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Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics

Muhammad Asif Ejaz

BE-08-31

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Virtue Ethics

Judges a persons character

Helps us to define what a good person is. We look at the type of person someone is

and compare it to what kind of person we

believe they should be. Examines character rather than action

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In general, the virtues seem to bedispositions that enable people to deal with

human life.

However, it also seems that what counts as amoral virtue will depend on one's beliefs and

the situations one faces.

In general, the virtues seem to bedispositions that enable people to deal with

human life.

However, it also seems that what counts as amoral virtue will depend on one's beliefs and

the situations one faces.

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T

HE MORAL VI

RTU

E What are the traits of character that make a

person a morally good human being?

Which traits of character are moral virtues?

Aristotle

St. Thomas Aquinas

Alasdair Macintyre

Edmund L. Pincoffs

What are the traits of character that make a

person a morally good human being?

Which traits of character are moral virtues?

Aristotle

St. Thomas Aquinas

Alasdair Macintyre

Edmund L. Pincoffs

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Aristotle

Most famous proponent of virtue ethics.

A Greek philosopher.

He argues that a moral virtue is a habit thatenable human being to live according to

reason.

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He stated that a morally virtuous person always acted the

way a human being should act Moral virtue is the tendency to do the right

thing A good character is an achievement, it is not

a natural endowment

Aristotle holds the view that moral virtues are

states of character lying at the mean betweenextremes of excess and deficiency.

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T

homas Aquinas

A Christian Philosopher of middle age,

he followed Aristotle.

He argues that moral virtues are the

habits that enable the person to live

reasonably in this world and united withGod in the next.

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Aquinas added theological factors

in Aristotle's classification of

moral virtues.

Courage

Temperance

Justice

Prudence

Aquinas Added:

Faith

Hope

Charity

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There is a conflict in the view of bothphilosophers.

Like Aristotle says, humility is a vice

and pride is virtue in Greek aristocrats. While Aquinas says humility is a

Christian virtue and pride is a Christian

vice.

There is a conflict in the view of bothphilosophers.

Like Aristotle says, humility is a vice

and pride is virtue in Greek aristocrats. While Aquinas says humility is a

Christian virtue and pride is a Christian

vice.

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Alasdair Macintyre

More recently, An American Philosopher

Alasdair has claimed that a virtue is anyhuman disposition that is praised because it

enables person to achieve the good at

which human practices aim.

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Edmund L. Pincoffs

Pincoffs suggests that virtues include all

those dispositions to act, feel, and think incertain ways that we use as the basis for

choosing between persons or between

potential future selves. He criticizes Macintyre for claiming that

virtue include only those traits required by

some set of social practices.

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Examples of VirtuesThe four fundamental moral virtues:

Courage - being brave enough to do the right thing

Temperance showing moderation in action,thought, or feeling as well as moderation in the

indulgence of the appetites or passions

Justice the ability to give other people exactly

what they deserve, neither more nor less

Prudence (wisdom) gives us the ability to know

what is reasonable in different situations

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Examples of other virtues

Trustworthiness

Honesty

Reliability

Warmth

Kindness

Tolerance

Civility

Sincerity

Gentleness

Dependability

Cooperativeness

Empathy