VIRTUE ETHICS

Aristotle

He is considered to be the most important virtue ethicist.

• Intellectual Soul

• Will-Soul

• Desire-Soul

The Three Souls (according to Plato)

Intellectual Soul

Its virtue is wisdom, the most important virtue. It should rule over the other part of the soul.

Will-Soul

Its virtue is courage, which is the second most important virtue.

Desire-Soul

Its virtue is moderation which is the third most important virtue.

Happiness

When one does what one is supposed to do, on feels fulfillment.

When one is what is supposed to be, _____________.

• Ergon (Function)

• Eudaimonia (Flourishing)

• Arete (Excellence or Virtue)

• Phronesis (practical or moral wisdom)

Key Concepts of Aristotelian Virtue Ethics

Ergon (Function)

Aristotle asks what the ______ of a human being is, and argues that it consists in activity of the rational part of the soul in accordance with virtue.

Nutritive soul

responsible for growth and reproduction

Locomotive Soul

For motion

Perceptive Soul

for perception

• Plant Soul

• Animal Soul

• Intellectual Soul

Three Different Kinds of Souls (according to Aristotle)

Plant Soul

capacity for nourishment and reproduction

Animal Soul

capacities of perception and self-motion

Intellectual Soul

Capacity to reason

Eudaimonia

It is standardly translated as “happiness” or ”fluorishing” and occasionally as “well-being”

Wisdom

an understanding of first principles, a knowledge of the deep structure of reality

Knowledge

closer to data, a knowledge of facts

Understanding

a knowledge of how the world works, causes, and effects

Friendship

one of the most important virtues in achieving the goal of eudaimonia

Eudaimonism

the virtues are what enable a human being to be eudaimon because the virtues just are those character traits that benefit their possessor in tha way, barring bad luck

Pluralism

the good life is the morally meritorious life, the morally meritorious life is one that is responsive to the demands of the world

Perfectionism or naturalism

the good life is the life characteristically lived by someone who is a good qua human bing, and the virtues enable their possessor to live such a life because the virtues just are thos character traits that make their possessor good qua human being

Arete

This could be translated “Excellence,” standard translation, however, is “virtue”

Character trait

disposition to behave in certain way

Virtue (Arete)

It enables it possessor to evaluate things in an appropriate way so that one has — has a result of this virtue — right kinds of emotions, attitues, desires, percptions, expectations, sensibilities

Virtue

enables us to make right choices from the point of view of eudaimonia (flourishing life)

Phronesis

• It is an important element of practical reason.

• It is something that the virtuous morally mature adult has that nice children, including nice adolescents, lack.

The Aristotelian Mean/The Golden Mean

The virtutous (right) conduct as a mean betwen two vices of excess

Virtue

It is the “golden mean” between the extremes if xcss and deficiency

Courage

It is a mean regarding the feeling of fear, between the deficiency of rashness (too little fear) and the excess of cowardice (too much fear)

Benevolence

It is a mean between giving to people who don’t deserve it and not giving to anyone at all.

• No fundamental principles

• Principles and logic are not enough to determine what to do

Criticism against Virtue Ethics

• Intellectual Virtues

• Moral Virtues

Two Kinds of Virtues

Theoretical Intelligence

Practical Wisdom

Two Kinds of Intellectual Virtues

Theoretical Intelligence

It is the human faculty that apprehends fundamental principles such as the law of thinking and other fundamental truths.

Practical Wisdom

this is the ability to make right judgmnt on practical issues

Moral Virtue

It is the ability to be reasonable in actions, desires, and emotions.

1.) The good life in which the subject devotes himself to abstract contemplation of knowledge

2.) Active Life in Society

Two Kinds of Good Life