5 Aristotles Virtue

• Aristotelian Virtue-Ethics


  Moral philosophy based around assessing the broad characters of human beings rather than assessing singular acts in isolation
• Aristotle (384–322 BC) was a scholar in disciplines such as ethics, metaphysics, biology and botany, among others
• Aristotelian Virtue Ethics


  • Separates it from both Utilitarianism and Kantian Ethics
• Teleologist


  Aristotle believed that every object has a final cause or purpose
• Telos


  The purpose, goal, end or true final function of an object
• Aristotle claims that, "for all things that have a function or activity, the good and the 'well' is thought to reside in the function"
• Telos


  • The telos of a chair is to provide a seat and a chair is a good chair when it supports the curvature of the human bottom without collapsing under the strain
  • What makes good sculptors, artists and flautists is the successful and appropriate performance of their functions as sculptors, artists and flautists
• Aristotle believes human beings have a telos
• Aristotle's Function Argument


  1. All objects have a telos

  2. An object is good when it properly secures its telos

  3. The telos of a human being is to reason

  4. The good for a human being is, therefore, acting in accordance with reason
• Eudaimonia


  The state that all humans should aim for as it is the aim and end of human existence. To reach this state, we must ourselves act in accordance with reason
• Utilitarianism


  An ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes. It holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number
• Kantian ethics


  A deontological ethical theory developed by Immanuel Kant that is based on the notion that: "It is impossible to think of anything at all in the world, or indeed even beyond it, that could be considered good without limitation except a good will"
• Kantian ethics was developed in the context of Enlightenment rationalism
• Categorical Imperatives


  The principles defined by their morality and level of freedom in Kantian ethics