VIRTUE ETHICS
CHAPTER 7
Virtue Ethics as an Ethics of Character
Virtue Ethics
Originally found in the philosophy of the ancient
Greek thinker Aristotle (384-332 BCE).
known also character ethics
Practically concerned: What traits of character
make someone a good person? Not on particular
principle can be applied in order to do what is right.
Virtue Ethics as an Ethics of Character
Theme: producing excellent
persons, who act well out of
spontaneous goodness and serve
as examples to inspire others.
Virtue as a Habit
Virtue ( or Excellence- Greek word Arete) is a kind
of disposition to act well or excellently living well.
Are special moral qualities and trained behavioral
dispositions that result in habitual acts of moral goodness.
To do a virtuous act does not automatically turn and
individual into a virtuous person, since virtue is not “ just
an act” but a habit.
Virtue as a Habit
Honesty
Honest person is truthful as
matter of course; her actions
spring from a firm and
unchangeable character.
Virtue as a Habit
Good or Moral Person:
to make a virtue as the defining feature of one’s being.
a person of character: positive qualities- wisdom,
courage, temperance, justice and magnanimity….
goodness is a logical consequence of one’s character
or identity.
confronted with specific moral situation: they will
naturally do the right thing precisely because doing the
right thing is part of who they are, of their character, of
their inner core.
Virtue is Acquired and a
Product of Effort
How do people become good and
virtuous?
something that the individual has to earn
through effort, dedication, and persistence.
Achieved through and with others…
it’s a process… practice makes one
perfect… one has to go through the
process….
Virtue, Reason, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
How do we become happy people?
Aristotle thinks we do so through having the
right habits, which he describes as virtues which
are ingrained disposition that are conducive to
living well”.
Happy life is a life of virtue which involves
reason..
Life of reason is one that is devoted to rational
activities such as thinking and reason.
Virtue, Reason, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
Aristotle: every act that a person does is
directed towards a particular purpose, aim,
or what the Greek called telos.
The good is considered to be the TELOS
or purpose for which all acts seek to
achieve.
Virtue, Reason, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
What is the good and how does this relate
to the pursuit of happiness?
Aristotle discerns basically the nature of human
happiness as the ultimate and final goal of all
human striving, by reference to our special and
unique function as human beings.
A good human being is one that functions
according to his essence.
Virtue, Reason, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
So what is the essence of a human
being?
For Aristotle: Thinking: uniqueness the
capacity to exercise rationality in conduct
and decisions.
excellent use of reason is virtuous
activity… an activity of the soul or a
course of action in accordance with
reason.
Virtue, Reason, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
To be happy, as the ultimate and
highest human good or eudaemonia
( the total well-being or happiness) is to
live a life of virtue. And to live a life of
reason, which is in accordance with the
truest nature.
Virtue, Reason, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
Thus, a happy individual is one who
lives in accordance with reason, and
each individual should develop the
virtues ( character traits and
dispositions) that lead to this goal of
achieving the highest good.
Virtue, Reason, and the Pursuit of
Happiness
This can be achieved
through a life of
MODERATION.
Virtue and the Golden Mean
Aristotle Ethics:
provides a unifying framework for understanding
virtue in general as a mean between two
extremes.
His teaching on living a good and reasonable life
through moderation, as expressed in a doctrine
known as the Golden Mean. ( not a Golden
Rule)
Virtue and the Golden
Mean
Doctrine: The Golden Mean
to live and practice a life that avoids both extremes:
excess and deficiency.
To avoid falling into the pit of overindulgence
Anything done excessively and inadequately leads to
doom.
Too much and too little, is to sin against reason- leads to
perdition.
Virtue and the Golden
Mean
To be virtuous and well-integrated
person, one ought to constantly practice
the art and skill of doing and having “ just
enough”.
Through diligence, persistence and constant
deliberate practice…
Virtue and the Golden
Mean
Plato’s 4 Basic Cardinal Virtues
1. Prudence or wisdom
2. Justice
3. Temperance
4. Courage
Virtue and the Golden
Mean
Virtue of Courage: two extremes:
deficiency and excess
Too little: kulang ng tapang,
kaduwagan
Too Much: nasobrahan ng tapang
Virtue and the Golden
Mean
When facing Danger or challenges:
One should neither too much fear ( sobrang takot)
which unable one to act- nor too little fear ( halos
walang takot)
The virtue of courage therefore is having just the right
amount of fear (takot na katamtaman lamang).
to act rightly and reasonably at the right time, place,
person, reason and situation.
