Virtue Ethics Notes

Virtue Ethics

• Ethics centers on character; being good means cultivating virtues and living virtuously.

The "Highest Good"

• Everything aims at a 'good'.
• The highest good for humans is eudaimonia.

Eudaimonia

• Happiness (eudaimonia) involves "doing and living well."
• Includes performing our functions as humans well.

What is a "Function?"

• A function is an end, purpose, or goal.
• Everything has a function; a car's function is movement.
• Goodness relates to how well something fulfills its function.

The "Function" of a Human

• Humans can reason.
• Our function is to properly utilize our reason.

Functioning 'Well'

• Hone reason by cultivating virtues and living virtuously.
• This helps achieve eudaimonia.

Types of Virtue

• Virtue = excellence
  • Intellectual: knowledge, understanding, wisdom.
  • Moral: character or disposition.

Moral Virtues

• A moral virtue is a 'mean' between extremes (vices).
  • Courage is the mean between foolhardiness and fear.
• The 'mean' is relative to the individual.

Becoming Virtuous

• Requires:
  • Considering circumstances.
  • Having the right motives.
  • Being in the right state of mind.
  • Consistently acting virtuously to form a habit.