Virtue Ethics We are what we repeatedly do

Virtue Ethics “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ” Aristotle Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one. " – Marcus Aurelius

Virtue Ethics Who am I? Who ought I to become? How ought I to get there?

Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics is person rather than action based: it looks at the virtue or moral character of the person carrying out an action, rather than at ethical duties and rules, or the consequences of particular actions. It provides guidance as to the sort of characteristics and behaviours a

Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics is concerned with the whole of a person's life, rather than particular episodes or actions. A good person is someone who lives virtuously - who possesses and lives the virtues.

Virtue ethics teaches: An action is only right if it is an action that a virtuous person would carry out in the same circumstances. A virtuous person is a person who acts virtuously A person acts virtuously if they "possess and live the virtues" A virtue is a moral characteristic that a person needs to live well.

Virtue Ethics Socrates, Plato but mainly Aristotle: What traits of character make someone a good person? In contrast, modern philosophers ask the question: What is the right thing to do? (Ethical Egoism, Utilitarianism, The Social Contract Theory, Kant’s theory) Virtue is a trait of character manifested in habitual action, that it is good for anyone to have (Rechels, p. 159) The word virtue is translated from the Greek word areté. Its connotation is “to be the best at something one can be. ” In Aristotle’s ethics (arete) is “excellences of various types. ” Character is a combination of virtues

Plato’s Cardinal Virtues Temperance Prudence Courage Justice Piety (reverence to the gods) is sometimes considered a fifth virtue

Plato Main virtues and their association with the different classes Temperance is associated with the farmers and craftsmen. It is determined by the animal appetites, to whom no special virtue was assigned; Fortitude and courage are the virtues for the warriors and corresponds to spirit; Prudence or wisdom is mainly for the rulers and corresponds to reason. Justice is for all and defines relationship between them Three classes compose an ideal state

Human Goal in Life Happiness and balance To be happy and act in a good way we should keep our soul in peace and balance All the three elements should be in balance and governed by ratio People and their types and position in society can be defined according to dominance of one or another element

Aristotle was born in Stagira Studied in Plato’s Academy from 367 to 347 BC In 338 began to tutor Alexander the Great In 335 he established the Lyceum Aristotle fled to the island of Euboea where he died

ARISTOTLE It is said that he wrote 150 treaties 30 of the treaties survived He studied Biology, Ethics, Rhetoric, Linguistics, Politics, Government, Poetry, Physics. Metaphysics. Philosophy, Theater, Zoology, Aesthetics. Astronomy

Virtue Ethics Three main concepts deriving from Aristotle: 1) Αρετέ (Aretè): Excellence or Virtue 2) Φρονεσις (Phronesis): Practical Wisdom 3) Έυδαιμονια (Eudaimonia=well-being): Happiness or Flourishing Main Theorists: Aristotle “Nichomachean Ethics” Elisabeth Anscombe “Modern Moral Philosophy” Alistair Mac. Intyre “After Virtue”

Aristotle Ethics is not a theoretical discipline: it is important in order to reach what is good in our lives Ethics is about cultivating good character Good Character makes or allows person to act rightly and morally Focus on “Ethics of Being” (virtues) rather than “Ethics of doing”, but there is unity of being and doing since if you are a good person, you do good things How to cultivate good character? We do that by realization of appropriate ends/goals (telos) Happiness is a goal of human life and the meaning of life

Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics A person is happy when he/she can accomplish his/her proper task: for example, the musician when he can play good music Happiness is a virtuous activity (not just being in a state or a condition, but doing right). àEudaimonia: Real happiness that can be reached only developing a virtuous character in accordance with reason

Aristotle According to Aristotle, happiness is neither pleasure nor material nor social gain. It has to do with inner peace, personal wellbeing and balance Moral virtues come with habitual practice Greek work “Ethos” - habit

Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics The goal of a human being as such is neither simple nutrition (plants) nor perception (animals), but living through reason, that is, virtuous activity So in order to be happy a man should be virtuous (following virtue), and pleasure is strictly connected with virtue To be happy = to live virtuously

Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics Virtue depends on the means a man is using to get what he desires: a free choice Two kind of virtues: 1) Moral virtues: following reason over passions (for example, justice, temperance, courage…) 2) Intellectual virtues: the exercise of reason (for example, practical wisdom, theoretical wisdom, science…) We exercise our reason in two ways: Practical thinking/reason (phronesis) Theoretical reasoning – discovering of higher truths

Aristotle Ethics Virtue = the golden mean between extremes or two vices: the one of excess and the one of deficiency Cowardice Courage Recklessness (too much fear) (virtue) (too little fear) Self-effacement Self-confidence Arrogance (too little self-esteem) Miserly (virtue) (too much self-esteem) Generous Extravagant (too little generosity) (virtue) (too much generosity) _________________

Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics Potentially all free males can become ethically virtuous and practically wise through two stages: - Habits developed since their childhood - Practical Wisdom is acquired in adulthood with experience when reason is fully developed and enables the virtuous actor to recognize that some features of a situation are more important than others

Nicomachean Ethics Because virtue is happiness the highest happiness and virtue is represented by theoretical wisdom à the life of the philosopher https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=UQf. Rdl 3 GT w 4 The second one is represented by practical wisdom à the political leader

Nicomachean Ethics Friendship Three reasons for loving someone: 1) he/she is good 2) he/she is useful 3) he/she is pleasant Perfect friendship when they are equally virtuous à A genuine friend is someone who loves or likes the other person for the sake of that other person: reciprocal good will à Only the first kind is perfect friendship

Virtue Ethics: resuming… Virtue ethics is about character (agent-centered) Virtues may be defined as the means between two values (this is what Aristotle proposes) but this idea is not necessary present in contemporary virtue ethicists Education and habits are necessary in order to develop a virtuous character, but they should be coupled by experience and reason, that is to say practical wisdom The virtuous person is able to take into account the particular circumstances Eudaimonia (‘happiness’) is not only the major goal of the virtuous person, but also his/her major reward. And eudaimonia is not a state, but an activity

Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics Problem 1: what does this doctrine requires to do? virtue ethics doesn’t provide a rule of conduct, that is a procedure for determining what is the right action in any particular case in such a way that anyone could understand apply it à A virtuous person should first of all promote virtues and avoid vices (for example, do what is honest and do not do what is dishonest): this idea gives a sort of guidance à Exactly because virtue ethics is flexible and situation-sensitive, the agent should be responsible for what he does, therefore he provides an example that can be observed by others

Virtue Ethics Problem 2: Does it apply universally? Or the cultural relativity problem For example, in Homeric Greece the ideal virtuous man was the hero or warrior and the virtues were strength and courage. For Aristotle virtue is linked to rationality and the ideal virtuous man is the Athenian citizen. For Thomas Aquinas virtue is related to religion, so virtues are faith, hope, charity and humility and the ideal virtuous man is the saint. For Benjamin Franklin, virtue is related both to earthly and heavenly success, so the virtues were (among others) cleanliness, silence, industry Why is it a virtue? Why is it good? No full interpretation of virtues - Maybe virtues are not relative, but their application in different cultures may differ

Virtue Ethics Problem 3: is it always possible to apply this theory? Or the Conflict Problem: what does virtue ethics requires when we face dilemmas where two different virtues conflict? For example, what are you going to do if you have two different compelling obligations, like going to a wedding of a friend or studying for the final exam? à A virtuous person would be someone who expresses the right degree of concern for all relevant considerations The conflict is only apparent: through practical wisdom it should be possible to understand what is the most important virtue in every case

Virtue Ethics Problem 4: is that theory egotistic? Or the self-centered problem: virtue ethics is primarily concerned with the agent’s own character - This objection fails to recognize that virtues are other-regarding as well as self-regarding (for example, kindness requires to respond in a nice way to others)