Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Ethics ALEVEL > Virtue Ethics > Flashcards

Virtue Ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What does character bases mean

A

More of a focus on what kind of person should I be rather then what should I do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Eudaimonia

A

That which is good for humans.

The supreme goal for human life. Ultimate happiness through doing good deeds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a vice

A

Bad qualities or immoral behaviour habits that a person possesses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How do you become virtuous

A

Practice the virtues until they become effortless

Act in a way to help you become morally perfect over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is VE concerned with

A

The development of ones character

Not the actions duties or consequences as much

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is virtue ethics based on

Where does it come from

A

Ancient Greek literature
Heroic society
People judged by their deeds
morally you are what you do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Basic principle of virtue ethics

A

Cultivating good deeds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the aim of VE

A

For every person to reach the ultimate good (eudaimonia)

Achieving happiness through being virtuous and doing good acts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Who came up with virtue ethics

A

Aristotle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does it mean by virtue ethics as agent centred

A

There are no rules only the focus of the development of a character

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Ehat is the unique aspect of the human soul

A

Ability to exercise reason

Humans difference to animals what makes us unique

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the difference between the rational and irrational soul

A

Rational - calculative and scientific (factual knowledge) reason
Irrational - contains desiring (distinguish between wants and needs) and vegetive (basic needs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why can only voluntary actions be virtuous

A

Intention has to be pure in order to be virtuous

for example to help an old woman across the street is virtuous but not if it’s to impress someone

Must make a deliberate choice through reason nobody can be virtuous on accident

cannot make a decision through desire wish or opinion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Function

A

Work or accomplishment

something is good if it fulfils it’s function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Hierarchy

A

System in which the party members of went according to status authority

Aristotle refers to the hierarchy of souls- in which humans rank highest as they possess rationality and ability to reason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What was the hierarchy Aristotle believed in

A

Philosophers
Politicians
People

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the philosophers role in society according to Aristotle

A

To work out what virtues should be extolled in a society and to be mindful of any vices that could develop

Then informed the politicians

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the politicians role in society according to Aristotle

A

Their Job to nurture society in which these virtues develop and vices do not

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the peoples role in society according to Aristotle

A

To live up to and develop these virtues within themselves and within the community

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What were the three types of happiness Aristotle believed people could be

A

Pleasure seekers
Seekers of honour
Those who love contemplation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Define a pleasure Seeker

A

People who are driven by the basic desires and simply live from one pleasurable experience to the next

E.g. eating food sleeping drinking and having sex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Define seekers of honour 

A

Aristotle saw politicians as seekers of honour

These are people who try to find solutions to important problems and get a sense of honour from doing that

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Define those who love contemplation

A

These are philosophers and thinkers

For Aristotle the intellectual virtues of contemplation is the highest good for humanity

Reason is the highest aspect of human life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is virtue ethics also known as

A

Aretaic ethics

Meaning excellence or virtue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What does aristotle argue all humans have

A

A telos
All humans are aiming for something positive in the way that they behave they want to bring about good consequences and this is a teleological viewpoint

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

How does Aristotle‘s see eudaimonia

A

Happiness the supreme goal of human life
Is achieved when we become virtuous
This is the process that we grow towards by practising virtues
Practice makes perfect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What are superior aims

A

Those that focus on the end goal

The aim is that good for oneself in humanity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are subordinate aims

A

The means of getting to the end goal

The aim will be the growth of one’s character through practising virtues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Give an example that draws the distinction between superior and subordinate aims

A 
Why do I study ethics
To get a qualification
I get the qualification to get a good job
I want a good job because…
(These are subordinate aims)

At some point you would have to say because that would make me happy
This is the superior aim

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the function argument

A

All objects have a Telos
An object is good when it properly secured it’s Telos
The telos of a human being is to reason
The good for a human being is therefore acting in accordance with reason

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What is the quote that Aristotle uses that separates mankind from the rest of the world

A

Humans are rational animals

32
Q

What is the order for the hierarchy of

souls

A

Humans
Animals
Plants

33
Q

How is a plantS soul characterised

A

Nutrition and growth

34
Q

How is an animal soul characterised

A

Nutrition and growth
Movement
Low-level thought

35
Q

How is a human soul characterised

A

Nutrition and growth
Movement
Reason

36
Q

What did Aristotle say about humans in the hierarchy of souls

A

Pleasure alone cannot result in height happiness because animals are driven by the pursuit of pleasure

Aristotle believed that man has greater capacity is an animals This is why humans are rational animals

Humans can reason well and best when they exercise virtues moral excellence

37
Q

What are the two parts of the soul

A

Rational – logic facts and truth

Irrational – wants desires and needs

38
Q

What virtues are developed in the rational part of the soul

A

Intellectual virtues– Qualities developed through instruction
Theological virtues – Philosophy and science
Practical virtues – wisdom and judgement

39
Q

What virtues are developed in the irrational part of the soul

A

Moral virtues Are cultivated by habit

To become a generous person I must get into the habit of being generous

They are guided by the rational soul

40
Q

What are the two ways a human can practice aiming for a good telos

A

By behaving in a balanced way – considering the two extremes of our actions and following the middle path

Following a virtuous teacher who performs virtuous actions so is a morally good person

41
Q

Key quotes from Aristotle about habitual virtues

A

Anything that we have to learn to do we learn by the actual doing of it

42
Q

Sum up how happiness is acquired

A

By habituation and constant practice of virtuous actions

Eventually moral excellence becomes effortless/ innate

43
Q

Mean

A

The median – specific virtues lie between the two extreams - the excess and deficiency

The mean is relative to the disposition of an individual

44
Q

Phronimos

A

The man of practical wisdom who in Aristotle system is best qualified to define virtuous behaviour in any situation

His practical wisdom was acquired by constant practice and habit

45
Q

Why is developing virtues are necessary for Aristotle

A

Qualities enable people to live together

Only when those qualities are displayed can everyone enjoy happiness because they were necessary for one’s development as a social being

developing the virtues is necessary feature of living alongside others – it is therefore social political and moral feature of life not just a personal

46
Q

Why should using reason for a good life not be done in isolation

A

We are all part of communities and should concern ourselves the overall well-being of society

Aristotle called us social animals meaning our well-being, our sense of the good life and a flourishing is bound with our communities flourishing

47
Q

What are the two categories of virtues

A

Moral virtues

Intellectual virtues

48
Q

What are moral virtues

A

Qualities of character e.g. bravery
These are practised, habitual
Learned through experience

49
Q

What are intellectual virtues

A

Qualities of the mind

They are taught and improved by instructions

50
Q

List are startles five intellectual virtues

A

Practical Wisdom/prudence - ability to learn from one’s mistakes

Intuitive intelligence -developing the ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong

Wisdom - having good life experience

Scientific knowledge - ability to understand and test facts

Art and craft - special skills we are trained in 

51
Q

What is the Golden mean

A

Refers to the actions that are virtuous
It is in the centre between two extremes known as vices
The vice of deficiency and the vice of excess 

52
Q

What is the vice of deficiency

A

Having too little of one characteristic

53
Q

What is vice of excess

A

Having too much of ones characteristics

54
Q

Is virtue ethics a flexible ethical approach

A

Aristotle recognised it was unlikely for people to hit the gold mean first time – appealing theory because it shows humans can get things wrong
Must learn from mistakes and adjust behaviour

Balance between moral and intellectual virtues is essential as they work together to fully guide human to the Telos

Intellectual virtues help us exercise our reason to work out what we have done wrong

If we followed moral virtues slavishly without intellectual values we would be robotic

55
Q

What did Aristotle believe about intentions

A

An act is only virtuous if the motives are virtuous in themselves
The intention must be genuine and they must understand what they are doing – you can never accidentally be virtuous
Acting virtuously is thinking about the action and making reasoned choice

56
Q

What did Aristotle say about justice and friendship

A

Neither have extremes of excess or deficiency

Both altruistic - means love of others opposed to love of self

57
Q

What does Aristotle say on justice

A

Justice is concerned with fairness
Means to make sure all goods in the community should be distributed so each person receives what is proportionate to his merit

58
Q

What does Aristotle say on friendship

A

Import and social virtue that needed to be developed within society as a whole to encourage personal as well as societal and altruistic flourishing

Friendship as a virtue will develop the person but will also by nature develop the friend as long as both continue to cultivate and develop the virtues

59
Q

List three virtues

A

Courage
Truth and sincerity
Modesty

60
Q

Describe the virtue courage and the two vices

A

Vice of deficiency – cowardice – being too afraid to act
Courage – doing the right thing when necessary
Vice of Excess – Rashness – acting without thinking

61
Q

Describe the virtue sincerity and the two vices

A

Vice of deficiency – self-depreciation – constantly belittling one’s own achievements
Virtue – truth – being sincere about yourself
Vice of excess - boastful - boast about own achievements 

62
Q

Describe modesty and the two vices

A

Vice of excess - shameless- no shame to cations
Virtue - modest - modest about achievements
Vice of deficiency - bashful - overly embarrassed about ones behaviour

63
Q

TheoriA

A

Intellectual virtues of contemplation

Which are still finally decides constitutes the good life for humans

64
Q

Voluntary action

A

Action brought about by the will

65
Q

What is the basic premise of virtue ethics

A

To act in a way that allows One to become a better person

66
Q

What is a hybrid theory

A

The theory that shares traits with deontology and teleology

67
Q

What society is Aristotle form

A

Ancient Greek

68
Q

What actions are always wrong according to Aristotle

A

Theft
Murder
Adultery

69
Q

What is flourishing

A

When everyone in society is aiming for eudaimonia 

70
Q

What does Aristotle mean when he says theoria is highest good

A

Reason in intelligence is the highest aspect of human life

Contemplation of the world brings the greatest happiness

71
Q

What does Peter Vardy say on virtue ethics

A

Outdated

Can we really base our moral principles on the idea of a wealthy straight rich white male who existed a millennia ago

72
Q

What does Peter Singer say on virtue ethics

A

Anthropomorphic basis of this theory is another subject of virtue ethics controversy
Ignores the capacity of reason they can be found on animals

73
Q

Deontix ethics are irrelevant according to anscombe

A

It’s boring
Provides a list of thou shall nots
Uninspiring on terms of trying to get people to be good

74
Q

Strengths of virtue ethics

A

No strict rules to follow as rules don’t always make you a good person just blindly obedient

Maintain integrity – true to our values

Realistic - sometimes get it wrong and need to try again - this is accepted and expected

75
Q

Weaknesses of virtue ethics

A

Subjective – no specific guidance on how to act, decide for ourselves

Conflict – virtues can come into conflict with each other for example you can’t choose to be kind and honest at the same time and virtue ethics doesn’t tell us how to choose which virtue

Anthro-centric - Put humans at the top of the hierarchy animal right supporters would disagree

Ethics ALEVEL (5 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions