Aristotelian virtue ethics

arete

excellence /virtue, fulfilment of potential

Ergon

function

Eudamonia

Flourishing

Moral virtues

habitually learnt

intellectual virtues

taught

Telos

The final end goal of human life

Phronesis

practical wisdom

V rules

rules derived from virtue

Virtue ethics

agent centred normative ethical theory stating eudemonia is the purpose of life, achieved through development of virtues of character, determined by phronesis, built through habituation

Paragraph 1

vagueness issue - response - ethics don’t need precision they have phronesis, life to complex for moral rules

Paragraph 2

competing virtues - response - Phronesis allows you to prioritise not one answer but the range of responses that work

Paragraph 3

circularity, virtuous actions virtuous people - response - virtue is grounded in human nature, clarity is lost but can clarity exist?

Paragraph 4

relationship between good for individual and moral good, egoism - response - genuine virtues promote rational flourishing over short term success, rational flourishing helps others, risk of egoism negated

Conclusion

successful in explaining moral development and character, reflects real psychology, struggles for clear action guidance, but you cant have a rule based system in the complex situation of morality