Virtue Theory

Question 1

Who came up with virtue theory?

Answer 1

Aristotle

Question 2

What’s virtue in Greek?

Answer 2

Arete

Question 3

What is a virtue?

Answer 3

A desirable characteristic

Question 4

What makes an action right or wrong?

Answer 4

You and whether it develops your virtues

Question 5

It is ________ centred

Answer 5

Agent

Question 6

What are you trying to achieve?

Answer 6

Eudaimonia, human fulfillment

Question 7

What does eudaimonia mean

Answer 7

A flourishing life

Question 8

Who can achieve it?

Answer 8

Only free men

Question 9

How do you achieve it?

Answer 9

By practising your virtues

Question 10

How do you know which virtues to practise?

Answer 10

Your soul determines your function and which characteristics you need to practise

Question 11

What is your soul?

Answer 11

It is your blueprint, what makes you you

Question 12

What does ergon mean

Answer 12

Function

Question 13

What was the soul spilt into?

Answer 13

A non-rational side (moral/practical virtues)

A rational side (intellectual virtues)

Question 14

What are some examples of moral/practical virtues?

Answer 14

Kindness
Courage
Patience
Temperance

Question 15

How do you develop moral virtues?

Answer 15

You need to practise them

Question 16

How many moral virtues did Aristotle suggest?

Answer 16

12

Question 17

What’s the doctrine of the mean?

Answer 17

All virtues need to be in moderation, not in excess or deficiency but the golden mean

Question 18

What are some examples of intellectual virtues?

Answer 18

Scientific knowledge
Common sense
Mathematical skill
Practical wisdom

Question 19

How do you develop intellectual virtues?

Answer 19

Through training and reflection

Question 20

What are the cardinal virtues?

Answer 20

Prudence
Temperance
Courage
Justice

Question 21

What are the three ways to achieve eudaimonia?

Answer 21

Pleasure
Honour
Contemplation

Question 22

What is the ship analogy?

Answer 22

Philosophers are the navigators of a ship guiding people to eudaimonia

Question 23

What are continent people?

Answer 23

Usually choose virtues but sometimes choose vices so need some training

Question 24

What are incontinent people?

Answer 24

Usually choose vices rather than virtues so need lots of training

Question 25

What are viscious people?

Answer 25

They can’t be trained

Question 26

How do you become a good person?

Answer 26

Develop your virtues and reduce your vices

Question 27

What is the alternative view of virtue theory?

Answer 27

Jesus’ beatitudes from his sermon on the mount

Question 28

What are beatitudes?

Answer 28

They generally encourage positive transformation of the inner character with particular emphasis on humility, charity and brotherly love

Question 29

What are some examples of the 8 beatitudes?

Answer 29

Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of god
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land
Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy

Question 30

Strengths of virtue theory?

Answer 30

A relative view makes it flexible (better than NLT)
It’s optimistic, focuses on being the best person you can be
If people focus on the good then society will be better
Not religious so open to everyone and inclusive

Question 31

Weaknesses of virtue theory?

Answer 31

Only focuses on you so can be selfish
No variety if everyone is good, need bad to understand good
Sometimes developing virtues can lead to bad actions
Cultural relativism, what is a good virtue? One persons peacemaker is another persons terrorist