Ethics Study Guide: Modifiers of Human Acts and Aristotle's Virtue Ethics

Vocabulary flashcards covering the five modifiers of human acts (ignorance, concupiscence, fear, violence, habit) and key concepts of Aristotle's virtue ethics.

Modifiers

Factors that affect knowledge, freedom, or voluntariness and may make human acts less perfectly voluntary.

Voluntariness

The characteristic of an act proceeding from the will, which ordinarily involves knowledge and freedom.

Ignorance

The absence of intellectual knowledge.

Negative Ignorance

The simple absence of knowledge, such as a child not knowing advanced algebra.

Privative Ignorance

The lack of knowledge that one ought to have, such as a driver not knowing a basic traffic rule.

Fault or Error

A form of ignorance where what one believes is false.

Ignorance of Law

Being unaware that a duty or rule exists.

Ignorance of Fact

Being unaware of relevant circumstances surrounding an act.

Ignorance of Penalty

Being unaware of the sanction attached to a rule or violation.

Vincible Ignorance

Ignorance that can be overcome through ordinary diligence; it lessens but does not destroy voluntariness.

Crass or Supine Ignorance

A form of vincible ignorance marked by almost no effort made to learn or acquire knowledge.

Simply Vincible Ignorance

Ignorance where some effort is made to learn, but it is insufficient to remove the ignorance.

Affected Ignorance

Deliberately remaining ignorant to avoid knowing restrictions; it lessens voluntariness in one respect but increases it because it was deliberately chosen.

Invincible Ignorance

Ignorance that cannot be overcome through reasonable effort, which completely destroys voluntariness.

Antecedent Ignorance

Ignorance that directly causes the act, meaning that without this ignorance the person would not have acted.

Concomitant Ignorance

Ignorance that accompanies an action that the person would have performed anyway.

Consequent Ignorance

Ignorance that occurs when a person deliberately avoids learning and purposefully remains ignorant.

Concupiscence

Bodily appetites or passions that influence actions, framed in terms of human weakness and proneness to evil.

Antecedent Concupiscence

Passion that arises without being intentionally stirred up; it lessens but does not destroy voluntariness.

Consequent Concupiscence

Passion that the will deliberately encourages or stirs up; it does not lessen voluntariness.

Fear

The mind shrinking back from danger or becoming agitated by it.

Act FROM Fear

An act where fear is the direct cause of the action; it is simply voluntary, though regularly conditionally involuntary.

Act WITH Fear

An act performed while the person is afraid, but fear is not the cause of the action.

Violence

External force used to physically compel someone to act against their will; it cannot directly reach the will.

Habit

A lasting readiness to act in a certain way, developed through repeated actions, which leaves acts voluntary at least in their cause.

Virtue Ethics

Aristotle's ethical approach emphasizing that knowing the good is not enough; one must repeatedly perform virtuous actions to form habits that shape character.

Eudaimonia

Human flourishing; the chief good sought for its own sake, described by Aristotle as an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

Ergon

A thing's function or purpose.

Arete

Excellence in fulfilling one's function.

Rational Soul (Speculative)

The part of the soul responsible for knowledge and understanding, such as studying a concept.

Rational Soul (Practical)

The part of the soul responsible for choice and action, such as deciding to act honestly.

Irrational Soul (Vegetative)

The part of the soul responsible for nutrition, growth, and involuntary functions like digestion.

Irrational Soul (Appetitive)

The part of the soul governing desires and appetites, which should be guided by reason rather than left unchecked.

Moral Virtue

Excellence in practical and moral decisions developed through repeated good actions, such as courage, moderation, and honesty.

Intellectual Virtue

Excellence in the use of reason and pursuit of knowledge, such as critical thought and philosophical understanding.

Mesotes (Golden Mean)

The appropriate response between excess and deficiency relative to the person and situation, rather than a strict mathematical midpoint.

Phronesis

Practical wisdom; sound judgment about what to do in real situations.

Sophia

Philosophical wisdom; contemplative understanding of fundamental principles and truths.