Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics

1. polis

   • For Aristotle, ethics was not just about promoting the good if the individual but that of the community. He said that humans are 'political animals'.

2. Golden Mean

   • This is something that Aristotle developed to allow a balance to be found between two vices: vice of excess and vice of deficiency. What is found in between - at the mean - is the ideal virtue.
     • Examples:  cowardice - courage - rashness  unambitiousness - pride - boastfulness

3. Other Philosophers

   • Keown - Keown claims that Virtue Ethics is a middle way between deontology and untilitarianism
   • Slote - a modern Virtue ethicist. 1. he stressed the importance of intention behind the virtues. 2. "eudaimonia is the idea that no trait of character counts as a virtue unless it serves the interest, promotes the overall well-being, of the virtuous individual"
   • Guthrie - Eudaimonia is "the quality of excellence towards which we strive in our daily conduct in society"

4. Eudaimonia

   • Eudaimonia means 'highest good' and Aristotle describes it as 'human flourishing'