In the Introduction of Linda Zagzebski’s essay titled Exemplarist Virtue Theory‚ she describes exemplarism as a “radical kind of virtue theory that is foundational in structure but which is grounded in exemplars or moral goodness” (41). In addition to this‚ she proposes that the concepts of the good‚ right to act and virtue are “defined by reference to such exemplars which are directly identified through the emotion of admiration. Finally‚ in the introduction she explains that what makes a good person
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To understand the hows and whys of Benjamin Franklin’s patriotism for America‚ and his 13 virtues by which others should follow‚ one must know a little more about his life. Born in Boston on January 17‚ 1706‚ Franklin would eventually become 1 of 17 children to his father who was only a soap maker. Benjamin Franklin grew up as a curious child‚ and one who loved to read and learn. After some tough trials and tribulations he ended up in Philadelphia where he found work as an apprentice printer. This
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A CRITICAL STUDY OF VIRTUE ETHICS IN ARISTOTLE AND KANT Aristotle was the first western thinker to divide philosophy into branches which are still recognizable today: logic‚ metaphysics‚ and natural philosophy‚ philosophy of mind‚ ethics and politics‚ rhetoric; he made major contributions in all these fields. He was born in Stagira‚ a city of northern Greece in 384 BC. His father Nicomachus was a doctor at the court of Amyntas of Macedon‚ who preceded Philip‚ the conqueror of much of Greece. Aristotle
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Running head: VIRTUE AND EGOISM Virtue and Egoism: Compare and Contrast of Ethical Philosophies Abstract The thesis of this essay is to evaluate the ethical philosophies of virtue and egoism. It will further magnify the similarities and contrasts of each philosophy as the principles have been witnessed from my own experiences‚ both personal and professional. Virtue and Egoism: Compare and Contrast of Ethical Philosophies Moral philosophies have become a cornerstone to developing
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Benard Mayo states virtue is Platonic ethics and that duty is Kantian ethics. He contrast rule-governed ethics with virtue ethics through Plato and Aristotle and Kant. Virtues make humans be better people and help people live a good happy life. Aristotle’s moral theory is focused on what good it’s to be and not what is right to do. Meaning what kind of traits are present in a human. For example Mayo uses courage. We say the man was courageous‚ but it isn’t the act that was courageous it was simply
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In book one of Nicomachean Ethics‚ Aristotle establishes his belief that in order for humans beings to achieve true happiness‚ they should try to find balance in certain aspects of their life called virtues. To define true happiness‚ Aristotle formulates that whatever happiness is‚ it must be the highest good (49). In other words‚ Aristotle is indicating that whatever we do in life‚ we do for the sake of happiness. Furthermore‚ true happiness is the apogee of our intentions. Once we achieve true
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Philosopher Robert Louden presented a criticism of virtue ethics. Rather than arguing that virtue ethics as a moral theory is wrong‚ Louden argues that the agent-centeredness of values ethics fails to provide adequate guidance for the action of the agent‚ thereby making the theory useless and disregardable. Louden’s first criticism is that virtue ethics does not allow for actions to be viewed separately from the agent (Louden‚ 228). This focus on virtues and not actions result poses a problem when assessing
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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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Presentation 9/24/12 Essay #6 Jessica Brooks Pd. 2 The essay Citizen Ben: A worldly American’s Seven Great Virtues by Walter Isaacson is an essay begins talking about Benjamin Franklin. When we think of Benjamin Franklin our minds automatically turn to the story about him flying a kite in a lightening storm with a rod on to prove that lightening was electricity. This is one thing that Franklin did but he did many more as well‚ in fact it says that he was an inventor diplomat‚ writer
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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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