Virtue Ethics

VIRTUE ETHICS

Consequentialism - emphasizes consequence of actions

Deontology - emphasizes moral law or duties

Contractualism - emphasizes agreements between reasonable people

Virtue Ethics - emphasizes moral character

Let us agree that it is morally good to help someone in need. In explaining why…

A utilitarian will point to the fact that the consequences of doing so will maximize well-being.

A deontologist will point to the fact that, in doing so the agent will be acting in accordance with a moral rule such as “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

A virtue ethicist will point to the fact that helping the person would be charitable or benevolent.

Virtue ethics could conceivably advocate for an action that doesn’t maximize well-being or accord with some moral rule that we think a person must follow.

A virtue is a disposition to feel certain feelings and take certain actions which are morally right.

Anger can be virtuous. A virtuous person will feel the right amount of anger, at the right time, toward the right person, for the right reason. Example?

An unvirtuous person will feel disproportionate anger, or at the wrong time, or toward the wrong person, or for the wrong reason. Example?

A virtuous person will tell a falsehood to the right extent, at the right time, to the right person, for the right reason. (Note the difference from deontologism) Example?

Aristotelian virtues

Magnanimity, Rightful Pride (large scale) - moderation in one’s desire for or tendency to demand great honors

Patience - moderation in one’s proneness to anger

Truthfulness - moderation in one’s presentation of oneself

Friendliness - moderation in the desire to please others generally

Magnificence (large scale) - moderation in the size of the large-scale public expenditures one gives or accepts

Generosity (small scale) - moderation in the size of the gifts one is prone to give or accept

Temperance - moderation in the desire for physical pleasures

Courage - moderation in the tendencies to feel fear and boldness or confidence

Good Humor - moderation in the desire to amuse others

Right Ambition (pursuit of honor) (small scale) - similar to magnanimity but pertains to smaller honors

Modesty (small scale) - moderation in one’s susceptibility to shame or embarrassment

Justice - propensity to give or return to a person the right amount of what is due to them

Virtue is the balance between excess and deficiency

VICE OF EXCESS VIRTUE VICE OF DEFICIENCY

Vanity Magnanimity/ Undue Humility

Rightful pride

Irascibility Patience Inirascibility

Boastfulness Truthfulness Self-Deprecation

Flattery Friendliness Quarrelsomeness

Vulgarity Magnificence Stinginess

Prodigality Generosity Meanness (Greed)

Self-Indulgence Temperance Insensibility (very rare)

Rashness Courage Cowardice

Buffoonery Good Humor Humorlessness

Ambitiousness Right Ambition Unambitiousness

Favoritism Justice Discrimination

Shyness Modesty Shamelessness

Merits of virtue ethics:

It is the oldest of the normative ethics views and was the dominant explanation of ethics up to the Enlightenment when Kant and Hume changed ethics.

It fits best with how we actually learn ethics and teach ethics to children.

It explains the paradox of honesty being a virtue and too much honesty being a vice.

Virtue ethics is built on three core concepts:

arête (excellence or virtue)

phronesis (practical or moral wisdom)

eudaimonia (happiness or flourishing)

Unlike deontological and consequentialist accounts which are primarily concerned with external factors such as outcomes or rules and, to a lesser extent, the internal factor of intention, virtue ethics is concerned with traits and dispositions of character rooted more deeply in a person.

To possess a virtue is to be a certain sort of person with a certain complex mindset.

VIRTUE (ARÊTE)

Let us agree that it is morally good to be honest person. An honest person will be explained by:

A utilitarian as a person who maximizes well-being with truth-telling.

A deontologist as a person who always tells the truth, or at least does not lie.

A virtue ethicist as a person who is inclined to tell the truth because to do otherwise is dishonest.

Virtue ethics is concerned about a complex of attitudes, dispositions, and behaviors (actions). The goal is to have these line up, not just to possess the right attitudes without the right actions and vice versa.

Perfect Virtue vs. Continence

Because virtue ethicists are concerned with more than just action and intention, beginning with Aristotle, they have draw a distinction between full or perfect virtue