Virtue Ethics

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Virtue Ethics

• Virtue ethicsA moral theory that focuses on the
  development of virtuous character.
• VirtuesEngrained dispositions to act by
  standards of excellence.
• In virtue ethics, character is the key to the
  moral life, for it is from a virtuous character
  that moral conduct and values naturally arise.

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Aristotle The Father of Virtue Ethics

• The highest goal of humanity is the good life or
  human flourishing (eudaimonia, happiness).
• Developing virtues is the way to achieve a rich
  and satisfying life.
• Virtues make us good personsand help us live a
  good life.

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Virtue Ethics

• The VirtuesAlasdair MacIntyre
• Virtues arise from, and are defined by, a
  coherent social practice.
• Virtues are relative to traditions.

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Virtue Ethics

• Virtue EthicsAristotle
• We always desire happiness for its own sake.
• The function of man is activity of the soul in
  accordance with reason.
• Moral virtues can best be acquired through
  practice and habit.
• Virtue is a mean lying between two vices.

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Virtue Ethics

• Virtue and the Moral LifeBernard Mayo
• We learn the most about ethics by looking at the
  lives of saints and heroes.
• Saints and heroes primarily give us examples to
  follow.
• Kant would reject the insights of virtue ethics.

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Virtue Ethics

• Saints and HeroesJ. O. Urmson
• Philosophers have too often ignored
  supererogatory actions.
• The ideal moral code should distinguish between
  basic rules and the higher flights of morality
  exemplified by saintliness and heroism.

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Virtue Ethics

• The Great Stone FaceNathaniel Hawthorne
• To develop into good people, we need not have
  great people, but simply great ideas and ideals.

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Virtue Ethics

• A Critique of Virtue-Based Ethical
  SystemsWilliam Frankena
• All the virtues can be derived from principles.
• Traits without principles are blind.
• An action is to be judged right or wrong by
  reference to a principle or set of principles.