From Aristotle to the 21st century VIRTUE ETHICS From Aristotle to the 21st century

The Goal of Human Existence Eudaimonia Flourishing, Happiness A Lifelong Pursuit, accomplished Rationally, through theoretical wisdom and contemplation Functionally, through practical wisdom and politics

The Goal of Human Existence & Eudaimonia Aimed at the “perfect happiness” which is the perfect activity An excellence in any activity in accordance with the nature of that activity Thus, “Human happiness is the activity of the soul in accordance with perfect virtue (excellence).”

The Virtues Intellectual Virtues Moral Virtues Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence Taught through instruction Moral Virtues Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance The result of habit Not natural or inborn but acquired through practice Habit or disposition of the soul (our fundamental character) which involves both feeling and action “Those strengths of character that enable us to flourish” (Hinman)

The Virtues Defined / understood in terms of spheres of human experience Fear of important damages Courage Bodily appetites and their pleasures Moderation Distribution of limited resources Justice Attitude to slights and damages Mildness of Temper Adapted from Martha C. Nussbaum, “Non-Relative Virtues”

The Doctrine of the Mean Proper position between two extremes Vice of excess Vice of deficiency Not an arithmetic median Relative to us and not the thing Not the same for all of us, or Any of us, at various occasions “In this way, then, every knowledgeable person avoids excess and deficiency, but looks for the mean and chooses it”

The Mean

Virtues and the Mean Defined through Reason Education, contemplation, reflection Balanced with Other Virtues: To have any single strength of character in full measure, a person must have the other ones as well. Courage without good judgement is blind Courage without perseverance is short-lived Courage without a clear sense of your own abilities is foolhardy “The virtuous person has practical wisdom, the ability to know when and how best to apply these various moral perspectives.”

Virtues and Community Virtues are defined and lived in community Sharing a common identity and story Modelling the Virtues Importance of Moral Exemplars (Saints and Heroes) Practicing the Virtues – Habit is Crucial! Reinforcing the Virtues

What makes one group virtuous and not another? Inner-City Gangs Common values Models “Virtuous” actions Codes of honor

Ku Klux Klan? Focused Live tradition Stories and Models Common enemy “The family is the strength of our nation.”

The Christian Church? The Taliban? The Scouting Movement? Your school? Your friends?

Are the virtues the same for everyone? People are very different. But we face the same basic problems and have the same basic needs. Everyone needs courage as danger can always arise. Some people are less well off, so we will need generosity. Everyone needs friends so we need loyalty.

Strengths of Virtue Ethics: Importance of the Person, Motive, Heart, Conscience Connection to Community Realization that morality is not defined by moments but by a long-term process Allowance for gray areas, varying contexts, different levels of moral maturity and life contexts

Weaknesses of Virtue Ethics: Dependence on strong communities Not easily applied to ethical issues or to give us practical solutions Demands time Can be turned into a really poor duty- based ethics Might be taken as situational ethics

Group Question You are driving down the icy highway, and the person a few hundred feet in front of you spins out of control, hitting other cars and finally going off the highway. The car rolls a couple of times before it lands upside down in the ditch. Traffic comes to a halt, and you are in the vehicle closest to the wreck. You notice that there is no movement from the car. You smell gasoline and notice that there is a spark or two coming from the overturned car’s engine. 1. According virtue ethics, how should you act in this situation? Explain/Justify your answer using terms such as the golden mean. 2. Knowing your own personality and behavior, how would you probably act? Did you get the same answer?