Virtue ethics

• Virtue ethics: normative theory 


  Takes a different kind of approach to other normative theories

  Virtue ethics asks the question: 'what kind of person should I be?'

  It is an assessment of the kinds of personal qualities that contribute to making a good person rather than a system of rules and laws
• Based on the Greek word for Arete (excellence/moral virtue) 


  A teleological theory that considers the purpose of ethics as a way to achieve good character by considering our mental state

  Virtue is performed by mimicking the example of other ethical people to develop the same desirable traits
• Aristotle's three kinds of traits that make someone virtuous

  The Sophron: finds it easy to moderate with little effort

  The Enkrates: must work hard but can achieve virtue

  The Akrates: very weak-willed and cannot over come temptation
• Aristotle's moral virtues


  Eudaemonia- happiness/ human flourishing. This is the only thing that we want for its own sake

  When we desire things for other reasons, eventually they all lead back to the fact that we want to be happy

  Three kinds of happiness to achieve eudaemonia: happiness for the individual; happiness as a member of a community and happiness as a philosopher
• Aristotle's virtues: moral and intellectual 


  Moral virtues are non-rational and are virtues of character

  Intellectual virtues are rational and contribute most to the good life, some relate to theoretical reasoning and others to practical reasoning
• Intellectual virtues


  Scientific knowledge; art or technical skill; practical wisdom; intelligence/intuition; wisdom
• Moral virtues


  There are 12 virtues that fall between the vices of deficiency and excess

  The virtues are known as the golden mean, this is a middle path between the two vices as a way of moderation #
• Vice of deficiency and excess examples

  Deficiency: Cowardice; insensibility (no awareness); want of ambition; spiritlessness; boorishness; shamelessness; callousness

  Excess: rashness; licentiousness; over ambition; irascibility (easily angered); buffoonery; bashfulness; spitefulness
• Virtue- Golden Mean examples 


  Courage; temperance; right ambition (in small honours); good temper; wittiness; modesty; just resentment

  We learn these moral virtues through developing them as habits, the best learning is through doing
• Jesus' teachings on virtues

  Matthew presents Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount with eight moral virtues AKA the Beatitudes

  Each virtue begins the word 'blessed' and each virtue promises a reward

  Examples:

  Poor in spirit- reward of Kingdom in Heaven

  Mourn- reward of comfort

  Meek- reward of the earth

  Merciful- reward of being shown mercy

  poor in spirit- reward of seeing God
• Challenges: virtues are not a practical guide to moral behaviour 


  There are no instructions regarding how to behave in specific situations

  We have no way of knowing whether we have achieved virtue or are exhibiting vice

  Old fashioned and do not help with modern dilemmas

  They are romantic and idealistic rather than practical

  It is a circular idea: to do good things we must be virtuous, but to be virtuous we must do good things
• Challenges: issues of cultural relativism 


  The list of virtues may differ according to culture or ages

  What is moderate in one culture may not be moderate in another

  Aristotle's virtues and Christ's virtues contradict one another

  Virtue doesn't condemn any act so it may force us to tolerate terrible acts

  There is no clear methos to decide who is the most virtuous
• Challenges: virtues can be used for immoral acts

  Virtue could consider it courageous to kill another person, yet killing is wrong in most systems

  Immoral acts could be performed due to a misuse of the virtues

  Virtue leads to subjugation of women by teaching them feminine virtues that benefit men

  It focuses on style (the way we are moral) over substance (what is moral)

  Virtue prioritises the needs of humans and ignores the needs of animals or the environment