Title: Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong
1 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.
2Virtue 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.
3Virtue 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
4The 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
5Moral Virtues
- Honesty
- Benevolence
- Nonmalevolence
- Fairness
- Kindness
- Conscientiousness
- Gratitude
6Nonmoral Virtues
- Courage
- Optimism
- Rationality
- Self-Control
- Patience
- Endurance
- Industry
- Musical Talent
- Cleanliness
- Wit
7Aristotles 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.
8Aristotle
- 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.
9Aristotle
- 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.
10The Ideal Individual
- Father Maximilian Kolbe
- Jesus
- Socrates
- Gandhi
- Mother Theresa
- All of their lives have exhibited appropriate
attitudes and dispositions of Virtue Ethics.
11Criticisms 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
12Connections Between Virtue-Based and Action-Based
Ethics
Pure Virtue Ethics The virtues are dominant
and have intrinsic value. Moral rules or duties
are derived from the virtues
13Connections Between Virtue-Based 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.
14Connections Between Virtue-Based 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.