Virtue Ethics Virtue excellence of character Does moral

Virtue Ethics Virtue – excellence of character. Does moral action come from working out the right thing to do – according to some principle – or from being a good person? Can a bad person do good things? What does it even mean, to be a good person?

Virtue Ethics Normative ethical theories usually fall within two categories: - Teleological ethics - Deontological ethics Virtue ethics however, does not focus on the action, or on the consequences, but on the excellence of character of the person doing the action: on their virtue. If you are virtuous, you have excellences of character, and you will naturally and effortlessly do good actions. Being virtuous will lead to happiness for yourself and for others. If you have a vicious character, even your good actions are likely to be bad, as they will be calculated to some selfish end. In the long term, you will find unhappiness. But how do you develop virtue, except by learning to do good actions? There is no principle for learning virtue, except by experience, and by doing what a virtuous person would do. • • To describe the key features of Aristotle's virtue theory as excellence of character To identify the connection between virtue and happiness To explain how virtue can be learnt To evaluate if VE can be a universal and practical ethic

Aristotle’s Ethics Aristotle, b. 380 BC, was one of the greatest ancient Greek philosophers. He studied under Plato’s Academy, but later diverged from Plato, and set up his own school, the Lyceum in Athens, where he taught his own science-based philosophy (based on observation of the natural world, rather than debate about ideas). - - Aristotle noticed that even things in nature have a proper function and purpose. Just like the purpose of a pen is to write, so the purpose of a plant is to grow, and the purpose of animals to procreate and flourish. A good pen writes, a bad plant fails to grow. What is the proper function of man, by which he can be a ‘good’ man? Man is distinguished by his supreme ability to reason and to live in society. When man fulfils his purpose, he is happy. So happiness is to act according to reason, as part of society. “Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue” (Aristotle). When we exercise our reason/soul well – to do the most excellent thing we can - we find happiness. This is why we should want to be virtuous. Being virtuous fulfils our own nature and potential. With Aristotle’s virtue ethics, you don’t need to ask- why should I be good? Happiness is our fulfilment and our success. . . is what every activity intends. (Scruton) What other answers have people given to this question?

There is a teleological aspect to virtue ethics. The ultimate goal of being virtuous, is to find happiness through excellence, eudaimonia. How do we do this? 1. The “activity of the soul according to virtue” is something we engage in over an an entire life • • If you once lend money to someone who asks, does that make you generous? If you once stop yourself from having second helpings, does that make you selfcontrolled? No. Aristotle says: “one swallow does not make a summer, and not does one day, so too one day does not make a man blessed and happy”. To get the rewards of virtue, you must consistently show virtue. It has to be a stable aspect of your character. 2. The virtue that is shown, must be appropriately shown: “To do this to the right person, to the right extent, at the right time, with the right motive, and in the right way, that is not for everyone, nor is it easy; wherefore goodness is both rare and laudable and noble. ” (Aristotle, Ethics II. 9) “For it is no easy task to be good. For in everything it is no easy task to find the middle. ” How do you know, when you are friendly and not ingratiating, or loutish?

The Golden Mean rash unfeeling free-spending petty ambitious irascibility false modesty foolish obsequious Shameless envious courageous self-indulgent mean vulgar vain patient truthful boorish cantankerous shy spiteful cowardly Temperate liberal big-hearted lazy lack of spirit boastful witty friendly modest indignant 1. For each list of traits, identify the excess, the mean, and the deficiency 2. Why is the middle term the “golden mean”? 3. How do you know if you have it? 4. Are these virtues to do with yourself, or with others?

Explain these features of Aristotle’s VE • • • Excellence Happiness Lifelong Golden mean types of virtues

Aristotle believed that happiness came in 3 types – • a life of physical enjoyment, • a life with freedom, and • a life of reflection (philosophizing). He divided up the virtues into two groups to reflect these kinds of happiness: 1. the moral virtues we saw (habitually good actions) 2. intellectual virtues - excellences of mental activity: intelligence, wisdom, prudence (practical reason), artistic skill. The 4 cardinal virtues are 4 key virtues drawn from both these groups, which you need to guarantee a happy life in its completeness: Justice As a character trait, justice is a virtuous state. It makes us fit for purpose by ordering all things well in regard to ourselves - so justice is also is “virtue entire” – the collective outcome of all virtuous actions (and in relation to others as well, since virtues are also about relationships with others). Wisdom – recognises what constitutes right action and attitudes in any given situation. Manages the other virtues. Philo – sophia is love of wisdom, ultimate key to happiness. Courage – enables us to act according to virtue, to the right degree and manner. Why are these 4 the key virtues? Temperance – right use of sensible goods (proper limits on pleasure).

The 3 kinds of person • Sophron • Enkrates • Akrates Make notes on the 3 kinds of person, p. 120. How accessible is virtue a universal ethic for all? These three types of characters that Aristotle identified, suggests that maybe virtue is not universal or easy. - It requires a lot of life experience, to recognize the right way/ time/ motive/ person/ extent something should be done in. - It requires good education, good role models. - It can be difficult for some people to learn: they may be naturally more irascible or sensual, or have low will power / ability to tolerate frustration. It is a progressive effort, where the effort to learn good habits, over against sensual appetites, pays off, but slowly. Once learnt, virtue brings peace, and happiness of character.

Mindmap Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics

Read the extract from Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics. 1. Summarise the stages of his argument in a few short phrases 2. How does he think that we achieve the virtue? 3. Is virtue enough for a happy life? 2 other things. • Eudaimonia • Virtue • Activity of the soul • Reason, society • Ethics is character based