Moral Philosophy
The purpose of this paper is to define and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the three ethical systems of virtue, duty, and consequential ethics using the understanding I gained during the E100 course. The paper also discusses why I selected virtue ethics as my personal philosophy and how I might best apply my personal philosophy to my professional and personal life.
Virtue is a trait of character manifested in habitual action,1 and virtue ethics is what makes the character traits of people (e.g., bravery, greediness) virtuous or vicious. About 2500 years ago, Aristotle, one of the most well known names in philosophy stated that the uniqueness of a virtuous person comes from their arête, phronesis, and eudaimonia. Arête means virtue or excellence and can be exemplified as a person of generosity, courage, honesty, duty, loyalty, compassion, and other virtues. Phronesis, is described as moral or practical wisdom that knows the correct path to take in any circumstance. Eudaimonia is happiness or flourishing life.2 These characteristics are often mistaken, for what brings happiness to people, virtues, and wisdom are different for each person. Furthermore, they do not focus in what is wrong, but only in how decisions are made. A person who does something generous or brave once is not a generous or brave person Therefore, I disagree that the uniqueness of a virtuous person only comes from their arête, phronesis, and eudaimonia. A virtuous person uniqueness’s also comes from the trait that contributes to a person functioning well as a human being on a regular basis; thus, a person that ask the crucial moral question of: what sort of person should I become. However, Aristotle postulated that a person with arête and phronesis has true eudaimonia.3 Aristotle also stated that virtuous people come in two categories, fully virtuous people, and those with natural virtue. To be fully virtuous would be one who does not struggle with life’s problems; his virtuous
Virtue is a trait of character manifested in habitual action,1 and virtue ethics is what makes the character traits of people (e.g., bravery, greediness) virtuous or vicious. About 2500 years ago, Aristotle, one of the most well known names in philosophy stated that the uniqueness of a virtuous person comes from their arête, phronesis, and eudaimonia. Arête means virtue or excellence and can be exemplified as a person of generosity, courage, honesty, duty, loyalty, compassion, and other virtues. Phronesis, is described as moral or practical wisdom that knows the correct path to take in any circumstance. Eudaimonia is happiness or flourishing life.2 These characteristics are often mistaken, for what brings happiness to people, virtues, and wisdom are different for each person. Furthermore, they do not focus in what is wrong, but only in how decisions are made. A person who does something generous or brave once is not a generous or brave person Therefore, I disagree that the uniqueness of a virtuous person only comes from their arête, phronesis, and eudaimonia. A virtuous person uniqueness’s also comes from the trait that contributes to a person functioning well as a human being on a regular basis; thus, a person that ask the crucial moral question of: what sort of person should I become. However, Aristotle postulated that a person with arête and phronesis has true eudaimonia.3 Aristotle also stated that virtuous people come in two categories, fully virtuous people, and those with natural virtue. To be fully virtuous would be one who does not struggle with life’s problems; his virtuous