteousness – Reward: Kingdom of heaven
Other biblical virtues are found in 1 Corinthians 13:13 (“faith, hope, and love, but the greatest is love”) and Galatians 5:22 (“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”). Micah 6:8 teaches justice, mercy, and humility.
Challenges?
Practicality?
Challenges to Virtue Ethics:
Practicality: Virtue ethics lacks specific guidelines for moral behavior in particular situations.
Subjectivity: The virtues are subjective, with no clear consistency in how they are understood or achieved.
Outdated: Some argue that virtues are old-fashioned and not helpful in addressing modern ethical dilemmas.
Idealism: Virtue ethics is seen as romantic and idealistic, not practical or realistic for real-life situations.
Circular reasoning: Virtue ethics can be accused of circularity, as it states that to be virtuous, one must do good things, but doing good things requires being virtuous.
Cultural relativism?
Cultural Relativism in Virtue Ethics:
Virtues may differ across cultures or time periods, making them subjective.
The interpretation of virtues, such as modesty or meekness, can vary between cultures (e.g., conservative Muslim vs. liberal Western cultures).
Aristotle’s and Christ’s lists of virtues may contradict each other (e.g., meekness vs. courage).
Virtue ethics doesn’t necessarily condemn actions, which could lead to tolerance of harmful acts.
The lack of a clear method to determine who is the most virtuous makes the system seem arbitrary.
Open to abuse?
Open to Abuse in Virtue Ethics:
Virtue ethics could justify harmful actions (e.g., killing) based on differing opinions or misuse of virtues.
It can perpetuate inequality, such as teaching women to uphold virtues that benefit men.
Focuses more on personal style and how we act morally, rather than defining what morality truly is.
Ignores the needs of animals and the environment, prioritizing human interests.
Extra Quotes?
Aristotle : “virtue is a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean
Aristotle : “Moral virtue comes as a result of habit”
