Batangas State University
College of Engineering, Architecture, and Fine Arts
Petroleum Engineering
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for
GEd 107 - Ethics
"Virtue Ethics"
Libudan, Loida C.
PetE - 1301
Mrs. Wennie Albania
July 2019
VIRTUE ETHICS
In Aristotle's time, most philosophers were focused on two types of ethics.
1. Deontological ethics
judges ethics by how well a person follows the laws and rules of society.
Deontologists would say, ''it doesn't matter what happens, following the rule is always
the right thing to do.''
2. Teleological ethics
judges ethics based on the outcomes of a person's actions.
Teleological ethicists would say, ''If what you do leads to something good, you did the
right thing.''
There are flaws in both types of thinking, so Aristotle introduced a third option. Aristotle's
perspective on ethics was based on the virtue of being human; in other words, virtue ethics.
There are two important distinctions between Aristotle's approach to ethics and the other
predominant perspectives at the time.
1. Aristotle did not consider ethics just a theoretical or philosophical topic to study. To
understand ethics, Aristotle argued, you actually have to observe how people behave.
2. Ethics weren't about ''what if'' situations for Aristotle; instead, he took a very practical
approach and much of his ideas on ethics were based on what someone did and how their
virtues impacted their actions.
Nicomachean Ethics
The name of a series of books that Aristotle wrote about ethics.
In these writings, he uses logic to determine a definition and the potential impacts of
ethics.
Humans think and behave in a way to achieve happiness, which Aristotle defined as the
constant consideration of truth and behavior consistent with that truth.
Virtue
Aristotle defines virtue as the average, or 'mean,' between excess and deficiency.
The idea of virtue is ''all things in moderation.'' Humans should enjoy existence, but not
be selfish. By striving to live this virtuous life of moderation, human beings can find
happiness and, therefore, be ethical.
Virtue Ethics (or Virtue Theory)
It is an approach to Ethics that emphasizes an individual's character as the key element of
ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves or their consequences.
Three main strands of Virtue Ethics:
1. Eudaimonism
The classical formulation of Virtue Ethics.
It holds that the proper goal of human life is eudaimonia (which can be variously
translated as "happiness", "well-being" or the "good life"), and that this goal can be
achieved by a lifetime of practicing the virtues in one's everyday activities, subject to the
exercise of "phronesis" to resolve any conflicts or dilemmas which might arise.
2. Ethics of Care
It was developed mainly by Feminist writers in the second half of the 20th Century, and
was motivated by the idea that men think in masculine terms such as justice and
autonomy, whereas woman think in feminine terms such as caring.
It calls for a change in how we view morality and the virtues, shifting towards virtues
exemplified by women, such as taking care of others, patience, the ability to nurture, self-
sacrifice, etc, which have been marginalized because society has not adequately valued
the contributions of women. It emphasizes the importance of solidarity, community and
relationships rather than universal standards and impartiality.
3. Agent-Based Theories
It was developed recently by Michael Slote gave an account of virtue based on our
common-sense intuitions about which character traits are admirable (e.g. benevolence,
kindness, compassion, etc), which we can identify by looking at the people we admire,
our moral exemplars.
Aristotle, with whom Virtue Ethics is largely identified, categorized the virtues as moral virtues
and intellectual virtues.
Moral virtues
Prudence
Justice
Fortitude
Temperance
Intellectual virtues
"sophia" or theoretical wisdom
"phronesis" or practical wisdom
Aristotle further argued that each of the moral virtues was a golden mean, or desirable middle
ground, between two undesirable extremes ( the virtue of courage is a mean between the two
vices of cowardice and foolhardiness).
A virtue is a habit or quality that allows individuals to succeed at their purpose. Therefore, Virtue
Ethics is only intelligible if it is teleological (i.e. it includes an account of the purpose or meaning
of human life).
References:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/aristotles-virtue-ethics-definition-theory.html
https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_virtue_ethics.html
