Download Virtue Ethics Intro

Ethics (and Morals)
Virtue & Character
Ethics and Morals are different
Morals are value judgments, beliefs, principles, and rules
for ordinary life. Latin root: mores= norms. Morals are
specific.
Ethics steps back and considers the reasons and foundations for
one’s beliefs or, let’s say, a country’s moral laws. Greek root:
ethos=character. Ethics involves reasoning about morals. Ethics
is the study of morals, not the other way around.
Examples of morals
Cary Nation and
the Temperance
Movement
Moses and his
_____________
Code of Hammurabi
195: If a son strike his father, his hands shall be [cut] off. (4)
196: If a [noble-]man put out the eye of another [noble-]man, his eye shall be put
out. (5)
197: If he break another [noble-]man's bone, his bone shall be broken.
198: If he put out the eye or break the bone of a commoner, he shall pay one
[silver] mina.
Ethical foundations for moral behavior
Ethical Theories
Consequence
Based
Utilitarianism
Religion Based
Divine Command
Theory
Duty Based
Deontology
Agent Centered
Virtue Ethics
We will explore agent-centered
virtue ethics!
But wait, what is an
agent? A: someone
who makes decisions
to shape their lives,
reality, etc.; the
capacity to do this is
called, in philosophy,
“agency”
What is Virtue Ethics?
• De-emphasizes
– intentions
– consequences
– rules
• Emphasizes the person
who is acting
• Inquires whether the
person is expressing
good character
The question is…
• Not:
What should I do?
• But rather:
What sort of person should
I be?
How do I build good
character?
What is character?
• The Sum of All Our Traits
(virtues & vices)
• Virtues are Character traits
which…
• Enable us to act well
habitually
• Require the right kind of
inner attitude & motivation
• Cannot be detected from
the outside
Moral Character is the
first essential in a man.
~George Washington
How do we acquire virtue?
• Practical wisdom
– Comes from observing human
affairs carefully
– Comes from remembering how
our actions & the actions of
others have played out
• The more we develop a
virtuous character & acquire
practical wisdom
– The greater chance we will act
well in life
• Good actions from from good
character
• Good character is essential to
human happiness
Aristotle and Virtue Theory
The Golden Mean
The ratio of the following
distances is the Golden Ratio:
(foot to navel) : (navel to
head)
Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics
• Seeks to develop individual
character
• Assumes good persons will
make good decisions
• Be a ‘good’ person
Aristotle &Happiness
• Happiness = eudaimonia
• Happiness is not a result or end
• Happiness is not something we look forward
to after toil and suffering
• Happiness is a way of life, made possible by
virtuous living
• Happiness is an activity of the soul in accord
with perfect virtue.
Virtue &Habit
• For Aristotle, virtue is something
that is practiced and thereby
learned—it is habit (hexis).
• This has clear implications for
moral education, for Aristotle
obviously thinks that you can
teach people to be virtuous.
• Role models become very
important
Virtue As the Golden Mean
• Aristotle says virtue involves finding the proper
balance between two extremes.
– Excess: having too much of something.
– Deficiency: having too little of something.
• Not mediocrity, but harmony and balance.
• The Mean varies from person to person
• There are many ways of behaving & thus many ways
to be happy
A Virtuous Life Means Balance
Take one of the cardinal virtues away, then one
happens?
At school?
• Competence
• Teamwork
• Social justice
• Mellowness of heart
Examples
Emotion: fear
• Vice-deficiency = rashness
• Vice-excess=cowardice
• Virtue-mean=courage
Action: giving money
• Vice-deficiency=stinginess
• Vice-excess=prodigality
• Virtue-mean=generosity
The Greek’s 4 Cardinal Virtues
Courage and Temperance
2 that regulate emotion:
Justice:
giving each their fair due
Prudence:
knowledge of one’s good or
purpose (telos)
knowledge of precise ethics