Modern Virtue Ethics

Modern Virtue Ethics

1. Elizabeth Anscombe

   • 1| 1958 'Modern Moral Philosophy', she critizied deontology.
     • Rejected Kant, Utilitarianism and Meta-ethics.
   • Virtue ethics provides stronger foundation for reasoning about morality.
   • 2| Questioned " What do right and wrong mean without a lawgiver?"
     • Suggested answer - idea of Eudaimonia, human flourishing which does not depend on God.
   • 3| Believed all other theories relied on punishment/reward by a divine law giver. Therefore they cannot provide moral guide lines for moral life.
     • Agreed with Aristotle that Eudaimonia focuses on good and on the person rather than act or outcome.
   • Kantanian ethic does not depend on God however is act-based and ignores individuals.
     • Act based ethics does not make sense because they focus on autonomous actions which neglects community morality.

2. Philippa Foot 1920-

   • Modernised Aristotle's Virtue Ethics. ' Virtues and Vices'
     • 1| She recognised ; importance of the person's own reasoning in practice of virtue.
       • 2| Claims that virtues benefit the individual by leading to flourishing and correcting tendencies that we naturally have towards vices e.g. self interest,
         • 3| Stresses that virtuous people do more than conform to the conventions of society.
       • Virtues are ' correctives'
   • Emphasised that virtues are only virtues as long as they are used in correct ways. e.g. a man who has courage to rob a bank cannot be seen virtuous.

3. Alasdair MacIntyre

   • " After Virtue " 1981
   • Morality has suffered a catastrophe.
     • People do not think there are any oral truths.
   • Age of enlightenment which influenced Utiliarianism and Kant, has lost the sight of the idea of morality and people achieving their true telos.
   • Greek writings that showed great heroes e.g. Achilles show vision of morality - you are what you do.
     • Human identity should be based on his actions(actions of vice or virtue)
       • Heroic society, courage is a measure of the quality of an individual- essential to a household.
   • Wants to restore the idea of morality in terms of human purpose.
     • We cannot go back to greek virtues but we should be virtuous for the community.

4. Richard Taylor 1919-2003

   • Against religion on morality. Humans should flourish and achieve eduaimonia.
     • BUT religious teachings undermine this.
       • Bible quote " Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"
         • If the meek does nothing, how is that moral? Christianity emphasises equality however does not encourage people to strive.

5. Feminism

   • Bernardette Baier - men often think morally in terms of justice and autonomy
     • Seen as Masculine traits.
   • Women think caring, self sacrifice.