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

  1. Art or technical Skill
  1. Scientific Knowledge
  1. Prudence/ Practical Wisdom
  1. Intelligenc/ Intuituon
  1. Wisdom

Secondary

  1. Resourcfulness
  1. Understanding
  1. Judgement
  1. 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

  1. Pleasure (X)
  1. Honour (X)
  1. 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.

  1. Function = Can Opener
  1. Virtues = Efficient cogs, Sharp Blade
  1. 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.