Ethics

• Virtue ethics


  Theories that put emphasis on the role of character and virtue in living one's life rather than in doing one's duty or in acting to bring about good consequences
• Aristotle


  Declared that a virtuous person is someone who has ideal character traits
• St. Thomas Aquinas


  Asserted that no human act is morally good (or "right", in the sense of "not wrong") unless it is in line with love of self and neighbor (and thus with respect for the basic aspects of the wellbeing of each and all human beings) not only in the motives or intentions with which it is chosen, and in the appropriateness of the circumstances, but also in its object (more precisely the object, or closest-in intention of the choosing person)
• Aristotle was born in a small colony of Stagira in Greece
• Aristotle became the tutor of Alexander the Great, who was the grandson of the king
• Aristotle's father was Nicomachus, who happened to be the court physician during the reign of King Amyntas
• When Aristotle's father died, he left Stagira and went to Athens to join the Academy, a famous school of Plato, and became student of Plato for twenty years
• Aristotle's known works related to moral philosophy


  • Nicomachean Ethics (NE)
  • Eudemian Ethics (EE)
  • Magna Moralia
• Telos


  The direction or objective that our actions are intended to achieve
• Aristotle insists that any good end is achievable
• Only human beings are capable of seeing the good in all things, the rest of the creatures are incapable of doing so since they do not have the rationality, or the faculty of reasoning
• Finality


  The dominant or monistic view claims that the aim of every act is good, but there are some human goals that entail more actions. The inclusivists' view claims that the good, which is the result of the series of human acts, is the totality of all goods achieved, both the dominant and subordinate goods.
• Self-sufficiency


  The object of the act must be something that will make life worthwhile, it is not enough to just fulfill what one intends to do without considering whether it is worth of doing and acting on it or not
• Moral virtue


  Virtues that are acquired through constant practice, which in turn develops our character excellence
• Intellectual virtue


  Virtues that complement moral virtue, including the intellectual virtue of wisdom which helps us determine which particular moral virtue to apply in a specific circumstance
• Doctrine of the Mean


  The moral virtues should observe moderation, avoiding excess or defect in action
• The exercise of the moral virtues differs from one person to another person, depending on the specific circumstances
• Happiness (eudaimonia)


  The supreme good, the ultimate telos or end of human actions, a pleasant activity or excellent rational action where one judges his whole life as successful and worth living
• St. Thomas Aquinas was born in Roccasecca, Italy during the medieval period
• St. Thomas Aquinas is known as the Doctor of the Church because of his immense contribution to the theology and doctrine of the Catholic Church
• St. Thomas Aquinas' most important works are the "Summa Theologica" and the "Summa Contra Gentiles"
• Natural law


  Moral requirements expressed by God, found within us as rational creatures insofar as we share in divine providence
• Groups that adhere to natural law

  • Rational creatures (humans)
  • Irrational creatures (animals, plants, non-living things)
• Only rational creatures can discover and obey the natural law, and also disobey it
• Natural law


  Law that has to be discovered by any human beings using their rationality, which will rule the whole human community, command them what to do and what not to do, and guide their action towards the right direction
• Only rational creatures can discover and obey the natural law, hence, it is only they who can disobey them
• Natural law in broad sense


  Law that guides both the rational and irrational creatures in their own respective tendencies towards the realization of their beings
• Natural law in narrow sense


  For rational creatures, it is already present in us who are rational beings, and we are called to participate in the divine life of the highest being in order to have a fullness of being
• Natural law for irrational creatures


  The way they exist and the way their actions tend toward something that seems to be good are all guided by this natural law
• The natural moral law is an expression of participation in the eternal law
• Human positive law


  The natural law that is enacted into written law
• Types of human positive law


  • Civil law
  • Ecclesiastical law
• Moral virtues


  Human actions that are frequently carried out, so much so that such human act becomes easily executed in accordance with the dictates of reason
• Cardinal virtues


  • Prudence
  • Justice
  • Fortitude
  • Temperance
• Prudence


  Virtue that helps us know the best means in solving moral problems in concrete circumstances
• Justice


  Virtue that exercises the will to give or render the things, be it intellectual or material, to anyone who owns it
• Fortitude


  Virtue that exercises courage to face any dangers one encounters without fear, especially when life is at stake
• Temperance


  Virtue that exercises control in the midst of strong attraction to pleasures
• For Aquinas, the ultimate good for man is to fulfill his nature, which is to live as God's creature, in accordance to his purpose and to the divine plan of God, and to act that does not hinder his future union with God in heaven
• Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher during the modern period, known for his works on moral philosophy