Would you rather lead an enviable or an admirable life? Why? What is the difference? Which life is best for the bearer?

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Amice Norris
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1 3.4 Virtue Ethics

2 aristotle

3 Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics (Aristotle) is a broad term for theories that emphasize the role of character and virtue [of the moral agent] in moral philosophy rather than either doing one s duty (Kant) or acbng in order to bring about good consequences (UBlitarianism).

4 Would you rather lead an enviable or an admirable life? Why? What is the difference? Which life is best for the bearer?

5 To live the right kind of life How ought I to act? (question of action) What kind of person ought I to be? (question of character) Lawrence M. Hinman Values Institute Univ of San Diego

(greatest good for the greatest number) Perhaps morality is also about building character what kind of person do I wish

6 What Else might be Involved? Perhaps morality is not just about making the right choice doing the right thing (duty) getting the right result (greatest good for the greatest number) Perhaps morality is also about building character what kind of person do I wish to become? what kind of a human being ARE you? Utilitiesman 2nd Class Michael Deangelo attached to Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit Two Zero Two (CBMU-202) looks for the name of a Seabee killed during combat in Vietnam

7 What is our funcbon? The funcbon of a human being should be something parbcular to human beings. It cannot be just life, because all other living things have that. It cannot be sensabon, because that it shared by animals It must be reason, because the ability to reason disbnguishes human beings from other things.

Are you born with them or are they cultivated?

8 Central Questions about Character or Virtue Ethics What are the right habits? (i.e., the ones that lead to human flourishing, happiness)? Are you born with them or are they cultivated? Can they be taught? Or must they be acquired over time?

The Virtues Intellectual Virtues Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence Taught through instruction Moral Virtues Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance The result of habit Not natural or inborn

9 The Virtues Intellectual Virtues Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence Taught through instruction Moral Virtues Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance The result of habit Not natural or inborn but acquired through practice Habit or disposition of the soul (our fundamental character) which involves both feeling and action Those strengths of character that enable us to flourish (Hinman)

10 The Range of Attitudes Deficit (Vice) Mean (Virtue) Excess (Vice) Facing Danger or death Cowardice Courage Reckless Giving Cheap Charitable Prodigal Towards other s suffering Indifference Meanness Empathy Compassion Pity Bleeding Heart Towards Self Self-deprecating Self Respect Vanity, Arrogance Conceit, Narcissism For each of these do we have a natural tendency in one direction?

11 The Range of Attitudes Sphere of Existence Deficiency Mean Excess Attitude toward self Attitude toward offenses of others Attitude toward good deeds of others Servility Self-deprecation Ignoring them Being a Doormat Suspicion Envy Ignoring them Proper Self-Love Proper Pride Self-Respect Anger Forgiveness Understanding Gratitude Admiration Arrogance Conceit Egoism Narcissism Vanity Revenge Grudge Resentment Over indebtedness Attitude toward our own offenses Attitude toward our friends Indifference Remorselessness Downplaying Agent Regret Remorse Making Amends Learning from them Self-Forgiveness Toxic Guilt Scrupulosity Shame Indifference Loyalty Obsequiousness Lawrence M. Hinman Values Institute Univ of San Diego

12 The Mean Vice of Deficiency Virtue Vice of Excess Cowardice Courage Foolhardiness Stinginess Generosity Prodigality Shamelessness Modesty Bashfulness Maliciousness Righteous Indignation Enviousness

13 Are the virtues the same for everyone? People are very different. But we face the same basic problems and have the same basic needs. Everyone needs courage as danger can always arise. Some people are less well off, so we will need generosity. Everyone needs friends so we need loyalty.

14 Aristotle s Types of Virtue Virtues or excellences of character include: Moral virtues honesty, fairness or justice Prudential virtues temperance, modesty Intellectual virtues wisdom Some that are hard to classify courage

Virtue As the Golden Mean Strength of character (virtue), involves finding the proper balance between two extremes Excess: having too much of something. Deficiency: having too little of something.

15 Virtue As the Golden Mean Strength of character (virtue), involves finding the proper balance between two extremes Excess: having too much of something. Deficiency: having too little of something. Not mediocrity, but harmony and balance There do not seem to be general rules or principles, and certainly no algorithms or formulae for virtue Example of courage Sometimes the deficiency is more to be avoided than the excess Excess Deficiency Main Entry: mean Func0on: noun 1 a (1): something intervening or intermediate (2): a middle point between extremes b: a value that lies within a range of values and is computed according to a prescribed law * Courtesy of Merriam-Webster Dictionary It is the things which we are naturally inclined that appear to us more opposed to the mean.

burner! ) Rules and habit formation are central The adult conception of morality.

16 Childhood & Adult Morality We can contrast two approaches to the moral life. The childhood conception of morality: Comes from outside (usually parents) Is negative ( don t touch that stove burner! ) Rules and habit formation are central The adult conception of morality. Comes from within (self-directed) Is positive ( this is the kind of person I want to be. ) Virtue-centered,often modeled on ideals Lawrence M. Hinman Values Institute Univ of San Diego

Rightly-ordered Desires Aristotle draws an interesting contrast

keep their desires under control. Lawrence M.

unruly desires but manage to control them.

17 Rightly-ordered Desires Aristotle draws an interesting contrast between: Weakness of will (akrasia) occurs when individuals cannot keep their desires under control. Lawrence M. Hinman Values Institute Univ of San Diego Continent people, who have unruly desires but manage to control them. Temperate people, whose desires are naturally or through habit, second-nature directed toward that which is good for them.

Cultivating these traits is compared to practicing archery or marksmanship Hitting the bull s eye takes time, practice,

18 Aristotle s Observations about Virtues Virtues, including moral virtues, are not so much taught as learned by example, observation, practice. Cultivating these traits is compared to practicing archery or marksmanship Hitting the bull s eye takes time, practice, patience Demonstrating the appropriate behavior at the right time, right place, to the right degree This has clear implica0ons for moral educa0on, for Aristotle obviously thinks that you can teach people to be virtuous.

19 Summary of Virtue Theory Human happiness, flourishing, stem from cultivation of proper virtues This is an ongoing, life-long task Social practice: Experienced veterans provide mentorship and constraints (laws) Friendship, and the role (and regulation) of emotions are included in the mix

20 Strengths of Virtue Ethics Importance of the Person, Motive, Heart, Conscience Connection to Community Realization that morality is not defined by moments but by a long-term process Allowance for gray areas, varying contexts, different levels of moral maturity and life contexts

21 Criticisms of Virtue Theory Indeterminate, vague, imprecise Possessing the requisite virtues does not guarantee how one will act in a given situation Indeed, virtue theory does not provide the specific kind of behavioral guidance that modern procedural theories offer

22 Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics Dependence on strong communities Not easily applied to ethical issues or to give us practical solutions Demands time Can be turned into a really poor duty-based ethics Might be taken as situational ethics

Virtue Ethics. A Basic Introductory Essay, by Dr. Garrett. Latest minor modification November 28, 2005

Virtue Ethics. A Basic Introductory Essay, by Dr. Garrett. Latest minor modification November 28, 2005 Virtue Ethics A Basic Introductory Essay, by Dr. Garrett Latest minor modification November 28, 2005 Some students would prefer not to study my introductions to philosophical issues and approaches but