is concerned about the results of an action‚ while Kantian ethics is focused about the moral duties‚ Virtue ethics on the other hand place an emphasis on the development of a good moral character. Unlike the first two ethical theories‚ virtue ethics is not a theory about what makes an action right. It answers the question‚ “What kind of individual should I be?” and “What kind of characters are necessary to live a virtuous life? Virtue ethics can be tracked back from the ancient Greek philosopher‚ Aristotle
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In Book 2 of Aristotle’s The Nicomachean Ethics‚ he outlines his definitions of moral virtues and how they are acquired. He reaches an implicit conclusion that performing virtuous actions is not sufficient for counting as virtuous by arguing that one must perform virtuous actions in the manner of truly virtuous people in order to become virtuous. This essay will thus analyse the structure of Aristotle’s argument on the relationship of virtuous actions to one’s virtuous character. In Aristotle’s
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According to Aristotle‚ in order to pursue virtue we must learn to both feel and act correctly. Being a virtuous person entails being affected by pleasure and pain. In book II of “Nicomachean Ethics”‚ Aristotle begins by explaining how virtuous actions are acquired by habit. He writes‚ “Rather‚ we are by nature able to acquire them‚ and we are completed through habit” (Aristotle 18). Essentially‚ Aristotle is saying that we acquire habits as we acquire skills. Virtues are acquired through habituation and
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’Virtue ethics is of little use when dealing with practical ethics’. It’s argued that virtue ethics is of little use when dealing with practical ethics. Virtue ethics doesn’t focus on actions being right or wrong‚ but on how to be a good person. Virtue ethics raises three questions - who am I?‚ who do I ought to become?‚ and lastly‚ how do I get there? Then there is practical ethics describes situations where an action is needed. Virtue ethics goes back to Plato and Aristotle. Plato’s moral
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Jonathon Brown Professor Jun Philosophy 2033 July 5‚ 2013 Virtues We’ve all heard the famous quote “patience is a virtue”. As true as this statement is‚ I don’t think we really grasp the meaning of what a virtue really is. I would describe a virtue as a morally good character trait that one is not born with‚ but must strive for. Patience is a perfect example of this. No child is born with patience. Many times a child will interrupt the mother who is in the middle of a conversation because
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Rosalind Hursthouse viewpoints on virtue-based ethics express how virtue ethics can provide guidance on a particular action‚ deal with moral problems or conflicts‚ and influence a range of emotions and emotional reactions (Timmons‚ 2012‚ p. 243). Hursthouse from a virtue ethics perspective‚ states that people act in accordance with duty and considers the question which character traits are virtues and explores how answers to this question can be supported by an appeal to the fact of a person’s natural
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Both utilitarianism and virtue ethics have their individual strengths and weaknesses regarding moral situations. In this essay‚ I will proceed to first summarize the core concepts of both utilitarianism and virtue ethics. Then‚ I will introduce a scenario that will be used to compare the two ethical frameworks side by side based on what decision they would entail. Finally‚ I will argue that virtue ethics is morally better than utilitarianism‚ even if the outcomes of utilitarianism seem to be more
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Blood Money Jennifer Browning ETH 316 April 2‚ 2015 Professor Peter Fortuna When comparing virtue theory‚ utilitarianism and deontological ethics‚ you must look at the similarities and the differences. Each idea has many key points; virtue theory is defined as your personal behavioral characteristics. If you are a good person‚ your values will be good values. Utilitarianism believes that if your action is right‚ it will promote happiness and if it is a wrong action the
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State and Explain Aristotle’s theory of virtue ethics Virtues‚ according to Aristotle‚ are those strengths of character that promote ’eudomania’ (human flourishing). A good action is a product of these virtues. A person is virtuous in so far as he acts with the goal of human flourishing in view. Aristotle’s theory revolves around character rather than around the actions themselves. For Aristotle‚ Virtue is something practiced and thereby learned - it is habit (hexis) which causes a person to choose
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Nicomachean Ethics‚ happiness is achieved by fulfilling your function well. Humankind’s function is to exercise reason. This ethical conduct is achieved by following the Golden Mean‚ were one should always seek a middle ground between two extremes. I believe that life can benefit by following reason and a person could use a Golden Mean to determine the right action‚ however there are some instances where it shouldn’t be followed. In this essay I defend using the Golden Mean and virtue to live a good
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