Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsWhat duty do we What duty do we have to assist others have to assist others in need? in need?

Ethics of Care:Ethics of Care: Perspective on moral Perspective on moral issues that issues that emphasizes close emphasizes close personal relationships personal relationships and moral virtues and moral virtues such as compassion, such as compassion, love, and sympathy.love, and sympathy.

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsWhat duty do What duty do we have to we have to ourselves?ourselves?

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics Consequentialist & Consequentialist &

nonconsequentialisnonconsequentialist moral theories t moral theories are concerned with are concerned with action, and action, and attempt to answer attempt to answer the question, the question, “What should I “What should I dodo?”?”

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics

Virtue ethics, Virtue ethics, by contrast, by contrast, attempts to attempts to answer the answer the question, question, “What should I “What should I bebe?”?”

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics Ethical theory that see the Ethical theory that see the primary focus of ethics to primary focus of ethics to be the character of the be the character of the person rather than the person rather than the person’s actions person’s actions

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsIs this hammer Is this hammer a good a good hammer?hammer?

Is this lawnmower Is this lawnmower a good a good lawnmower?lawnmower?

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsWhat attributes What attributes or virtues make or virtues make this a good this a good hammer and hammer and good good lawnmower?lawnmower?

Virtue – A trait of Virtue – A trait of character that is character that is to be admired to be admired because it is a because it is a component of component of excellenceexcellence

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics What makes a person a good What makes a person a good

person?person?

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsWhat is the What is the purpose or goal purpose or goal of our lives?of our lives?

HappinessHappiness

Human FlourishingHuman Flourishing

Living WellLiving Well

Living the good lifeLiving the good life

Human excellenceHuman excellence

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsCultivation of Cultivation of virtue is the virtue is the way to way to achieve achieve human human flourishingflourishing

To Aristotle, a virtue To Aristotle, a virtue is a stable is a stable disposition to act disposition to act and feel according to and feel according to some ideal or model some ideal or model of excellence.of excellence.

It is a deeply It is a deeply embedded character embedded character trait that can affect trait that can affect actions in countless actions in countless situations.situations.

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsAristotle Aristotle distinguishes distinguishes between between intellectualintellectual and and moralmoral virtues. virtues.

Examples of Examples of intellectual intellectual virtues.virtues.

--Wisdom--Wisdom

--Prudence--Prudence

--Rationality--Rationality

Examples of Examples of moral moral virtues.virtues.

--Fairness--Fairness--Benevolence--Benevolence--Honesty--Honesty--Loyalty--Loyalty--Conscientiousness--Conscientiousness--Courage--Courage

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsIntellectual Intellectual virtues can be virtues can be taught, but taught, but moral virtues moral virtues come about come about only as a result only as a result of habitual of habitual practice.practice.

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsMoral virtues Moral virtues occupy what occupy what Aristotle calls Aristotle calls the “the “Golden Golden MeanMean”--a ”--a balance balance between two between two extremes.extremes.

Virtue EthicsVirtue EthicsFor Aristotle, the For Aristotle, the Golden Mean Golden Mean expresses a expresses a fundamental fundamental truth: the truth: the virtuous--and virtuous--and happy--life is a happy--life is a life of moderation life of moderation in all things.in all things.

Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics Which flower is a better flower?Which flower is a better flower?

The one that is healthyThe one that is healthy

The one that flourishesThe one that flourishes

Why Should IWhy Should I Be Be Moral?Moral?

Because of Because of who we who we becomebecome