Was Aristotle right in thinking virtues were relative? Aristotle at the age of 17 was sent to the intellectual capital of the Greek world‚ Athens and there joined the Academy and studied under Plato. He then later in life set up the Lyceum school and taught there. He argues that whenever we do something‚ we do it to gain an end‚ and that the ultimate ends of all ends is the chief good‚ the greatest good. He believed that actions are directed towards an aim‚ he uses the example that someone gets
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is an important requirement of happiness. He states that a happy person cannot be inactive. He then goes on to say that living a life of virtue is something pleasurable in itself. The virtuous person takes pleasure in doing virtuous things. The role of virtue is an important one for Aristotle. Without virtue‚ it seems one cannot obtain happiness. Virtue acts as a linking factor to happiness. Aristotle states that the human function is the life activity of the part of the soul that has reason
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Utilitarianism has its strengths. Firstly‚ the utilitarian philosophy recognizes that we all like pleasure and dislike pain. This has also become the basis of moral and political life. That is‚ maximizing utility is a principle not only for individuals but also for legislators. In deciding what laws or policies to enact‚ a government should do whatever will maximize the happiness of as a whole. Secondly‚ Utilitarianism is probably the most defensible approach in emergency situations. For example
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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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The 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Cardinal Virtues ======================================== Overview -------- The "Seven Deadly Sins"’‚ also known as the "Capital Vices" or "Cardinal Sins"‚ are a classification of vices that were originally used in early Christian teachings to educate and instruct followers concerning (immoral) fallen man’s tendency to sin. The Roman Catholic Church divided sin into two principal categories: "venial"‚ which are relatively minor‚ and could be forgiven through any sacrament
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an essay comparing the similarities and differences between virtue theory‚ utilitarianism‚ and deontological ethics. All theory address ethics and morality somewhat differently. I will use a personal experience to explain virtue‚ values‚ and moral concepts related to one of the theories. . Similarities Between Virtue Theory‚ Utilitarianism‚ and Deontological Ethics. Doing what is right being the basic similarity common to virtue theory‚ utilitarianism‚ and deontological ethics. All the theories
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East Meets West: Toward a Universal Ethic of Virtue for Global Business Some Western cultures operate upon an individualistic rights-centered morality‚ while Eastern cultures favor a more community-centered ethic of virtue (Wong 1984). There is no universal ethic. In particular‚ it is recognized that the Western thinker Aristotle and his virtue ethic strongly resembles that of the Eastern thinker Confucius. This similarity suggests that a universal virtue ethic may already exist in the form of a powerful
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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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Critical Assessment In the excerpt “Virtue Theory and Abortion‚” Rosalind Hursthouse presents the following argument for the moral acceptance of abortion: 1) If a virtuous woman would – under the circumstance that pregnancy would inhibit her ability to pursue other virtuous tasks – have an abortion‚ then having an abortion is justified 2) Virtuous women have abortions (under circumstances that pregnancy would inhibit their ability to pursue other virtuous tasks) -) Therefore‚ abortion is justified
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