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Rosalind Hursthouse: Virtue Theory and AbortionPhil 240, Introduction to Ethical Theory, W9L3Benjamin Visscher Hole IV
According to Hursthouse:
A. eudaimonia is a difficult concept, but not substantially more so than rationality or happiness.
B. virtue ethics involves rules or principles.
C. virtue ethics is not committed to an implausible reductionism.
D. virtue ethics is not trivially circular.
E. all of the above.F. none of the above.
eudaimonia is
a diffi
cult .
..
virtue eth
ics in
volves rul..
virtue eth
ics is
not comm...
virtue eth
ics is
not triv
iall...
all of t
he above
.
none of the ab
ove.
9%
18%
0%
73%
0%0%
Hursthouse claims that in coming to verdicts about particular cases, virtue ethicists must rely on controversial judgments about:A. which actions
are honest, just, or charitable…
B. which activities are worthwhile.
C. both a and b.D. neither a nor
b. which acti
ons are
honest,...
which acti
vities are
wor..
.
both a and b.
neither a
nor b.
9%0%
82%
9%
According to Hursthouse, virtue ethics provides an answer to the question:
A. What should I do?
B. What sort of person should I be?
C. both a and b.D. neither a nor
b.W
hat should I d
o?
What s
ort of p
erson sh
ou..
both a and b.
neither a
nor b.
0% 0%
91%
9%
Objections & Responses
Some initial clarifications
1. Eudaimonia is a difficult concept, but not substantially more so than rationality or happiness.
2. Virtue ethics is not trivially circular.
3. Virtue ethics answers the questions “What should I do?” as well as “What kind of person should I be?”
4. Virtue ethics does involve rules or principles.
5. Virtue is not committed to reductionism.
Eudaimonia is a difficult concept, but not substantially more so than rationality or happiness.
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
Disagree Strongly
Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
18%
45%
18%
0%0%
9%9%
Virtue ethics is not trivially circular.
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
Disagree Strongly
Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
18%
36%
9%
0%0%0%
36%
Virtue ethics answers the questions “What should I do?” as well as “What kind of person should I be?”
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
Disagree Strongly
Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
0%
64%
18%
0%
9%
0%
9%
Virtue ethics does involve rules or principles.
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
Disagree Strongly
Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
9% 9%
64%
0%0%0%
18%
Virtue theory is not committed to reductionism.
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
Disagree Strongly
Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
0%
9%
18%
0%0%
18%
55%
Hursthouse’s initial clarifications successfully respond to standard objections
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat
AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
DisagreeStro
ngly Agre
eAgre
e
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
9%
0%
45%
0%
9%9%
27%
Two more objections to virtue ethics
1. Which character traits are virtues is disputed, and subject to the threat of moral skepticism or relativism.
2. Virtue ethics has unresolvable conflict built into it (as virtues often conflict).
Hursthouse: These are equally problems for rival ethical theories, such as deontology and consequentialism.
Objections & Responses
Hursthouse: These objections are equally problems for rival ethical theories, such as deontology and consequentialism.
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat
AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
DisagreeStro
ngly Agre
eAgre
e
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
0%
9%
45%
9%
0%
9%
27%
The major criticism of virtue
Objection: Virtue can’t “get us anywhere” because it relies on: Understanding of virtues and vices. Evaluative concepts such as the worthwhile.
Hursthouse’s Response The major criticism places unreasonable
constraints on an adequate moral theory. A discussion of abortion makes clear the
ways in which virtue theory can shed light on moral issues.
Hursthouse: The major criticism places unreasonable constraints on an adequate moral theory.
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat
AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
0% 0% 0% 0%0%0%0%
Virtue and Abortion
Does not focus on• Rights of the woman• Moral status of the
fetus
Does focus on• Biological facts
surrounding abortion• The thoughts and
feelings that ought to accompany the circumstances
• Hursthouse claims that we should begin by asking how the familiar biological facts of abortion figure in the practical reasoning of a virtuous agent.
• Reflection on these facts prompts the realization that pregnancy is not just one among many physical conditions, but a state that is typically attended by strong emotions and attachments.
Virtue and Abortion
Does not focus on• Rights of the woman• Moral status of the
fetus
Does focus on• Biological facts
surrounding abortion• The thoughts and
feelings that ought to accompany the circumstances
Hursthouse's Conclusion Depending on the circumstances, abortion can be right in some cases but not in others. Even in cases where it is right, guilt and remorse are sometimes called for.
Hursthouse: Depending on the circumstances, abortion can be right in some cases but not in others.
A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat
AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat
DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Somewhat Agre
e
Neutral
Somewhat Disa
gree
Disagre
e
Strongly
Disagree
9%
36%
18%
0%
9%9%
18%
Timmons
Theory
“The theoretical aim of moral theory is to discover those underlying features of actions, persons, and other items of moral evaluation that make them right or wrong, good or bad and thus explain why such items have the moral properties they have. Features of this sort serve as moral criteria of the right and the good” (3-4).
Practice
“The practical aim of a moral theory is to offer practical guidance for how we might arrive at correct or justified moral verdicts about matters of moral concern – verdicts which we can then use to help guide choice” (4).
Main concerns for assessing ethical theoryHow to respond to the immoralist
challenge?Problems for Modern Moral Philosophy
Integrity Indirection Psychologically impoverished
Practical Guidance and Explanatory Power (Timmons)
Moral DilemmasUniversality versus Context-SensitivityWatson’s Dilemma
Moral Indeterminancy Circularity
Demandingness Problems
In light of these concerns, which ethical theory is the best?
A. Social contractarianism (Glaucon and Hobbes)
B. Kantian deontologyC. Bentham’s hedonistic
utilitarianismD. Mill’s hedonistic
utilitarianismE. Aristotle’s virtue
ethical theoryF. Nussbaum’s virtue
ethical theory Social c
ontracta
rianism
(...
Kantian deontology
Bentham’s
hedonistic u
til...
Mill’
s hedonisti
c utilita
ri...
Aristo
tle’s
virtu
e ethica
l ...
Nussbaum’s
virtue eth
ica...
0%
9%
18%
27%
36%
9%