Normative Theories Flashcards
Natural Moral Law, Situation Ethics & Virtue Ethics (17 cards)
Aristotle, early Greek thinker & philosopher, wrote…
Book name & Rough date published
Nicomachean Ethics around 350 BC
What does Aristotle propose about human purpose?
– Everything has a telos
– Human telos is eudaimonia (happy/flourishig life)
– Different from hedonism (pleasure is the only priority) because humans can reason
Virtues are defined in that they…
cause their user to be in a “good state and perform their functions well”.
Inherency of virtues?
– Not inherent but ‘natural states’ of virtues, hence potential
Moral virtues are…
Habituation, repeated by continual exhibiton and learning
The perfect moderation of virtues is called the…
Golden Mean (inbetween of excess or deficit)
Why are virtues valuable?
Help people become more flexible, inquisitve and adaptable (i.e. just better)
Virtue ethics is ____-centric focusing on ‘excellence’.
Agent, arete
“We are what we… Excellence then, is not an…”
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit”
Virtues are divided into two categories. Provide three examples of each.
Moral:
– Temperance, courage, generiousity, magnificence, proper ambition, patience, truthfulness, friendliness, righteous-indignation
Intellectual:
– Phonesis (practical wisdom)
– Scientific knowledge (episteme)
– Art/technincal skill (techne)
What are the four core virtues?
Friendship, temperance, courage, justice
You do not hold morally responsibility if forced/acting from
physically, psychologically and/or ignorance
“It seems too that friendship…
…holds cities together.”
Altruism is an extenstion of egoism because…
Natural for virtuous, good men.
What does Anscombe praise about Virtue Ethics?
Use of community (phronimos) and lack of reliance on God.
What does Foot praise about Virtue Ethics?
Corrects harmful human temptations.
What does Macintyre praise about Virtue Ethics?
Betterment of community (altruism > egoism)
