Normative Theories: Virtue Theory

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Normative Theories Virtue Theory

• Nichomachean Ethics

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Virtue Theory

• Every art and inquiry aims at the good (goal or
  purpose) which is desired for its own sake.
• Perhaps you are in school to get a job so that
  you can buy an expensive car. But why buy the
  expensive car?
• Maybe you are in school so that you can learn but
  why learn?
• This ultimate good is happiness.

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Ends in Themselves

• We choose many things for the sake of other
  things.
• A hammer and nail so we can hang a picture.
• We choose some things for their own sake and also
  for the sake of other things.
• We want to learn for its own sake and to get a
  degree/job.
• We choose all things, ultimately for happiness.

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Happiness

• Happiness is the most important thing in our
  lives, what makes life worth living.
• Happiness is self-sufficient nothing can be
  added to it to make it better.

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Function

• For everything the good resides in its function
• The value of a flute is in its making good music
• The value of TV making is in making good TVs
• People have functions too!

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Distinction and Virtue

• Humans share with plants the function of living
  and with animals the function of moving, so what
  is distinct about us?
• Humans are the only ones who can be moral, who
  can live virtuous lives.
• Our function is to live in accordance with
  virtue.

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Habit

• Virtue are perfected by habit.
• We get them by practice!
• Its not always easy to do the right thing but it
  gets easier. The first time you tell the truth
  to a new friend in a hard situation is the
  hardest.

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Like Everything Else it Takes Practice
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What is Virtue?

• Virtue just is what the virtuous person does.
• The virtuous person is one who acts virtuously
  one who has established a good character.
• How can I find a virtuous person?

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Find the Mean

• We should aim for the mean between extremes to
  achieve virtue.
• not be insensitive or dishonest.

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Vice

• Vice, like virtue, becomes easier with practice.
• People can become bad tempered to the point that
  they no longer recognize their bad behavior.

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Connections?

• Perhaps virtue theory can be used to explain how
  a good will is formed?
• Maybe the categorical imperative can help us
  figure out when something is virtuous or vicious
  (what we should practice)?
• Of course, the virtuous person will pay attention
  to the consequences of her actions on others.
  Insensitivity is a vice.

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Task

• Write a (fictional?) short story about two people
  having a discussion in a business setting. One
  is viscous and the other virtuous. Use your
  story to explain Aristotles theory of virtue.
  See if you can explain the following components
  of his theory in your story Happiness as an end
  in itself, functions, virtue, habit, and
  character.

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Heres How Mine Starts

• Lou walks into Roberts diamond store and asks to
  see a ring. Robert, putting away his books,
  tells Lou to hold on for a moment. Lou starts
  getting anxious. He feels like people are always
  making him wait. Lou always gets upset when
  asked to wait. He has practiced the vice of
  impatience and now has an impatient character