RS3, Aristotle's Virtue Theory
TELEOLOGICAL
Purpose = "Telos"
Aristotle believes everyone has a purpose and the same purpose.
Ultimate goal is goodness; develop our virtues and have good character
Spend a life developing good character
VIRTUES
Qualities people display and make us better people
An individual who has developed good character traits (Virtues) is judged by moral actions.
9 Intellectual Virtues
Primary
- Art or technical Skill
- Scientific Knowledge
- Prudence/ Practical Wisdom
- Intelligenc/ Intuituon
- Wisdom
Secondary
- Resourcfulness
- Understanding
- Judgement
- Cleverness
12 Moral Virtues
Courage
Temperance
Liberality
Magnificence
Magnimity
Proper Ambition
Patience
Truthfulness
Witiness
Friendliness
Modesty
Righteous Indignation
Internal difference between right and wrong.
3 KINDS OF PEOPLE
- Pleasure (X)
- Honour (X)
- Contemplation
Sex, Food etc
Politicians
Philosophers
EUDAIMONIA
"Flourishing" (Greek)
Happiness and well-being, end purpose of human life
Everyone striving for a good life
Virtuous Life = Happiness
DEONTOLOGICAL
Duty = "Deon"
Duty to develop our character and be virtuous
FUNCTION ARGUMENT
Supreme Good needs to be a more detailed explanation and may come to light if we understood mankind's function.
- Function = Can Opener
- Virtues = Efficient cogs, Sharp Blade
- Good = Opens the can.
Understanding our function is key to happiness
EXCESS AND DEFICIENCY
Excess = Too Much
Deficiency = Too Little
The virtue is the moderate and appropriate response/ midway point
Finding the balance between 2 extremes
E.g. Courage = virtue, Excess = Rashness, Deficiency= Cowardice
DOCTRINE OF THE MEAN
"Golden Mean"
Everything is good in moderation
Phronesis = The mean is not the same for everyone and depends on each situation independently.
EXAMPLE = Boxer
ARISTOTLE'S DIVISION OF THE SOUL
SOUL
Irrational
Rational
Scientific/ Theoretical knowledge
Calculative/ Practical Knowledge
Vegetative/ Nutritive
Desirative
MODERN VIRTUE THEORISTS
ALASTAIR MACINTYRE
ELIZABETH ANSCOMBE
Virtues not static and unchanging but actually come out of the communities in which they are practiced.
Virtues belong to particular times and places and have historical context
Virtues can move and change as culture changes.
Goods Internal = achieved through participation,;known standards of excellence that can be attributed to them; Good in themselves; carrying out tasks on a regular basis to improve.
Goods External = Practical matters like good food, safe home and others to wear; highlights how virtues have changed.
Idea= Modern moral philosophy is misguided, asking if there can be any moral laws If there is no God- What do right and wrong mean without lawgiver?
Problem: Lost our sense of purpose.
Solution: Need virtuous to rebuild communities and give back our sense of purpose.
She though that act based ethics does not make sense because it ignores a belief people no longer hold, and in stressing the principle of autonomy it neglects the community aspect of morality.
Major work "Modern Moral Philosophy"
concepts of moral obligation/ duty should be abandoned until psychology has done it's work. Duty should not be seen as an end in itself it doesn't capture the needs and aspirations of human beings.