Virtue Theory

Question 1

What is virtue theory/virtue ethics?

Answer 1

A range of moral theories that focus on the role of the character and virtue rather than specific actions

Question 2

What does ‘virtue’ come from?

Answer 2

The Greek word arete which can be translated as ‘virtue’ or ‘excellence’

Question 3

What is VT based on?

Answer 3

Defining personal qualities or a person’s character that enables them to feel, choose and act in a certain way

Question 4

Who is the main thinker for VT?

Answer 4

Aristotle

Question 5

What is eudaimonia?

Answer 5

Human flourishing or living well

Question 6

What is the aim of VT?

Answer 6

Eudaimonia

Question 7

How can eudaimonia be achieved?

Answer 7

It is an experience of life achieved by virtuous living. It is a journey travelled over the course of a whole lifetime, rather than a goal reached after performing good deeds. To achieve it one must exercise certain values and practice being virtuous like a harpist must practise in order to be a harpist.

Question 8

Why can only adults achieve eudaimonia?

Answer 8

Animals cannot reason and children cannot fully think for themselves

Question 9

What intellectual virtue is only available to adults?

Answer 9

Phronesis - ability to use practical wisdom or prudence to work out how to be virtuous in a given situation.

Question 10

What are the five intellectual virtues?

Answer 10

Science/episteme
Art/techne
Prudence/phronesis
Intuition/nous
Wisdom/Sophia

Question 11

How can the intellectual virtues be achieved?

Answer 11

Education

Question 12

What is science/episteme?

Answer 12

The capability of demonstrating the logical truth of a fact

Question 13

What is art/techne?

Answer 13

The ability to use reason to plan and produce in a particular situation

Question 14

What is prudence/phronesis?

Answer 14

The ability to use practical wisdom or prudence to work out how to be virtuous in a given situation.

Question 15

What is intuition/nous?

Answer 15

The ability to grasp the first principles of truth

Question 16

What is wisdom/Sophia?

Answer 16

The most finished or perfected form of knowledge

Question 17

What are the moral virtues?

Answer 17

12 personal qualities which need to be developed by identifying and practising the mean between the two vices of deficiency and excess

Question 18

How many moral virtues are there?

Answer 18

12

Question 19

How many intellectual virtues are there?

Answer 19

5

Question 20

Give an example of a moral virtue? What is it in excess? What is it in deficiency?

Answer 20

Courage
Rashness
Cowardice

Question 21

Aristotle quote about it being difficult to recognise the moderate line between the two vices?

Answer 21

“It is easy to miss the target and difficult to hit it”

Question 22

Does Aristotle recognise that it is difficult to recognise the moderate line between the two vices?

Answer 22

Yes

Question 23

What are the three types of people according to Aristotle?

Answer 23

Continent, incontinent, virtuous/ideal person

Question 24

Who are the incontinent?

Answer 24

People who try to be virtuous. They make resolutions and may understand what is best, but they give in easily to temptation and act according to whim rather than reason

Question 25

Who are the continent?

Answer 25

People who calculate successfully and know the mean path to follow. They experience temptation and struggles, but they can resist and control their desires

Question 26

What is the ideal person?

Answer 26

Virtuous, without struggle or temptation. They have no difficulty in seeing the best course of action and following it. They live a life of excellence and virtue

Question 27

Does VT require religious faith?

Answer 27

No

Question 29

The depiction of Jesus in what can be read as containing teachings that share concerns with virtue theory?

Answer 29

Letters of Paul and Matthew's Gospel

Question 30

Give examples of virtues being discussed in the Bible?

Answer 30

1 Corinthians 13:13 - faith, hope and love are the most important personal qualities Galatians 5:22-23 - "the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" Matthew - Sermon on the Mount/Beatitudes

Question 31

Describe the Sermon on the Mount/Beatitudes

Answer 31

Jesus is seen to be supporting both love and the law, however he is concerned with features of morality that appear similar to those in virtue theory. Here, Jesus lists dispositions or personal characteristics that receive God's blessing and are paired with a reward that people should expect to receive in heaven if they perfect them; they do not describe specific actions.

Question 32

What is the most obvious link between Jesus and Virtue Theory?

Answer 32

His concern with features of a person's character that inspire human behaviour rather than specific laws or acts.

Question 33

What is the aim of Jesus' ministry?

Answer 33

To fulfil OT moral laws in his own life. He teaches about personal qualities rather than actions. In Matthew 5, he warns against anger and lust rather than focusing on Commandments relating to murder and adultery

Question 34

T or F: Jesus moved away from law centered ethics of the Pharisees

Answer 34

Yes - The Pharisees were concerned with obedience to legal commands rather than qualities which make a person good. Jesus was quick to criticise people for their hypocrisy, following legal laws while neglecting moral goodness.

Question 35

What are Jesus' teachings on virtue concerned with?

Answer 35

Moral excellence

Question 36

6 similarities between Aristotle's VT and Christianity

Answer 36

- Some virtues are the same e.g patience and honesty - Agent centered, not action centered - Virtues must be developed over time - Version of eudaimonia - happiness vs with God - Some virtues learned - intellectual vs using Jesus' example - Trial and error play a part

Question 37

How are the goals of VT and Christian ethics different?

Answer 37

Goal of VT is human flourishing on earth and goal of Christian virtues is human connection with the divine

Question 38

What are the three challenges to VT?

Answer 38

1. Virtues are not a practical guide to moral behaviour 2. The issue of cultural relativism 3. Virtues can be used for immoral acts

Question 39

Why aren't virtues a practical guide to moral behaviour?

Answer 39

- It is difficult for a person who is not already virtuous to understand what is required to become moral as there are no clear rules to follow. People who have not received an education in intellectual virtues and witnessed virtuous acts will not understand what is required of them - Assumes that the virtuous person knows what is moral but it is not always obvious what a person should do. An honest action could also be cruel, and a generous action could also be self-serving, and cruel and self-serving acts are not virtuous

Question 40

How is cultural relativism an issue for VT?

Answer 40

Different cultures appear to consider different sets of personal qualities as virtuous. This means that different people from different cultures will admire different behavioural responses to a new situation. VT does not provide a method for deciding on a universal list of acceptable or desirable virtues.

Question 41

How can virtues be used for moral acts?

Answer 41

There may be times when virtues conflict, and yet there is no method to help a moral agent know which virtue to choose. A person's honesty may hurt someone else but kindness would mean that someone has to lie. VT doesn't provide guidance on which is the best course of action VT can lead directly to immorality. Example: it takes courage for someone to go into a place of worship with a gun. Someone could argue that if this is reasoned and planned then it cannot be rash