Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics

- Does not focus on the action being right or wrong, but on how to be a good person.

- Emphasizes the role of character and virtue in moral philosophy.

- Focuses on what it means to be a good person rather than whether a specific action is morally correct.

Plato's virtue ethics

- Centers around the achievement of mans highest good.

- He argued that happiness is attained through virtue (Eudaimonia)

- He regarded four virtues central: Temperance, Justice, Courage and Prudence.

- Believed that when in balance, a persons actions will be good.

Plato's cardinal virtues

Temperance, Justice, Courage, Prudence

Aristotle virtue ethics

-Argued that every action is directed towards an aim: a final cause or purpose.

- Stated that the final goal for humans is Eudaimonia.

- Therefore, everything working towards Eudaimonia is a good thing.

- Two paths to reach Eudaimonia: moral virtues and intellectual virtues.

Moral Virtues

- Address characteristics forming a good person.

- eg. Courage, friendliness, patience etc...

Intellectual Virtues

- Characteristics of thought and reason which contribute towards a good person.

- Includes practical wisdom and technical skills

- eg, Modesty, wittiness.

Aristotle's paths to Eudaimonia

Moral and intellectual virtues

Aristotle's Eudaimonia

- By Eudaimonia, he refers to happiness

- He stated that Eudaimonia can be experienced in three ways; pleasure, honor and reflection.

- For him, anyone could achieve Eudaimonia... however only a few could do this. To him, these were gentleman philosophers.

- Saw a person who achieved Eudaimonia used their REASON. He saw reason as a supreme human virtue. Reason is practical and involves both understanding and responding.

Aristotle's golden mean

- He stated if one strived to be virtuous, one is also striving for the golden mean. The mean being neither too much nor too little.

- The golden mean is sensitive to situations and requirements of the person

- He would argue that courage is a virtue but one can possess and excess or lack of it in a situation.

Example of golden mean

- Courage... it is courageous to defend someone in trouble, however one could act with an excess or lack of courage.

EG. It is courageous to defend someone in trouble but it would be an excess of courage if you were outnumbered twenty to one. Lack of would be leaving the person to fend for themselves.

Advantages of the Golden Mean

- By using the doctrine of the mean, we can cultivate good virtues.

- Acting out of virtue i.e. compassion is better than to act out of duty.

- PHILIPPA FOOT states that virtues help develop a good character as it helps is to correct temptations.

Problems with the Golden Mean

- Aristotle does not specify how to find the mean in detail.

- Arguably, the motive for good actions should also be taken into account.

- How can you judge when a virtue tips over to an excess or vice?

- Two virtues could conflict in a situation.

Development of virtues

- Aristotle infers that virtues can be developed.

- He states that virtues can be developed through practice and education.

- Aristotle notes that it is not enough to be told to be virtuous, one must practice it.

- Through education, Aristotle stated that we can learn what the virtues are and what is expected of us in society to be deemed virtuous.

Anscombe virtue ethics

- Shown in 1958 "Modern Moral Philosophy".

- Argued that moral theories dependent on God are not relevant in a society where God has been seemingly abandoned. Therefore states that modern philosophy is misguided.

- She suggests that the idea of Eudaimonia (human flourishing) is much more relevant today (opposed to religion based ethics) as it doesn't depend on God.

Philippa Foot virtue ethics

- She attempted to modernize Aristotle's virtue ethics.

- She argued that a virtue does not operate when turned into a bad end. So, if the outcome is bad then you have not behaved in a virtuous manner.

- Stated that virtues are good for us and help to correct harmful human passions and temptations.

Macintyre virtue ethics

- He argues that moral theories have lost sight of the idea that morality works towards people fulfilling their "telos". EG... Utilitarianism + Kantianism.

- Wanted human virtue to depend on community, helps cultivate the virtues.

- Stated that virtues are anything that help sustain communities where women and men seek good together.

Hursthouse and Virtue Ethics

- She does not agree with Aristotle's conclusions, however attains a very Aristotelian framework to her virtue ethics.

- She sees the virtues as shaping the virtuous person's practical reasoning in characteristic ways, and not simply as shaping that person's attitudes or actions.

- Considers being virtuous the most reliable path to flourishing.

- Attempts to address the major criticism of virtue ethics- that it provides no guidance in moral dilemmas- by not telling us how a virtuous person would act, but by showing us how a virtuous person would think in a moral dilemma.

Strengths of virtue ethics

- Avoids using a formula of what we need to do and focuses on the person we ought to be.

- Stresses importance of motivating people to be good via the inclusion of developing virtues through education.

- Takes emotions, responsibilities, commitments etc into consideration.

- Does not focus on telling us what a good person would do in every situation, but more on what person we should be in order to make moral decisions for ourselves.

Weaknesses of virtue ethics

- Doesn't help people in a moral crisis. Lack of guidance and rules can be unhelpful and difficult.

- Difficult to decide what is virtuous as if the action has bad motives it should be immoral.

- Virtue Ethics depends on us working towards a final end... this may not exist.