Virtue ethics

• Eudiamonia 


  Ultimate happiness through living a virtuous life
• Golden Mean 


  12 moderate characteristics between excess and abstinence that people should strive for
• Flourishing society

  Refers to a society where everyone is able to exercise their ability to strive for eudamonia
• Virtue ethics is both teleological and deontological. There are some set rules, but Aristotle wanted to bring about good consequences
• Basic principle

  The basic principle of virtue ethics is for someone to learn over time how to be a better person. Aristotle realised people wouldn't be able to do this straight away, so follow a moral teacher to learn from them
• Context of virtue ethics

  Aristotle lived in a "heroic society" - a society in which people were judged by their deeds, they became known as being a good or a bad character based on what they did.
• Aristotles 5 intellectual virtues

  Prudence/practical wisdom

  Intuitive intelligence

  Wisdom

  Scientific knowledge

  Art/craft
• Virtue Ethics began in ancient Greek philosophy with Socrates, who is thought to have facilitated its beginning and was subsequently developed considerably by Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics
• Virtue Ethics, a normative ethical philosophy that teaches being rather than doing
• Socrates, born 470 BCE, Athens, was a Greek philosopher whose way of life, character, and thought exerted a profound influence on ancient and modern philosophy
• Examples of virtuous characteristics

  Courage: Rashness, Courage, Cowardice

  Right ambition: over-ambition, Right ambition, want of ambition
• Strengths of Virtue Ethics

  Rather than being a set of rules to follow, virtue ethics is part of everyday life
• Strengths of Virtue Ethics

  Less harsh than other ethical theories such as Natural Moral Law, as it does not have strict rules to follow
• Strengths of Virtue Ethics

  It reassures people that they have potential to learn to be moral
• Strengths of Virtue Ethics

  Although it is secular, it could be argued it fits into Christain teachings as it teaches people to be 'more Christ-like'
• Strengths of Virtue Ethics

  Can also apply to atheists and not just christains
• Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

  Annas (1992) argued that Virtue Ethics was "too nostalgic" and focuses to much on happiness rather than moral dilemmas
• Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

  Does not provide answers to specific moral dilemmas
• Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

  Outdated, as its based on the principles found in Ancient Greece
• Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

  Does not condemn intolerable acts such as murder, and does not comment on the personhood of an embryo - makes it hard to apply to moral dilemmas
• Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

  Times where the "unity of virtues" seems impossible, and not realistic
• Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

  External acts that appear virtuous may have unvirtious inner motives, and this may happen vice versa
• Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

  P. Foot - not much room for self-sacrifice in the theory
• Virtue ethics and abortion

  For abortion: Arisotle does not comment on the personhood of an embryo, so this may be seen as acceptable if they view an embryo as just cells rather than fully human. A hybrid theory, so may allow for abortion in the case of rape and incest. If the baby will be born extremely disabled, it could be argued that they won't reach eudamonia
• Virtue ethics and abortion

  Against abortion: Courage is a virtue, so the mother could be seen as courageous if she follows through with the pregnancy. If an embryo is a person, abortion is murder. Does having an obortion make you a virtuous person?
• Virtue ethics and embryo research

  For embryo research: Arisotle did not comment on the personhood of an embryo, so could be seen as acceptable if an embryo is considered a cell rather than fully human. Could lead to a flourishing society if things such as genetic diseases get eradicated. This would allow people to reach eudamonia. Aristotle did carry out scientific experiments himself and supported scientific interlect
• Virtue ethics and embryo research

  Against embryo research: If the embryo is a person, embryo research would be considered murder. Could lead us to question motive of the doctors, do they have the right ambition?
• Virtue ethics and euthanasia

  For euthanasia: If people are suffering, they cannot reach eudamonia. People who want a dignified death should be allowed to have one, as the theory upholds human life and human flourishing
• Virtue ethics and euthanasia

  Against euthanasia: Could be seen as murder, murder is wrong. If people are euthanized, they have no chance of reaching eudamonia. Courage is a virtue, and living through a debilitating illness until natural death could be seen as courageous. Is a doctor who performs euthanasia virtuous? Is asking a doctor to euthanize you unvirtious?
• Virtue ethics and designer babies

  For designer babies: Arisotle does not comment on the personhood of an embryo, so this could be an acceptable action for people who view embryos as cells and not fully human. "Saviour siblings" have the opportunity to show charity to others by providing life-saving transplants. Babies can be designed in order to not have genetic faults, meaning they will have a greater chance at reaching eudamonia
• Virtue ethics and designer babies 


  Against designer babies: It is "immoderate" and an "immoral" action for parents to design a baby for an apperance. Having a "saviour sibling" is not loving or compassionate and can lead to suffering of the saviour sibling. If the embryo is viewed as a person, discarding unwanted ones would be considered murder
• Virtue ethics and capital punishment

  Arisotle lived in a society where Captial Punishment was common, so it is unlikely he would've had an issue with it. Capital Punishment can maintain law and order. Capital punishment could protect society from criminals and allow everyone else to flourish without being threatened
• Virtue ethics and capital punishment

  Aristotle always viewed murder as wrong. Will it prevent the executionist from becoming a virtuous person? It does not allow a criminal to learn from their mistakes, which is the whole point of the theory. Aristotles context does not apply to today
• Virtue ethics and cloning

  For cloning: Aristotle does not comment on the personhood of an embryo, so cloning can be seen as acceptable if the embryos are viewed as cells and not fully human. Types of cloning such as therapeutic cloning can save human lives, meaning people can reach eudamonia and allowing society to flourish. Aristotle was an atheist so "playing God" does not apply
• Virtue ethics and cloning

  Against Cloning: MacIntyre - people need to have "narrative coherence", meaning making human clones unacceptable. The intentions of the doctors and scientists maybe unvirtious in nature. If the embryo is a person, harming or killing one would be assault/murder
• Is virtue ethics in favour of animals in things such as blood sports, for food, intensive farming and organ transplants?

  Yes - Hierarchy of the souls: animals are shown to be below humans, as they do not have ability to reason. Using animals could allow humans to reach eudamonia. Aristotle himself performed scientific experiments on animals. The use of intellectual virtues suggests scientific knowledge about animals is good so they can be used for things such as transplants.
• Is virtue ethics in favour of animals in things such as blood sports, for food, intensive farming and organ transplants?


  Yes - Aristotle ate meat, and because animals are below humans in the hierarchy of souls, he might not have seen intensive farming as wrong. Blood sports would've been a common practise in Ancient Greece, so Aristotle would've seen no problem with this
• Is virtue ethics in favour of animals in things such as blood sports, for food, intensive farming and organ transplants?


  No - Some behaviours such as intensive farming today are seen as unvirtious in today's society. People who are cruel to animals aren't virtuous as they aren't role models. A truly virtuous person would consider the welfare and suffering of all beings, not just humans. Aristotle allows for people to follow any type of moral teacher, so it could be argued that people who follow other religions such as the Buddha would oppose these actions