Transcript Connections Between Virtue-Based and Action

Chapter Nine:
Virtue Theory
Aretaic Ethics:
Come from the Greek word arete which
translates as “excellence” or “virtue”
The virtue or value of the actions is not in the
act, but is in the heart of the actor.
Virtue Ethics emphasizes being a certain person
with a certain quality of character.
Virtue Theory
Seeks
to produce excellent persons.
Seeks to have people act out of spontaneous
goodness.
Seeks to have those who are excellent inspire
others.
Aretic Ethics focuses on the goal of life which
is to live well and achieve excellence.
Virtue Theory
Virtues:
trained behavioral dispositions that
result in habitual acts of moral goodness
Vice: trained behavioral dispositions that result
in habitual acts of moral wrongness
Cardinal virtues: main virtues of wisdom,
temperance, courage, and justice
Theological virtues: faith, hope and charity
The Nature of Virtue Ethics
Virtue
Ethics claims that it is important to not
only do the right thing, but also to have the
correct disposition, motivation, and emotion in
being good and doing right.
Virtue Ethics is not only about action, but also
about emotions, characters, and moral habits.
Virtues traditionally divided into two types:
moral and nonmoral virtues
Moral Virtues
Honesty
Benevolence
Nonmalevolence
Fairness
Kindness
Conscientiousness
Gratitude
Nonmoral Virtues
Courage
Endurance
Optimism
Industry
Rationality
Musical
Self-Control
Patience
Talent
Cleanliness
Wit
Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
To
achieve a state of well being (eudaimonia),
proper social institutions are necessary.
The moral person cannot exist apart from a
political setting that enables him or her to
develop the requisite virtues for the good life.
Ethics is therefore considered a branch of
politics.
Aristotle
Humanity
has an essence, or function.
The function of humans is to use their reason in
pursuit of the good life.
Moral virtues are different from intellectual
ones.
By living well, we acquire the right habits.
These habits are the virtues.
Aristotle
Virtues
exist between a mean that has excess
and deficiency at either end.
We need to choose along this mean the proper
course of action, towards the right conclusion.
People have unequal ability to be virtuous.
Some have great ability; some lack it entirely.
Some people are worthless, natural slaves.
The Ideal Individual
Father
Maximilian Kolbe
Jesus
Socrates
Gandhi
Mother
Theresa
All of their lives have exhibited appropriate
attitudes and dispositions of Virtue Ethics.
Criticisms of Action-Based Ethics
Action
Based Ethics Lack a Motivational
Component
Action Based Ethics are Founded on an
Obsolete Theological-Legal Model
Action Based Ethics Ignore the Spontaneous
Dimension of Ethics
Action Based Ethics are Minimalist and
Neglect the Development of Character
Action Based Ethics Overemphasize Autonomy
and Neglect Community
Connections Between VirtueBased and Action-Based Ethics
Pure Virtue Ethics:
The virtues are dominant and have intrinsic
value. Moral rules or duties are derived from
the virtues
Connections Between VirtueBased and Action-Based Ethics
Standard Action-Based view:
Action-guiding principles are the essence of
morality. The virtues are derived from the
principles and are instrumental in performing
right actions.
Connections Between VirtueBased and Action-Based Ethics
Complementarity (Pluralistic) Ethics:
Both action-based and virtue-based models are
necessary for an adequate and complete
system. Neither the virtues nor the rules are
primary; they complement each other, and both
may have intrinsic value.