8. Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics is a branch of moral philosophy that emphasizes the role of character and virtues in determining moral behaviour, rather than focusing on rules (as in deontological ethics) or consequences (as in consequentialism). This ethical theory is primarily concerned with what kind of person one should strive to be, rather than simply what actions one should take. It asks, “What is a good or virtuous person?” and “How can I develop good character traits?”

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Key Concepts in Virtue Ethics:

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• Virtue: A virtue is a positive character trait or quality that leads to moral excellence. Examples include honesty, courage, kindness, justice and wisdom. Virtue ethics holds that by cultivating virtues, a person becomes morally good.​

• Character: Virtue ethics focuses on the moral character of individuals, emphasizing that good actions naturally arise from good character traits. A virtuous person consistently acts in ways that reflect their virtues across various situations.​

• Moral Development: According to virtue ethics, moral growth is a lifelong process. It involves learning, practice and reflection on one’s habits and behaviours, with the goal of gradually developing a virtuous character.​

• The Golden Mean: Introduced by Aristotle, one of the founding figures of virtue ethics, the "Golden Mean" refers to the idea that virtues lie between two extremes—excess and deficiency. For example, courage is the mean between recklessness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency).​

• Eudaimonia (Flourishing): Central to virtue ethics is the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as "flourishing" or "well-being." This is the ultimate goal of human life according to virtue ethics. A person achieves eudaimonia by living virtuously and fulfilling their potential, leading a life of meaning, purpose and fulfillment.

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Distinctions from Other Ethical Theories:

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• Focus on Character over Rules: Unlike deontological ethics (e.g., Kantian ethics), which focuses on following moral rules or duties, virtue ethics focuses on the kind of person you should become to live a moral life.​

• Focus on Character over Consequences: In contrast to consequentialism (e.g., utilitarianism), which determines the morality of an action based on its outcomes, virtue ethics evaluates actions based on whether they reflect a virtuous character, regardless of their consequences.​

• Holistic Approach: Virtue ethics considers moral behaviour as part of a broader, holistic way of living a good life. It’s not about isolated acts but about developing habits that are reflective of a good moral character.

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Development of Virtue Ethics:

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• Aristotle's Contribution: Aristotle, in his work Nicomachean Ethics, is one of the most important figures in virtue ethics. He argued that the ultimate purpose of human life is to achieve eudaimonia, and this is done through the cultivation of virtues. Virtue for Aristotle is a matter of achieving the right balance between extremes, or the Golden Mean.​

• Modern Revival: While virtue ethics was largely overshadowed by deontological and consequentialist theories in modern philosophy, it experienced a resurgence in the 20th century through philosophers like Elizabeth Anscombe and Alasdair MacIntyre, who argued that moral philosophy had lost its focus on the importance of character and virtue.

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Strengths of Virtue Ethics:

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• Focus on Character: Encourages you to develop a deep, consistent moral character over time.

• Moral Complexity: Recognizes that moral life is complex and that moral decision-making involves much more than following rules.

• Holistic: Takes into account the whole life of a person, emphasizing long-term growth rather than isolated decisions.

• Practical: Virtue ethics focuses on the everyday development of character through habits, making it applicable to daily life.

 

Criticisms of Virtue Ethics:

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• Lack of Clear Guidance: Critics argue that virtue ethics does not provide clear guidance on how to act in specific situations, unlike rule-based or outcome-based theories. It might be difficult to know what a virtuous person would do in every scenario.​

• Cultural Relativism: Some virtues may be culturally specific, leading to disagreements about what constitutes virtuous behaviour across different societies or times.​

• Moral Dilemmas: In complex situations where virtues may conflict (e.g., honesty versus kindness), virtue ethics does not always offer a clear resolution.

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Virtue ethics emphasizes becoming a morally good person by cultivating virtues and good character traits over time. It is a holistic approach to ethics, rooted in personal growth and moral development, aiming for a well-lived life of flourishing (eudaimonia). While it offers a rich, person-centred approach to morality, its lack of specific rules or guidelines can be seen as both a strength and a limitation depending on the situation.