Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics is different from other ethical systems in that it does not look at actions,
but looks at the qualities which makes someone a good person or have a good character.
So in deciding what is right, we should look at the character and motivations of the
people involved. This is often considered in courts of law around the world.
It began with Aristotle (384 – 322 BCE) and his Nicomanchean Ethics.
They start with three concepts: arete = excellence, phronesis = practical wisdom,
eudaimonea = happiness
Aristotle argued that each virtue was really a mean between two vices.
ARISTOTLE'S NICOMACHEAN ETHICS /TABLE OF VIRTUES AND VICES
SPHERE OF ACTION OR
FEELING
EXCESS
MEAN
DEFICIENCY
Fear and Confidence
Rashness
Courage
Cowardice
Pleasure and Pain
Licentiousness/Self-indulgence
Temperance
Insensibility
Getting and Spending
(minor)
Prodigality
Liberality
Illiberality/Meanness
Getting and Spending
Vulgarity/Tastelessness
Magnificence
Pettiness/Niggardliness
(major)
Honour and Dishonour
(major)
Vanity
Magnanimity
Pusillanimity
Honour and Dishonour
(minor)
Ambition/empty vanity
Proper ambition/pride
Unambitiousness/undue humility
Anger
Irascibility
Patience/Good temper
Lack of spirit/unirascibility
Self-expression
Boastfulness
Truthfulness
Understatement/mock modesty
Conversation
Buffoonery
Wittiness
Boorishness
Social Conduct
Obsequiousness
Friendliness
Cantankerousness
Shame
Shyness
Modesty
Shamelessness
Indignation
Envy
Righteous indignation
Maliciousness/Spitefulness
This is a more flexible model of ethics in that the ideal character of an individual may
vary from place to place but doesn’t really tell us what to do in any given situation.
Although this model seems to encourage to subjective idea of cultural relativism, some
view virtues as being true for all people, or ethical objectivism.
 Can you think of a cultural tradition which should be banned?
 Can you think of examples of universal ethics, that would apply to all people
independent of culture?