Martha Nussbaum’s “Non-Relative Virtues: An Aristotelian Approach” Introduction to Ethical theory, Benjamin Visscher Hole IV 240W8L3

Agenda Administrative Issues Clicker Quiz Review and assess Nussbaum Assess broader issues Agenda

Administrative Issues Final Examination Assignment Nine A mixture of short “choice” questions (e.g., multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, etc.) and short “essay” questions Study the daily quizzes (and lecture slides) Study the reading study guides Apply ethical theories to contemporary moral issues Assess your learning and performance in this class Prepare for the final examination

Clicker Quiz

in a relativist way. in an absolutist way. in a Kantian way. Nussbaum claims that in cross-cultural communication, inhabitants of different conceptual schemes tend to view their interaction: in a relativist way. in an absolutist way. in a Kantian way. in teleological way. in an Aristotelian way. all of the above. none of the above.

Nussbaum claims that Aristotle saw his theory of the virtues as: final and complete. open-ended and revisable. necessarily relative to his culture. applicable only to himself. all of the above. none of the above.

are an essential component of a flourishing life. According to Nussbaum, Marx claimed that Aristotelian virtues regarding property: are an essential component of a flourishing life. are unpleasant, but necessary for society to function. are responses to defective relations of production. will be strongly promoted under communism. all of the above. none of the above.

Review and assess Nussbaum and broader issues in ethical theory “NON-RELATIVE VIRTUES: AN ARISTOTELIAN APPROACH,” Martha C. Nussbaum Review and assess Nussbaum and broader issues in ethical theory

An Aristotelian Program A two-stage inquiry Isolate a sphere of human experience that figures in more or less any human life, in which nearly everyone will have to make some choices about how to act. Find a correct fuller specification of what it is to act well in that sphere. 9

Objection 1 Objection: Even if we settle on a single subject matter (how to behave in a particular sphere of human experience), this does not establish that there is a single correct answer. Reply: There might be many concrete specifications of the virtues, in connection with local conditions. 10

Objection 2 Objection: The allegedly shared human experiences are in fact differently constructed by different cultures. Reply: This is true, but we can nonetheless identify certain features of our common humanity that are nearly universally shared, including mortality, pain and pleasure, and practical reason. 11

Nussbaum’s Spheres Does grounding the approach in objective spheres of human experience gives virtue ethical theory an acceptable claim to universality? VIRTUE SPHERE 1. Courage Fear of important damages, esp. death. 2. Moderation Bodily appetites and their pleasures. 3. Justice Distribution of limited resources. 4. Generosity Management of one’s personal property where others are concerned. 5. Expansive hospitality Management of one’s personal property where hospitality is concerned. 6. Greatness of soul Attitudes and actions with respect to one’s own worth. 7. Mildness of temper Attitude to slights and damages 8.a. Truthfulness 8.b. Easy grace (contrasted with coarseness, rudeness, insensitivity) 8.c. Nameless , but a kind of friendliness (contrasted with irritability and grumpiness) “Association and living together and the fellowship of words and actions.” Truthfulness in speech Social association of a playful kind Social association more generally 9. Proper judgment (contrasted with enviousness, spitefulness, etc.) Attitude to the good and ill fortune of others. 10. The various intellectual virtues, such as perceptiveness, knowledge, etc. Intellectual life. 11. Practical Wisdom The planning of one’s life.

Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Grounding the approach in objective spheres of human experience gives virtue ethical theory an acceptable claim to universality Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Objection 3 Objection: We can imagine a form of life, perhaps a preferable one, that does not contain these “shared human experiences” such as property ownership. Reply: All forms of life contain certain boundaries and limits, and will thus require some set of virtues. 14

The Ladder of Nature Humans Aspects: Parts Social Animals Operations Ends: Individual Survival Continuance of the Species Social Animals Animals Plants

The Ladder of Nature Aspects: Parts Operations Actions Desires Ends: Individual Survival Continuance of the Species Characteristic Pleasure/Characteristic Freedom from Pain Humans Social Animals Animals Plants

The Ladder of Nature Human Beings Social Animals Animals Plants Aspects: Parts Operations Actions Emotions/Desires Ends: Individual Survival Continuance of the Species Characteristic Pleasure/Characteristic Freedom from Pain The Good Functioning of the Social Group Social Animals Animals Free rider problem, social roles Plants

The Ladder of Nature Human Beings Social Animals Animals Plants Aspects: Parts* Operations* Actions Emotions/Desires Rationality Ends: Individual Survival* Continuance of the Species* Characteristic Pleasure/Characteristic Freedom from Pain The Good Functioning of the Social Group *Not as important due to modern medicine/technology Human Beings Social Animals Animals Plants

Evaluating Human Beings We can expect “the structure of our ethical evaluations of ourselves to resemble that of a sophisticated social animal with some differences necessitated by our being not only social but also rational.” (Hursthouse, OVE, 206)

Objection 3 Objection: We can imagine a form of life, perhaps a preferable one, that does not contain these “shared human experiences” such as property ownership. Reply: All forms of life contain certain boundaries and limits, and will thus require some set of virtues. 20

Objection 3 Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Broader issues in ethical theory “NON-RELATIVE VIRTUES: AN ARISTOTELIAN APPROACH,” Martha C. Nussbaum Broader issues in ethical theory

Watson’s Dilemma Revisited Horn One An ethical theory grounded in human experience is morally indeterminate Horn Two An ethical theory grounded in human experience is circular