Virtue Ethics Identify key terms: virtue, golden mean and eudaimonia. Describe Aristotle’s virtue theory. Explain how virtue theory works and what it aims to achieve. Compare virtue theory to the other normative ethical approaches.
“Call off Christmas!” Watch this clip from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. What is Robin Hood doing? Describe what Robin Hood is doing that is good and what the sheriff is going bad. Evaluate the claim that virtue is more important than obedience to the law.
He robs from the rich and gives to the poor Defends the weak Provides for the hungry Fights injustice Breaks the law Steals from other Obeys the law Deals with neighbouring governments Takes advantage of the poor Sexual promiscuity and rape
Key Words Eudaimonia – Greek for the __________ __________ Virtue – an attribute of a person __________ Eudaimonia Vice – an attribute of a person __________ to attain _________. Golden Mean – Aristotle said that __________ lay between two ________ this is the golden mean.
Examples of virtues and vices Look at these personalities. Identify as many as you can. Describe their virtues or vices. Match a virtue with a corresponding vice, e.g. courage- cowardice.
Aristotle’s golden mean Sphere of action/ feeling Deficiency When you have too little Mean The right balance Excess When you have too much Dealing with fear Cowardice Rashness Dealing with pleasure Temperance/ Moderation Look at Aristotle’s table of virtues and vices. Find the missing virtues and vices. Give examples of when you might display these virtues and vices. Evaluate Aristotle. Is his theory always right?
Aristotle’s golden mean Dealing with fearDeficiencyMeanExcess Dealing with pleasure CowardiceCourageRashness Dealing with money Numbness Temperance/ Moderation Over-indulgence Dealing with how you see yourself Tight/ MeannessSensibilityWasteful Anger Self-deprecation Confidence/ Proper self-love Vanity Self-expression Being a wimp Patience/Good temper Hot temperedness Conversation UnderstatementTruthfulnessBoastfulness Social Conduct BoorishnessWittinessBuffoonery Shame Bad humour, irritabilityFriendlinessOver-the-top praise How you see others ShamelessnessModestyShyness
Find the virtue and the vice Choose a movie/book Identify the main hero and the main villain. Describe the virtues and vices of these protagonists. Explain what characteristics and ideas the film promotes.
What is virtue theory? Virtue theory is a normative ethical approach that focusses on how to be a good person and live the “good life”. While Kantian ethics is action-centred and Utilitarianism is consequentialist, virtue theory is agent-centred. It doesn’t matter what actions I perform, it matters what person I am.
Ethical Theory AgentConsequenceAction
Ethical Theory AgentConsequenceAction Virtue Ethics Deontological Ethics, e.g. the Commandments, Kantian Ethics etc. Teleological Ethics, e.g. Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics etc.
Ethical Theory AgentConsequenceAction Is the Agent “good”? Does the agent do what makes him/her a “good” person? Don’t judge the actions, judge the agent. The end justifies the means. All’s well that ends well. If the consequences are good, then it justifies the actions taken. It doesn’t matter what the consequences are. Is the action a morally good action? Some things are absolutely right/wrong
Aristotle quote We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Read the quote from Aristotle. What does it mean? Explain how it links to Aristotle’s Virtue Theory. Evaluate the claim that a good person need not worry about what he does so much as what he is.