Virtue Ethics
• Virtue ethics—A moral theory that focuses on
the development of virtuous character.
• Virtues—Engrained dispositions to act by
standards of excellence.
• In virtue ethics, character is the key to the moral
life, for it is from a virtuous character that moral
conduct and values naturally arise.
Aristotle: The Father of
Virtue Ethics
• The highest goal of humanity is the good
life or “human flourishing” (eudaimonia,
happiness).
• Developing virtues is the way to achieve a
rich and satisfying life.
• Virtues make us good persons—and help
us live a good life.
Virtue Ethics
The Virtues—Alasdair MacIntyre
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Virtues arise from, and are defined by, a
coherent social practice.
Virtues are relative to traditions.
Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics—Aristotle
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We always desire happiness for its own
sake.
The function of man is activity of the soul
in accordance with reason.
Moral virtues can best be acquired
through practice and habit.
Virtue is a mean lying between two vices.
Virtue Ethics
Virtue and the Moral Life—Bernard
Mayo
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We learn the most about ethics by
looking at the lives of saints and heroes.
Saints and heroes primarily give us
examples to follow.
Kant would reject the insights of virtue
ethics.
Virtue Ethics
Saints and Heroes—J. O. Urmson
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Philosophers have too often ignored
supererogatory actions.
The ideal moral code should distinguish
between basic rules and the “higher
flights of morality” exemplified by
saintliness and heroism.
Virtue Ethics
The Great Stone Face—Nathaniel
Hawthorne
To develop into good people, we need not
have great people, but simply great ideas
and ideals.
Virtue Ethics
A Critique of Virtue-Based Ethical
Systems—William Frankena
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All the virtues can be derived from
principles.
Traits without principles are blind.
An action is to be judged right or wrong
by reference to a principle or set of
principles.