Virtue Ethics (Aristotle) - created from Mind Map

Page 1

What makes an action morally right?

What is the greatest good?

What is the Doctrine of the Mean?

What are the positives of this theory?

What are the negatives of the theory?

An action is considered morally right if it is what a virtuous person would do in a situation of moral choice

Eudaimonia

How do we achieve this 'greater good'?

Loosely translates to 'flourishing' or living well

Based on Aristotle's beleif that all deliberate human behaviour is goal orientated

Over an extended period of time, can only be examined when in reference to a lifetime

Function Argument

Argues that everything must have an ergon (function) and in order to flourish, must be fulfilling this function

Ergon of human beings: Human Rationality (Obeying reason and having a capacity to reason)

Arete: A quality which allows a thing/entity to fulfil its function

To live a good life and fulfil our ergon, we must live one which is well reasoned. This is done through the exercise of virtues.

Arete for human rationality- exercising virtues

Idea of Sophrysune: Health is balance

Virtue is a relative 'balance' between deficiency and excess

Character, emotions and motives of character are morally significant

It is not a normative theory-is an ethics which enumerate value and characteristics

Does not reduce 'happiness' to a psychological condition of pleasure but rather carries senses absent in the hedonistic standard

Dependent on the situation or context

Aristotle's teleological POV

Just because something is unique (functon) does that make it desirable?

Reason could contribute to a persons misery

Contradiction of doctrine of mean with 'evil in themselves' thinking- HURSTHOUSE

Circularity

Conflicting virtues