virtue ethics

• a virtue is a good quality in someone's character; thinking + doing what is morally right + avoiding what is wrong
• virtue ethics is a character-based system
• Aristotle outlines how the system works in the quote "we are what we repeatedly do"
• unlike other ethical systems, virtue ethics is concerned with the process of how to become a moral person, rather than the process of moral decision-making
• Aristotle said we should strive for eudaimonia
• we can reach eudaimonia through cultivating the right behaviours (virtues) + practicing them so they become habit
• Aristotle defines eudaimonia as a state of action; a person in eudaimonia is fully content all the time
• the Function Argument suggests that something is 'good' if it fulfils its function: e.g. a good knife is one that works well + fulfils its purpose - so it would have a sharp blade, an ergonomic handle + cuts well
• the hierarchy of souls is as follows

  • humans (rational) ⬇️
  • animals (sensitive)⬇️
  • plants (vegetative)
• Aristotle describes a 'good life' as one "in which we reason well"
• someone's moral virtues should be assessed across a persons complete life
• the 2 aspects of the soul Aristotle defines are the rational and non-rational
• the rational soul holds the intellectual + practical virtues
• an intellectual virtue example would be doing maths; practical virtues example would be understanding, judgement + practical wisdom
• intellectual virtues contribute to a good life as they are under the control of reason
• the non-rational soul holds moral virtues - or virtues of character; e.g. courage, patience. these are formed by habit
• a virtuous person must:

  • know what they are doing in any situation + not act through ignorance
  • must choose to act virtuously
• the 5 primary intellectual virtues are: (in latin)

  • techne
  • episteme
  • phronesis
  • nous
  • sophia
• techne = art, technical skill
• episteme = scientific knowledge
• phronesis = practical wisdom, prudence
• nous = intelligence, intuition
• sophia = wisdom
• the 4 secondary virtues:

  • resourcefulness
  • understanding
  • judgement
  • cleverness
• a phronimos is a man of practical reason - a good judge of ethical matters
• there are 12 moral virtues
• the golden mean is the median between 2 extremes of deficiency + excess
• examples of the vice of deficiency, golden mean, vice of excess:

  • want of ambition - right ambition - over ambition
  • cowardice - courage - rashness
  • surliness - friendliness - obsequious
  • sarcasm - sincerity - boastfulness
  • callousness - just resentment - spitefulness
• an example of a situation with the golden mean: a soldier is left behind in battle

  • the vice of deficiency would be cowardice: leaving the soldier behind
  • the golden mean would be courage: organising a group then going on a rescue mission
  • the vice of excess would be rashness: going straight into save with no planning or awareness
• the 4 cardinal virtues:

  • prudence
  • justice
  • temperance
  • fortitude
• the 3 theological virtues:

  • faith
  • hope
  • charity, love