Virtue Ethics (3rd ethical theory) Flashcards
(14 cards)
Who contributed virtue ethics?
Aristotle and Alastair Macintyre
What does virtue ethics emphasise?
emphasises virtue/moral character - it is something entrenched in the person who possesses it, it is not just a habit. The goal is to become virtuous - intuitively knowing the right action to take - develop virtues through practice.
What else does the theory recognise?
the nuances in behaving morally e.g. a honest person can still understand fact. Virtuous enables us to flourish/achieve happiness leading to internal good.
What is a virtue?
“excellent trait of character”. Entrenched in its possessor to feel value, think and act in a certain way.
Behaviour does not necessarily indicate virtue as a person may act honestly because they are afraid that they will be caught out if they cheat and so this does not mean they are an honest person.
We cant attribute virtues based on a small number of acts - a dishonest person may act honestly in most situations, but an honest person will not act dishonestly.
What does possessing a virtue mean?
it means wanting to behave in this way. Behaving honestly while resisting the temptation to cheat demonstrates ‘strength of will’ but not virtue.
What is practical wisdom?
Possessing virtue on its own may not be enough to make a person moral e.g. we may say someone is generous or honest - if virtues can also be faults than a person possessing them may not be considered moral.
A moral person must have practical wisdom - which is knowledge/understanding required to do the right thing in any given situation.
What does deficiency involve? (condition on one side of virtues)
cowardice
stinginess
self-depreciating
apathy
unfairness
What does virtue involve? (conditions in middle)
courage
generosity
truthful
ambition
justice
What does excess involve? (condition on one side of virtues)
rashness
extravagance
boastfulness
greed
punishing
What notion to virtue ethics reject?
rejects the notion that there are rules/principles that can be applied to any situation, therefore virtue ethics does not provide a solution to the trolley problem.
What are the virtuous corporate characters?
a positive character reputation can give a firm a competitive advantage.
Challenge for business is that there is a need to pursue profit to exist.
Pursuit of profit can lead to corruption and inhibit the practice of virtuous.
What is character reputation?
-positive behaviour from a company does not necessarily indicate a ‘positive’ character.
- investment in positive environmental/social activities may indicate conformity to the norm, whereas scandals are more indicative to a negative character.
- a dishonest company can behave honestly but a truly honest company is unlikely to behave dishonestly.
Positive reputations are difficult to build but are very easy to destroy.
What does Patagonia do to build a positive character reputation?
98% of their stock worth $100m a year in dividends goes to a non profit, Holdfast collective, which is focused on climate activism, including political advocacy.
Since 1985 the company donates 1% of its revenue to community oriented grassroot environmental groups through small grants worth up to $15000.
Company sued the federal government over protection of a national monument ‘Bear Ears’
‘Don’t buy the jacket campaign’
What are challenges to virtue ethics?
- There is no code of principles that can be applied to a situation or person.
- Can it provide a adequate account of morality?
- Are virtues close enough to right and wrong?
- Different cultures value different virtue
- Virtues may compete e.g. lying to save their feelings
