Zusammenfassung der Ressource
To what extent do modern
versions of V.E address the
weaknesses of Aristotle's
teaching on virtue?
- What is virtue ethics?
- Does not focus on what the right thing/act to do is (like
utilitarianism or NL) but on HOW TO DEVELOP A GOOD
CHARACTER
- Concentrates on defining good
people and the virtues that make
them good
- Old theory dating
back to Aristotle
and Plato
- Agent-centered - Virtue
ethics concentrates on the
person or the agent
performing the actions.
- It is not concerned with the motive
or the consequence of an action but
rather the person
- therefore resists a
teleological/deontological
classification
- Aristotle's
teachings
- Argued that as humans
everything we want or desire should
lead to happiness, because
happiness is good as an end in itself.
- the ultimate happiness we all aim for is
called eudaimonia. In order to reach
eudaimonia, Aristotle stated, we must be
virtuous people.
- rejected action-based ethics. He said that an action
may seem good but have a bad motive - this is the
exact opposite of the utilitarian view, which argues that
motive is irrelevant.
- Virtue ethicists say the action is irrelevant but the motive is
pivotal because it shapes who we are as people.