account of virtues and vices

Question 1

what are virtues ?

Answer 1

Virtues are usually thought of as character traits relating to our emotions or our desires- resulting in disposition such as courage, honestly, generosity etc. but there are intellectual virtues of practical reasoning and of theoretical reasoning.

Question 2

creation of virtues and vices

Answer 2

• When reason guides our emotions and desires then over time, we develop positive disposition or character traits- called virtues (arete) which enable us to reach eudaimonia.
• When reason fails to shape our emotions/ desires we develop flawed character traits- called vices.

Question 3

development of virtues

Answer 3

virtues are not innate
humans have potential to develop virtues
virtues are more than a habit it requires reasoning.

Question 4

skill analogy

skill and virtue

Answer 4

compares developing a virtue to developing a skill

we are not born with the skill but have the capacity to learn it.

Question 5

importance of feeling

Answer 5

all our actions are a display of some emotion
virtue- expressing the right amount of feeling - in the mean
no inner conflict

Question 6

the doctrine of the mean and its application to particular virtues

Answer 6

virtue lies between two vices
over time we develop the virtue
people with many virtues and no vices- excellence of character or moral virtue

mean is about doing the right thing at the right time to the right people in the right way- mark of virtue

Question 7

criticism

Answer 7

the doctrine package our emotions too neatly

there is sometimes no mean eg murder