Conclusion of virtue ethics

Question 1

(c) what does Aristotle reject

Answer 1

-pleasure, honour and wealth as a route to virtue/to the good life
-the path to a life of virtue is theoria, intellectual contemplation

Question 2

(c) Aristotle’s train of thought (6 points)

Answer 2

1. all humans seek to be happy, that must be the highest virtue & best thing for us
2. highest human faculty is reason/power of intellect. Therefore through reason, the highest virtue and happiness of a person can be realised
3. we use our intellect to understand the true nature of the world, this study is found in the world of science
4. scientific discoveries represent the highest intellectual achievement
5. intellectual contemplation is done for its own sake, so it has intrinsic value
6. contemplation of the divine is pure reasoning, whereas practical reasoning is merely striving for a final goal

Question 3

(c) does his logic work? does intellectual contemplation bring more happiness than practical activity

Answer 3

-he was the first real scientist so maybe for him

Question 4

(c) does his logic work? does contemplation of the Divine lead to happiness

Answer 4

-not many people would withdraw from all physical pleasures to immerse themselves in Divine contemplation

Question 5

(c) does his logic work? Aristotle acknowledged that practical wisdom was part of the intellect, why does he now disregard it?

Answer 5

-holistic approach would suggest that both types of intellectual activity are important
-the physical pleasures also play a part in the well-being of even the most contemplative of personalities

Question 6

(c) conclusion

Answer 6

Aristotle is over-emphasising the importance of one aspect of human activity

Question 7

(c) first strength of virtue ethics

Answer 7

It is holistic, encompasses the entire personality by:
-the development of theoretical reasoning (in order to have the ability to make a decision)
-the pursuit of knowledge (to have the information to make the decision)
-the development of practical skills (in order to carry out one’s intention)

Question 8

(c) second strength of virtue ethics

Answer 8

It is human centred
-values strength of character above salvish obedience to rules

Question 9

(c) third strength of virtue ethics

Answer 9

allows for moral decision making
-avoids difficulty of deontological ethical systems when rules conflict with moral judgements
-deontologists often follow rules knowing it will lead to a bad outcome

Question 10

(c) fourth strength of virtue ethics

Answer 10

does not require guessing the future
-avoids the weakness of conseqentialist ethics (deed is judged solely by outcome, may do something bad to achieve good)

Question 11

(c) fifth strength of virtue ethics

Answer 11

does not claim to be a perfect system
-acknowledges that it only proposes solutions for most ethical dilemmas

Question 12

(c) sixth strength of virtue ethics

Answer 12

teleological focus of eudamonia (complete well-being)
-therefore acknowledges that the welfare of society as a whole is important

Question 13

(c) seventh strength of virtue ethics

Answer 13

avoids double effect
-NML struggled with the calculation of a bad act over a good outcome (e.g killing someone in self defense)
-virtue ethics concerns itself with genuine intention, which is still virtuous according to Odeipus

Question 14

(c) eighth strength of virtue ethics

Answer 14

it is flexible
-doctrine (principle) of the mean allows for a range of meanings regarding virtuous choices
(e.g courage means one thing to a soldier in battle and another thing to a patient contemplating open-heart surgery)

Question 15

(c) ninth strength of virtue ethics

Answer 15

values role of human emotion
-lacking in NML and Situation ethics

Question 16

(c) first weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 16

does not follow cultural relativity
-something virtuous in one society may be vice in another
-e.g in 1950s homosexuality was a criminal offence, today being intolerant of it is a criminal offence
-Aristotle approved of slavery and relegating women to 2nd class citizens
-how does one establish the a common standard of virtue and vice

Question 17

(c) second weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 17

uses circular logic
-how should one behave? virtuously
-what is a virtuous act? an act done by someone virtuous
-how does one become virtuous? by acting virtuously
-there no actual definition of virtue
-virtue ethics simply promotes the politics of the time

Question 18

(c) third weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 18

only works for an individual
-in Western democracies, laws are established on deontological principles e.g we all must accept the same speed limit
-ethical decisions are usually aimed at the consequence, to bring the greatest number of happiness

Question 19

(c) fourth weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 19

challenged by the theory of evolution
-Aristotle said each part of the body had a function, s did the body as a whole have a specific function, he related this to the concept of the soul
(-Aquinas used this reasoning when he presented his cosmological argument
-this was challenged by Russell who called it the fallacy of composition, whats true for the parts is not necessarily true for the whole)
-Aristotle’s function argument assumes that human beings have an ultimate goal or purpose, this is challenged by the theory that evolution is not goal-directed but works by chance mutation

Question 20

(c) fifth weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 20

it is anthropocentric
-assumes only the good of human beings
-assumes intelligence is experienced only by humans
-but science has shown there is also a level of intelligence in animals as well
-the most intelligent animals have been shown to display greater intelligence than the least intelligent humans
-virtue ethics undervalues animals

Question 21

(c) sixth weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 21

cannot be applied to modern scientific challenges
-difficult to apply it to embryo research issues etc
-virtue ethics is person centred not issue centred

Question 22

(c) seventh weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 22

has no rules
-people need a law system which can guide them
-some don’t act virtuously unless there are harsh consequences

Question 23

(c) eighth weakness of virtue ethics

Answer 23

leads to a dull life
-need rebels who question rules
-free-thinkers who don’t follow conventional rules
-these people are there to challenge politics and add to the advancement of society

Question 24

conclusion points

Answer 24

Strengths:
-agent centred: based on what makes the person better
(NML and SE are act centred)
-Aquinas gives a clear definition of what is good and what is bad
-revival in VE due to dissatisfaction with rule-based ethics
-Striving for an outcome which is beneficial to all

(-rule-based have a weakness as they become outdated
-they have a strength as they set a moral conduct
-theistic religions have clear religious conduct, can be modified)

Weaknesses:
-Ordinary people can’t follow it
-VE has no hard-fast rules, no definition of morality
-doesn’t accommodate two people or countries that have different definitions of virtue
Examples:
-Nazi believed it virtuous to rid the world of Jews
-Spanish Inquisition considered it virtuous to save the soul of a sinner by burning their body at the stake
-Sunni and Shi’ite Moslems define each others beliefs as heresy and worthy of death penalty, killing each other would be an act of virtue