...11 The Moral Virtues Once the various faculties of the soul are rectified in regard to the supernatural order through the theological virtues, it is necessary to rectify them in regard to the means for attaining that end. This is the role of the moral virtues. As we have already mentioned, it is impossible to enumerate all the moral virtues, since there can be a virtue wherever there can be a morally good habit regarding a given area of human activity, and human activities are multiple. However, theologians generally group the moral virtues around the basic cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. Prudence The first of the four cardinal virtues and the most important as a fulcrum for all the other moral virtues is prudence. It is a special virtue infused by God into the practical intellect for the right government of one's actions in view of the supernatural end. Prudence is the most necessary of all the moral virtues because its function is precisely to point out and command the just mean or measure in regard to any and all human actions. It enables us to judge accurately what is the morally good thing to do under particular circumstances. The importance of the virtue of prudence is especially evident in certain aspects of human life. First, it helps the individual avoid sin, pointing out through experience the causes and occasions of sin as well as the opportune remedies. Secondly, it contributes to the increase and growth of virtue, judging...
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...Come up with your own list of moral virtues (at least five, no more than ten). Try to come up with some virtues that Aristotle neglected. Give a brief reason why you selected the ones you did. The own virtues that I came up with are friendliness, forgiveness, empathy, hope, and knowledge. To be friendly maybe sound weird or normal to some people, but I think it is very important to just generally be nice to everyone, no matter who that person is and it always makes me very happy if someone is polite, even if they don’t like the other person. The defect to that virtue would be to be impolite or rude and the excess to be fake, if you don’t really mean what you are saying. The second virtue is forgiveness, which I find is a good character trait,...
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...Aristotle’s theory of moral virtue contends that our ultimate purpose or goal in life should be to reach eudaimonia, but to do so requires our ability to function properly in our thoughts and actions according to our sense of reason and our innate understanding of moral virtues. Additionally, by using principles of both the intellectual (taught or learned) and moral virtue (which becomes habit upon practice and imitation) we must learn to make decisions that are right and just—not necessarily for our own personal benefit, but simply because we possess an understanding that something is the right course of action. Without having these two aspects work in unison the theory of moral virtue is incomplete and impossible In short, it is our intellectual understanding of virtue that allows us to perceive what it right while our moral virtue aids us in carrying out what we know to be the correct and just course of action and these two parts of our concept of virtue lead to what Aristotle calls the “moral theory of virtue” as it is a combination of these parts. In his attempt to explain the theory of moral virtue and, for that matter, the central goal, eudaimonia, Aristotle describes the important concept of finding middle ground in one’s life or, achieving a balance. In line with the theory of moral virtue Aristotle contends that to achieve these aims and reach eudaimonia, one of the most important lessons Aristotle teaches in the theory of moral virtue is strike a balance, or hit a...
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...Chapter 9 – Virtue theory o Virtues – trained behavioral dispositions that result in habitual acts of moral goodness. o Vice – The opposite of virtue, trained behavioral dispositions that result in habitual acts of moral wrongness. o Virtue theory: based on the central theme of which is that morality involves producing excellent persons, who act well out of spontaneous goodness and serve as examples o inspire others. o Virtue-based concept of theology – focuses on the goal of life: living well and achieving excellence. - Main virtues: wisdom, temperance, courage and justice → cardinal virtues. - Another one is: faith, hope, and charity → theological virtues The nature of virtue ethics - It is not only important to do the right thing, but also to have the proper dispositions, motivations, and emotions in being good and doing right. - Not only about actions, but also about emotions, character and moral habit. It calls us to aspire to be an ideal person. Two types: o Moral virtues: honesty, benevolence, no malevolence, fairness, kindness, conscientiousness, and gratitude. o Nonmoral virtues: courage, optimism, rationality, self-control, patience, endurance, industry, music talent, and cleanliness, wit. The ideal type: Aristotle’s Nicomachean ethics - Nicomachean ethics: he identified the virtues as simply those characteristics that enable individuals to live well in communities. To achieve a state of well being (happiness or human...
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...Ethics, or moral philosophy, is the study of morality using the methods of philosophy. Ethics is an investigation of principle by which we distinguish goodness from badness and assess the actions as right or wrong. Morality consists of our beliefs about right and wrong actions and good and bad persons or character. Morality has to do with our moral judgments, principles, values, and theories. Ethics is the careful examination of morality and applies critical reason to questions about what we should do and what is of value. Morality is a public system that understood and applied to all rational people. Values expressed in our thoughts, feelings, action, and perceptions. It is a quality of a thing which makes it desirable, useful, or an objective interest. It assesses the worth of something. Moral refers to the individual conduct itself, conform the accepted what is considered right pertaining to the manner in which one behaves in relationship with the others. Immoral refers to something that is contrary to moral Amoral is without morals, an individual taking an action without any consider to commitment to moral or social concept of good or bad. Evil is the idea that sad things happen to people and people do bad things. Etiquette: rules of behavior nothing to do with moral or ethics/ violating the social system, and it is a code of behavior of a society. Law is a rule or a body of rules established by the authority, society or custom. Laws are supposed to reflect morality...
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...Ethical Theories Virtues, ethics, and morals are what define people as good or bad, their actions as right or wrong. American society holds one’s virtues in high regard and often evaluates one based on virtue and moral conduct. Virtue by definition is, “the quality or practice of moral excellence or righteousness” (Collins English Dictionary, 2010). Thomas Mallory offered the most ethical character in fiction, Lancelot. It is his virtue that “Is an essential aspect of his success in arms” (McCarthy, 1988, p. 22). Virtue ethics and ethical relativism, studied by learned philosophers, help define the basis of right and wrong. Major Elements According to Aristotle, morality is a specific attribute of a person with regard to his or her own inner harmony. Aristotle explained moral attributes in the terms of one’s lucid ability of the inner self to manage its appetite for portion. He asserted that moral attributes are erudite and should be practiced to become habit (Athanassoulis, 2010, para 2). According to the textbook, “virtue is a state of character, that of being a good person” (Freeman, 2000, p. 88). Moral theories concern right and wrong behaviors; but virtue ethics change the kind of questions asked about ethics. Major elements in the theory of virtue ethics are the subjective behavior, qualities and habits that can lead the individual to make choices. This theory helps the individual to ask about right and wrong and how genuine fulfillment may be reached (Freeman...
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...Virtue can simply be defined as the quality in a person to do what is right and shun what is wrong. Virtue enables a person to attain moral excellence. It is not only a quality which has substance, but also one, which is extremely desirable. In ancient Greek, during times of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, moral philosophy was an essential discipline which got taught in schools. Most of the Great philosophers of that time heard a different version, accounts and views about the ideal, moral virtues. In this essay, attempts are made critically to analyze the views, opinions and beliefs of two of the most influential philosophers of all time- Socrates and Aristotle ( Prior, 2001). The essays will showcase the crucial differences between Aristotle account on virtue, and Socrates account of virtue. This essay will then attempt to give an analysis of which among the two arguments is the most plausible. It should be noted from the onset the Socrates and Aristotle have different and also similar arguments about virtue. They concur that virtue is a state but differ sharply on its functions. These accounts shall get discussed in the essay ( Anagnostopoulos, 2011). The account on virtue as proposed, by Aristotle perceives morals virtues, to represent the characters that are a consequence of habits repeating themselves over and over again. His account explains that the virtues of a person can be traced between the two extreme ends of two cardinal states, which are scarcity and excess...
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...Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics is a theory used to make moral decisions. It does not rely on religion, society or culture; it only depends on the individuals themselves. The main philosopher of Virtue Ethics is Aristotle. His theory was originally introduced in ancient Greek times. Aristotle was a great believer in virtues and the meaning of virtue to him meant being able to fulfil one's functions. Virtue ethics is not so much interested in the question 'What should I do?' but rather in the question 'what sort of person should I become?' It has more to do with character and the nature of what it is to be human, than with the rights and wrongs of actions. Instead of concentrating on what is the right thing to do, virtue ethics asks how you can be a better person. Aristotle says that those who do lead a virtuous life are very happy and have sense of well-being. Happiness is the ultimate goal for everyone in life. Aristotle's definition of happiness is, 'happiness is the activity of the soul in accord with perfect virtue'. To become a better person, we must practice virtuous acts regularly. After a while, these acts will become a habit and so the virtuous acts part of our every day life and the person will be leading a virtuous life. For example, if a singer practices singing everyday, they will become better at it and used to doing it. People who practice their virtues improve their skills and therefore becoming...
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...Ethics and ethical theories: a road map for teaching ethics in business schools Joan Fontrodona (IESE Business School, Spain), Manuel Guillén (University of Valencia, Spain), and Alfredo Rodríguez-Sedano (University of Navarre, Spain) Introduction A three-dimensional framework to explain ethical theories Ethical approaches of business firms Teaching ethics experiences using this framework Discussion of the teaching experiences Conclusions References 1 2 6 9 10 12 13 Introduction This paper tries to contribute, in some way, to the urgent need recently warned by Benedict XVI: “the university, for its part, must never lose sight of its particular calling to be a "universitas" in which the various disciplines, each in its own way, are seen as part of a greater unum. How urgent is the need to rediscover the unity of knowledge and to counter the tendency to fragmentation and lack of communicability that is all too often the case in our schools!”1 This seems to be a challenge for both, Catholic and non-Catholic universities. The purpose of this paper is to present a theoretical framework that helps to conceptualize ethics and to clarify the characteristics and limits of the different ethical theories. In other words, students without philosophical background will find here a synthetic “road map” of ethical approaches. This framework has been previously published in a book in Spain2. In this paper, authors will describe the model and discuss how it has been successfully tested...
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...developed Aristotle’s ‘Virtue Theory’. [30 marks] Aristotle’s ‘Virtue Theory’ is an ethical theory that emphasizes on an individual’s character as a key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves (deontology) or their consequences (consequentialism). Thus making ‘Virtue Ethics’ and deontic ethical theory. Both Elizabeth Anscombe and Alasdair MacIntyre believed that modern ethical studies have lost their ways. The philosophers felt that they were too concerned with normative rules and this doesn’t help to fill the moral vacuum of society. And that ‘Virtue Ethics’ was the only solution to the moral vacuum in society. According to Anscombe, the best way to fill this moral vacuum is to chart our moral virtues. Virtues help ordinary people be moral and must be based on good will; similarly to Aquinas’ internal vs external goods idea in Natural Law. Anscombe believed that society needed the return of Virtue Ethics because she was critical of deontological ethics as she felt they had become outdated. She was also critical of teleological ethics as she believes the end doesn’t justify the means, which we can understand from when she says, “The concepts of obligation, and duty – moral ‘ought’, ought to be jettisoned.” In 1981, MacIntyre wrote a book titled ‘After Virtue’ in which he traces he history of ‘Virtue Ethics’ and attempts to establish a system of the ethical theory appropriate for the modern age. He developed Virtue Ethics by putting less...
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...Virtue ethics is a theory used to make moral decisions. It does not rely on religion, society or culture. The theory is the view that the foundation of morality is the development of good character traits, or virtues. A person is good, then, if he has virtues and lacks vices. There can be as many as 100 virtuous character traits, which contribute to making someone a “good” person. Examples of some virtues would be Integrity, Kindness, Gratitude, and Forgiveness. There are many more of course. Virtue theory places special emphasis on moral education since virtuous character traits are developed in one's youth; adults, therefore, are responsible for instilling virtues in the young. The failure to properly develop virtuous character traits will result in the child acquiring vices or bad character traits instead. Vices include cowardice, insensibility, injustice, and vanity. Virtue ethics says that it is not only important to do the right thing, but also to have the required dispositions, motivations, and emotions in being good and doing right. We should enjoy doing good, because we are good. It isn't only about action but also about emotions, character, and moral habits. I believe if your parents instilled you with good charatertistics since birth, you will carry them on into adulthood. When you enter adulthood, you have a good understanding how society works and can desifer if something your parents said during childhood was not 100% true. For example, If your parents...
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...“Virtue ethics is of little use when dealing with practical ethics.” Discuss. It is often argued that virtue ethics is of little use when dealing with practical ethics. Virtue ethics does not focus on actions being right or wrong, but on how to be a good person. Virtue ethics raises three questions “who am I?”, “Who I ought to become?” and “How do I get there?”. On the other hand Practical ethics describes situations where an action is needed. Firstly virtue ethics goes back to Plato and Aristotle. Plato’s moral theory centres on the achievement of man’s highest good, which involves the right cultivation of his soul and the harmonious wellbeing of his life (Eudaimonia). Plato seemed to consider that certain virtues such as temperance, courage, prudence and justice (cardinal Virtues) are in balance a person’s actions will be good. It motivates people to want to be good. It shows the importance of education in showing that good actions are their own rewards. When these virtues are in balance a person’s actions will be good and therefore would disagree that virtue ethics is of little use. Aristotle’s ethical theory is known as virtue ethics because at the centre of his description of the good, which are the virtues which shape human character and ultimately human behaviour. However this good human life is one lived in harmony and co-operation with other people, since Aristotle saw people as not only rational beings but also as social beings. Aristotle saw two types of virtues...
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...explain the theories of Virtue, Utilitarianism, and Deontological Ethics. This essay will further describe how each theory addresses ethics and morality. Lastly, it will provide a brief personal experience explaining the relationship among virtue, values, and moral concepts as related to virtue ethics. Virtue Ethics Virtue Ethics postulates that virtue can be attained by self-discipline and practiced behaviors. By continually striving for virtue in everything one does, one can learn to be good, thus becoming good, and lastly be viewed as good by others. A prime example of Virtue Ethics is Aristotelian Mean ethics which basically states that individuals should strive for virtue by seeking the median moral value that lies between two extremes, e.g. cowardice, courage, and foolhardy. (M. Boylan, 2010.) Utilitarianism Is an ethical theory of acting that basically states that the most moral of actions is to choose whichever one will produce the most good for the largest group. In short Utilitarianism supports the notion that the needs of many outweigh the needs of few or of one. Deontology Deontology is a moral theory that deals with doing a thing simply because it is the right thing do. Deontology doesn’t take into account any other factors such as the consequences of committing an action. If the action itself is good and just then the Deontologist must choose that action as morally correct. I interpret this to mean that Deontology is about moral absolutes – lying is wrong...
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...remained true to their own empirical philosophies that are different from more traditional accounts with the overall theme of how a virtuous person would live their life. In contrast, David Hume developed his own account of sentimentalist virtue ethics that challenges, or pushes back on, the virtue ethics Aristotle. According to Aristotle, we should be virtuous people – and as virtuous people do virtuous things. Instead of talking about particular actions and the rules according to which they are undertaken, then, Aristotle requires us to look at virtues, or qualities of character. Within Aristotle, the emphasis is more on character traits than on rules or obligations. Moral agency is not merely a matter of which rules to follow, but a whole way of life, which requires a unity of thought and feeling, which is characteristic of what Aristotle called ‘virtue’. What is a virtue, and what is the virtuous life? Aristotle’s definition is cited by Boetzkes and Waluchow: virtue is “a state of character concerned with choice, lying in a mean, i.e., the mean relative to us, this being determined by rational principle, that principle by which the man of practical wisdom would determine it.” Virtue is a kind of disposition, but that’s not all – for virtue is a disposition to choose well. For Aristotle, virtuous action is action that emerges from one’s disposition to choose the middle point (or golden mean) between two vicious extremes; one extreme is the vice of excess, the other is a vice...
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...Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue Lisa Wilson Dr. Malone Date 12/5/2015 Confucius and Aristotle are some of the greatest thinkers in the history of mankind. While Confucius was born in China and spearheaded a new way of perceiving morality, Aristotle was born in Macedon/Greece and also immersed his philosophical work to addressing moral thinking.Both philosophers have addressed similar subjects with major points of divergence and convergence. On virtue, these two authors have almost similar opinions. However, it is their points of convergence or agreement that have had a huge impact on the modern world’s thinking and understanding of virtue and moral behavior. By the Standard English dictionary, virtue is defined as behavior showing high moral standards. This definition is borrowed from both philosophers who tend to agree by laying emphasis on character or behavior as opposed to the actions themselves. Thus Aristotle and Confucius agree that virtue is entrenched in one’s character and thus should be visible in all kind of situations and in specific situations (Yu, 1998). The twophilosophersalso agree chiefly on some components of virtue but disagree on others. One of the chief virtues that the two agree on is piety. According to Aristotle, humans serve the gods by improving the moral state of the human state. To him, being virtuous is a form reverence to the gods. Confucius has a similar take on piety noting that...
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