Virtue Ethics

Question 1

Outline Virtue Ethics

Answer 1

• “Living well” & Virtues/Vices
• The function argument (everything has a function, only humans have a rational soul)
• Eudaimonia (to be ‘good’, we must flourish)
• Phronesis (‘practical wisdom’ which comes from being virtuous)
• The doctrine of the mean (how a virtuous person reacts in certain situations under/over-reactions)
• Voluntary actions: Actions on which we can be judged
• Involuntary actions: Compulsion or Ignorance

Question 2

Outline the “Virtue Ethics is vague and does not give concrete guidance” criticism of Virtue Ethics (and reply)

Answer 2

-[example] A pregnant woman is told that her child will live a short and painful life. Could be compassionate and abort it, could be caring and let it live.
-Utilitarianism would solve this problem
-What if the mother does not posses ‘phronesis’
Reply: (HURSTHOUSE) Yes, VE needs to explain the actions of a virtuous person. But to simply look for a definitive rule would eliminate the consideration which moral action requires.

Question 3

Outline the “Conflicts between virtues” criticism of Virtue Ethics (and reply)

Answer 3

[example] You are harbouring your friend from an axe-weilding killer. When confronted by the killer, are you loyal to your friend and keep his location a secret, or are you honest and disclose your friend’s whereabouts?
Reply: Phronesis is required in extreme circumstances. In this case, the murderer does not deserve to be told the truth

Question 4

Outline the “Possibility in circularity in defining virtue” criticism of Virtue Ethics (and reply)

Answer 4

1. An act is virtuous if it is an act that would be done by a virtuous person in this situation
2. A virtuous person is a person who is disposed to virtuous acts
   -The theory does not give a clear definition of virtue.
   Reply: #2 is too simple. A virtuous person is judged also by traits (like loyalty), not just actions. They will flourish and have a ‘good’ life (morality/relationships/status)

Question 5

Outline the “Relativism” criticism of Virtue Ethics (and reply)

Answer 5

-Virtues can be relative to time and place.
-e.g. In Aristotle’s time, pride was key. You would show-off in order to display greatness and status. Nowadays, this is seen as arrogant. This gives us unstable foundations to base our ideas of virtues on.
Reply: Aspects of human nature, in regards to flourishing, are universal (friendship/love)

Question 6

Outline the “Goodness beyond virtue and evil beyond vice” criticism of Virtue Ethics

Answer 6

(HANNAH ARENDT)

The terms “virtue” and “vice” are too vague. A vice could be the bad habit of biting your fingernails, or mass genocide.

Question 7

List the 5 criticisms of Virtue Ethics

Answer 7

Virtue Ethics is too vague and does not give concrete guidance
Conflicts between virtues
Possibility of circularity in defining virtue
Relativism
“Goodness beyond virtue and evil beyond vice”