Moral Virtues and Intellectual Virtues Flashcards
(15 cards)
What are the 2 types of virtue?
1)Moral Virtues
2)Intellectual Virtues
What are moral virtues and how are they developed?
-Moral virtues are qualities of character (like courage, bravery and patience) that help us manage our desires and emotions (like fear or anger)
-They are not taught directly but developed through habit and practice, by repeatedly doing the right thing until it becomes part of our character
-They are rooted in the irrational soul, which becomes virtuous when it is trained to follow the rational soul’s guidance
What are intellectual virtues and how are they developed?
-Intellectual virtues are qualities of the mind that help us think, reason, and make wise decisions
-They are developed through education, teaching, and critical thinking, not just practice
- These virtues perfect the rational soul, enabling us to reason well, reflect deeply, and guide moral choices
-Aristotle believed these are essential for achieving eudaimonia
What are the 5 main intellectual virtues?
1)Practical Wisdom (Phronesis)
2)Intuitive Intelligence (Nous):
3)Wisdom (Sophia)
4)Scientific Knowledge (Episteme)
5)Art or Craft Knowledge (Techne)
Aristotle argues that humanity needs these virtues to live a virtuous life and achieve eudaimonia as they translate to ethical behaviour
What is Practical Wisdom (Phronesis)?
The ability to make good decisions in real-life situations, using reason, past experience, and moral understanding. It connects intellectual knowledge to action
What is Intuitive Intelligence (Nous)?
The ability to instinctively recognise basic truths and moral principles, knowing what is right or wrong without needing to reason it out
What is Wisdom (Sophia)?
A deep understanding of philosophical and universal truths. It combines both intuitive intelligence and scientific knowledge
What is Scientific Knowledge (Episteme)?
The ability to learn, understand, and demonstrate facts about the world through logical reasoning and evidence.
What is Art or Craft Knowledge (Techne)?
The skill to create or produce something well, like medicine, music, or carpentry. It involves technical knowledge learned through training
What is the golden mean?
-The Golden Mean is Aristotle’s idea that virtue lies between two vices-one of excess and one of deficiency
-A virtuous act avoids having too much or too little of a quality, depending on the situation
-For example, courage lies between the vices of cowardice and recklessness
-As Aristotle puts it, virtue is found not in going too far or falling short but “in the mean relative to us”
-The mean is not fixed but depends on the situation and must be judged using practical wisdom (phronesis)
How does practical wisdom (phronesis) help with the Golden Mean?
-Practical wisdom is the ability to judge what is appropriate in a given situation. It helps us find the “middle ground” between extremes
-A person who has mastered this skill is called a phronimos—someone who has life experience and knows how to act well in complex situations
-This judgment develops over time through experience and reflection
-Aristotle believed you can’t explain right and wrong by fixed rules(a virtuous person uses reason to judge what is right depending on the context)
Why is the Golden Mean important for eudaimonia?
-The Golden Mean is essential to achieving eudaimonia, because it helps us live in harmony with reason and avoid the imbalance caused by moral vices
-Aristotle believed that a flourishing life comes from practicing virtues, not denying enjoyment, but choosing what is “neither too much nor too little”
-Through reason and moderation, we not only live well personally but also contribute to the well-being of society
What did Aristotle believe about a flourishing society?
-Aristotle believed that a truly flourishing society is one where each person develops moral and intellectual virtues, not just for their own good but for the benefit of the community
-Aristotle argued that if everyone in a community works to develop virtue, they will create a flourishing society, where people support each other in reaching their telos (purpose) and living in harmony
-For Aristotle, eudaimonia is not individualistic, it is something we achieve together through just actions, strong character, and communal well-being
How is Aristotle’s virtue ethics flexible?
-Aristotle’s virtue ethics is flexible because it recognises that people are imperfect and need time to grow
-He understood that we may not always hit the Golden Mean straight away, but through practice, reflection, and experience, we can improve
-Rather than applying rigid rules, virtue ethics focuses on developing character over time by learning from mistakes and using reason to find the right balance in each situation
How important are intentions in Aristotle’s virtue ethics?
-Intentions are central to Aristotle’s virtue ethics. An action is only truly virtuous if it is done knowingly, for the right reason, and with deliberate choice
-As Aristotle writes, “virtue is a state concerned with choice,” meaning it’s not enough to act rightly by accident—the decision must come from a rational and well-formed character
-For example, saving someone just to gain praise is not virtuous, because the motive is self-interested rather than rooted in genuine moral intent
