(H) Practical Virtue Ethics

(H) Practical Virtue Ethics

1. K.W: phronesis- practical wisdom. The ability to reflect on what ought to be done to achieve a virtuous end and what effects that action will have.

2. • One of the problems with V.E. has been its inability to move forward from character traits to practical moral decisions. HURSTHOUSE created a theory and then applied it generally to particular moral issues such as abortion. HOWEVER she didn’t demonstrate how a particular character trait could be applied to a specific case. MARTHA NUSSBAUM: uses the principle of [ phronesis ] to examine particular issues.

   • • The concept of phrnesis us taken from Aristotle: he believed the moral life is inbuilt into rational human beings. Humans discover the nature of the universe and its moral structure through a rational process, which Aristotle called [Sophia( wisdom) ]. This creates an understanding of ethical theory and moral concepts. He goes on to argue that ethical theory needs practical application. That humans use the rational process of phronesis to discover the best means of applying moral concepts to the real world. Pronesis, is a rational process of the mind, which discovers the practical means for applying moral concepts to life. The art of deciding the best way to solve a moral problem. It involves rational reflection.
     • • NUSSBAUM’s first book looked at the issue of justice, which Virtue ethicists find difficult. Due to the fact that by looking at the virtue of the moral agent, the meaning of an absolute notion of justice can be lost. She examines how through history people have campaigned for justice have often been destroyed and sacrificed in their pursuit of it. For instance, Socrates perished, Jesus was crucified and Thomas More executed.
       • • In 2009, NUSSBAUM published a book which looks at issues of sexual orientation. She defends the rights of homosexuals. She regards as important the practical application of the virtuous life, meaning the tolerance of those who are different as ong as they do not abuse others. She supports, what she regards as the virtuous nature of a multicultural society. YET, she cannot condone such practices as female circumcision.