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Flashcards in VE virtue ethics Deck (2)
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1
Q

‘Virtue Ethics is too general to guide people.’ Assess this view.
For

A

Aristotle and others talk about the virtues being the golden mean between two vices, but how can anyone decide either for oneself or for other people where the boundaries between the virtues and the vices lie?
• Most of the classical virtues can have a negative connotation in a specific situation eg what can appear to be a witty remark to observers can mask a biting comment for one member of the audience; courage can be misused to bring about a burglary. How can anyone make definite decisions about actions on this type of ground? etc.
• Who can judge the genuine intentions of oneself? So who can say if an action is a virtuous action or simply because someone wants to appear virtuous?
• Jesus criticised the Pharisees and the scribes for hypocrisy on many occasions, but many others regarded them as virtuous people. It is not the virtues themselves that guide people in actions. People need other rules too.
• Morality / virtuousness is relative (Ayer) so it is impossible to build a definite morality on this moving sand etc.

2
Q

‘Virtue Ethics is too general to guide people.’ Assess this view.
Against

A

• There are many virtues that are absolute eg prudence, sincerity, friendliness, right ambition and these stand firm so can guide people at all times.
• Acting virtuously leads to a virtuous / correct outcome so this builds up the right character to ensure right actions follow.
• Life is not about following hard and fast rules but about learning how to be a good person. Following the virtues leads one to become virtuous and ultimately, happy. The greater the range of situations, the more chance there is of a person developing truly virtuous qualities, which become the solid foundations for all a person’s actions.
• People are in agreement with the list of virtues so they must experience them all as positive, regardless of when or how they are used.
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4
• Acting virtuously means one is looking out for others in all situations etc. [20 marks]