Virtue Ethics

Question 1

who created

Answer 1

Aristotle

Question 2

what is main question

Answer 2

not what should I do
but what kind of person am I

Question 3

what was Aristotles main purpose

Answer 3

everyone wants a full happy life - eudaiminonia
involves living well in an ordered society

Question 4

what are the 5 general virtues needed for living
how many are cardinal virtues of Catholic Church

Answer 4

1. Courage
2. Friendship
3. Temperance
4. Justice
5. Wisdom
   4

Question 5

what does golden mean mean?
gIve an example

Answer 5

virtue between extremes
cowardice, rashness is courage

Question 6

give names of people who are modern virtue ethicists

Answer 6

Elizabeth Anscome
MacIntyre
Hursthouse

Question 7

what is Anscombe argument

Answer 7

1. only rules are coherent if believe in god
2. argues answers move away from act centre enlightment to agent centred goal of moral action notion of human happiness and flourishing
3. focus on character avoids legalistic deontology well as consequentialist calculations

Question 8

McIntyre

Answer 8

1. brings morality back to business - avoids putting profits before moral principles of human flourishing
2. assumes a commitment to human flourishing will lead to moral knowledge
3. we will know right from wrong in moral context
4. euthanisa - would a courageous person asset the sucide of terminally ill relative. a patient - eudaemonia no longer realistic

Question 9

strengths - 3

Answer 9

1. creates flexibility not problems of rules conflicting
2. creates moral thinkers
3. flexible and can be applied to any situation

Question 10

Weaknesses - 5

Answer 10

1. applied in 4th century doesn’t take into account different cultures
2. anthropocentric nature - seen in Aristotles hierarchy of souls means ignores interest of animals
3. new technologies to medicine - many virtues don’t seem relevant
4. humans need rules - gives too much responsibility
5. Louden - becomes subjective - euthanasia may be courageous for one but cowardly for another

Question 11

Hursthouse

Answer 11

applied abortion
case of poor physical health - an abortion would not be evident of being self indulgent
person being virtuous less likely end in this situation

Question 12

strengths of hursthouse

Answer 12

1. gives responsibility
2. virtuous people onlt take if necessary
3. flexible and compassionate