The Ethics of Virtue

• Virtue ethics date back to Aristotle (325B.C.) in his Nichomachean Ethics.

• Aristotle’s central question: “What is the good of man?”

Supreme Good

• Happiness – supreme good chosen for itself and never for something else.

• More than a mere truism

• What is the nature of happiness?

• How do we achieve happiness?

Virtue and Function

• Aristotle holds that happiness (or that which makes someone happy) is tied to the proper functioning of a thing.

• “good hammer” = that which functions well at hammering

• What is the unique function of man?

The Function of Man

• Aristotle holds that the unique function of man is his power of thought.

• Full development of reason will make man happy

• Life of Reason: “activity of the soul in conformity with virtue” – clear judgment that is self-centered

• Rational Principle = Golden Mean

The Golden Mean

• Virtue is the mean between two extremes relative to the individuals.

• Excess-------Mean-------Deficiency

Rashness-----Bravery-----Cowardice

• The good person is one who habitually follows the mean.

Contemporary Virtue Ethics

• Virtue (defined): a trait of character, manifested in habitual action, which is good for a person to have.

• Examples of Virtues: (Partial list – no absolute or complete list)

Benevolence, Fairness, Self-Discipline

Self-Reliance , Honesty, Tolerance

Conscientiousness, Loyalty, Justice

Importance of the Virtues?

• Virtuous person will fare better in life.

• Virtues are needed to live well

• We need virtues to live in community with others

• Necessary to pursue our own ends and cope with life’s challenges

The Nature of the Virtues

• Are the virtues the same for everyone? Yes

– All people need virtue just to different degrees

– Certain virtues will be necessary for some cultures

– Radical Virtues Ethics: get rid of the notion of morally right and morally wrong. Use virtuous and non-virtuous.

Advantages of Virtue Ethics

• Moral Motivation – certain situations are handled by an appeal to virtue rather than right action or duty.

– Example: Visiting a friend in the hospital

– Virtue: Friendship, Love, Loyalty

• Doubts about the ideal of impartiality – relationships with family and friends are difficult to account for in other moral approaches.

Problems with Virtue Ethics

• Problem of Incompleteness

• Lie/Don’t Lie →

• Honesty is a virtue →

• What does it mean to be honest? →

• One who follows rules such as “Do not lie” →

• Why this rule? → Non-virtue consideration

Problems with Virtue Ethics (Continued)

• Problem of Conflicting Virtues

– Friendship vs. Justice

• Is there a virtue to cover every situation? For any good reason given in favor of doing an action, there is a corresponding virtue consists of a disposition to accept and act on that reason.