WHAT IS VIRTUE ETHICS?

Virtue – is a stable disposition to act and feel according to some ideal or model of excellence. It is
deeply imbedded character trait that can affect actions in countless situations. Intellectual Virtues can
be taught, just as logic and mathematics but Moral Virtues can be learned only through practice. It is a
commendable trait of character manifested in habitual action but saying this, doesn’t tell us which traits
of characters are good or bad. None of the moral virtues arises in us by nature, but the virtues, we get
them by first exercising them. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts,
brave by doing brave acts.

In that way, virtue ethics is concerned with the whole of a person's life, rather than particular episodes
or actions.

Virtue Ethics – is a theory of morality that makes virtue the central concern.

- Person rather than action based. Person is the agent or maker of action.

- Answers the question, What should I be?

- Focus on excellence not on moral laws. Emanates from a person’s moral virtues, moral
character not obedience to moral laws.

- If we focus on being good, the right action will follow effortlessly like a habit. (spontaneous)

- Virtue Ethics (or Virtue Theory) is an approach to Ethics that emphasizes an individual's
character as the key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves
(Deontology) or their consequences (Consequentialism).

- Moral exemplars – people or person succeeded in making themselves virtues. People who
already had a good disposition. People who succeeded in integrating moral and attributes into
their core identity.

- can be learn by watching it, doing it repeatedly

- moral agent

Aristotle (384-322 b.c.e)

- “Moral life consist not in following moral rules that stipulate right actions but in striving to be a
particular kind of person- a virtuous person whose actions stem naturally from virtuous character.”

Aristotle’s emphasis on teleology implies that there is a reason for everything. He sees human
life as organized and directed toward a final end. For Aristotle, every living being has an end toward
which it naturally aims. Life is teleological; it is meant not just to be something but to aspire toward
something, to fulfill its proper function.

What is proper aim for human beings?

Aristotle argues that the true goal of humans-their greatest good- is Eudaimonia, which means
happiness or flourishing and refers to the full realization of good life.
 To achieve Eudaimonia, human beings must fulfill function that is natural and distinctive to
them: living fully with accordance to their reason. The life of reason entails a life of virtues because
virtues themselves are rational modes of behaving.

This goal can also be achieved by a lifetime of practicing "arête" (the virtues) in one's everyday
activities, subject to the exercise of "phronesis" (practical wisdom) to resolve any conflicts or dilemmas
which might arise. Indeed, such a virtuous life would in itself constitute eudaimonia, which should be
seen as an objective, not a subjective, state, characterized by the well-lived life, irrespective of the
emotional state of the person experiencing it.

Practical wisdom balances the excess and deficit.

“Happiness is an activity of the soul in accordance with complete or perfect virtue.”

The virtuous life both helps human being achieve true happiness and is the realization of true
happiness. Virtues makes you good, and they help you have a good life.

ARISTOTLE’S NOTION OF MORAL VIRTUE IS CALLED GOLDEN MEAN: balance between two behavioral
extremes. A moral virtue is the midpoint between excess and deficit (of moral virtues, i.e. the virtue of
courage is a mean between the two vices of cowardice and foolhardiness) . For him, Virtuous and happy
life is a life of moderation in all things.

Virtues are the golden mean between the excess and deficit of moral virtues.

(deficit) Cowardice average(mean) Foolhardiness(excess)

WHAT ARE THE VIRTUES? WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERS SHOULD BE FOSTERED IN HUMAN BEINGS?

There is no short answer but the following is a partial part.

Fairness Courage

Benevolence Conscientiousness

Civility Loyalty

Compassion Honesty

Cooperativeness Dependability

The ETHICS OF CARE is an approach associated with virtue ethics. It is a perspective in moral issues that
emphasize close personal relationships and moral virtues such as compassion, love, and sympathy. It
contrast with traditional moral theories that are preoccupied with principles, rules, and legalistic moral
reasoning (or Ethics of Justice). The ethics of care is probably best characterized as an important
component of virtue ethics though some prefer to think of it a full-fledged moral theory on its own right.
It emphasizes the importance of solidarity, community and relationships rather than universal standards
and impartiality. It argues that instead of doing the right thing even if it requires personal cost or
sacrificing the interest of family or community members. We can, and indeed should, put the interests
of those who are close to us above the interests of complete strangers.

Ethics of care is a reminder that caring is a crucial part of the moral life.

The AGENT-BASED THEORIES give an account of virtue based on our common-sense intuitions about
which character traits are admirable (e.g. benevolence, kindness, compassion, etc), which we can
identify by looking at the people we admire, our moral exemplars. The evaluation of actions is therefore
dependent on ethical judgments about the inner life of the agents who perform those actions.

WHY ARE THE VIRTUES IMPORTANT?

Virtue is valuable for different reasons. Aristotle offers a general answer to that question. He says that
virtues are important because the virtuous person will fare better in life. The point is not that the
virtuous person will always be richer; the point is that we need the virtues in order to flourish. They are
all qualities needed for successful living.

ARE THE VIRTUES THE SAME FOR EVERYONE?

Finally, we may ask whether a single set of traits desirable for all person. Should we speak of the good
person, as though all good people come from one mold?

There is, then, an obvious sense in which the virtues may differ from person to person. Because people
lead different kind of lives, have different sort of personalities, and occupy different social roles, the
qualities of character that help them flourish may differ. The character traits that are needed to occupy
certain roles may differ and so the traits needed to live successfully will differ. Thus, virtues will be
different.

But certain values will be needed by all people in all times, this was Aristotle’s view. He believed that we
all have great deal in common despite our differences. He says ‘one may observe in one’s travel to
distant countries the feelings of recognition and affiliation that link every human being to every other
human being. Even the most disparate societies, people face the same basic problems and have the
same basic needs.

Character trait may vary from person to person and from society to society but it cannot be right to say
that social customs determine whether any particular trait is a virtue. The major Virtues flow from our
common human condition.

QUESTION:

What faculty of a person is used when you balance the excess and deficit or when you determine the
golden mean?

Answer: REASON OR PRACTICAL WISDOM

Answer: No