Virtue theory

What are virtues?

A good moral quality of a person; a characteristic of a person that makes them morally good. To aristotle it is doing the right thing

Who is Aristotle?

A greek philosopher, student of plato

What book did Aristotle write on this ?

Nichomachean ethics

What assumption underlies virtue theory?

That humans have a fixed nature, an essence, and that the way we flourish is by adhering to that nature.

What is proper functioning?

Everything has a function and something is good to the extent that it fulfils its function

What is virtue to aristotle?

A set of robust character traits that , once developed, will lead to good behaviour. It is the midpoint between two vices, of excess and deficiency.

What is Arete?

The Greek word aristotle used to mean excellence, strength or viture.

What is the telos of Aristotle?

Eudaimonia

What is Eudaimonia?

A state of total human flourishing and happiness

What is the doctrine of the mean?

A midpoint of two vices is what is needed to be virtuous, i.e cowardly, courageous, foolhardy.

What are aristotle's three types of person?

The Sophron, who naturally lives in the mean without effort The Enkrates, who are tempted but strong enough to live in the mean The Akrates who are weak and cannot live in the mean

What are Aristotle's two types of virtues?

Intellectual virtues and moral virtues Intellectual virtues are learnt by instruction: practical skill, knowledge, judgement Moral virtues are developed through habit: courage, generosity, modesty

What does Mark Rowland say on the doctrine of the mean?

People can have fear, confidence, desire, anger, pity etc., generally too much or too little, this can be wrong but to have these feelings at the right times on the right grounds towards the right people for the right motive in the right way is the mark of true virtue. This is what Aristotle really means by the mean

What is Phronesis?

Practical wisdom- entailing keeping eudaimonia in our mind and thinking how to attain this purpose

What did Alistar Macintyre say on virtue theory?

We have relative virtues, relative to the situation and culture we live in, we must take in this context when ethical issues arise. However, shared practices of a community which help cultivate virtues. But what if that community is racist? Or fascist? Or supports the Taliban?

What did Philipa foot critique?

.That virtue Ethics could justify, even praise, someone courageously fighting an inject war or using courage to rob a bank, so the problem of drawing on the right virtues for the wrong reasons

What challenge arises over rules in virtue theory?

Some argue that without deontological approach humans cannot truly flourish

What does Hurthouse argue?

Compassion and empathy might be regarded as virtues but there are people in the world with these qualities who nevertheless end up making some situations worse.An Emphasis on phronesis may be the only remedy.

What does John Dorris say on virtue ethics

Attempts to cultivate virtues might be doomed to failure and we would arguably be better off learning more about how our environment tends to shape our moral behaviour.