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Researched

and presented by:

Christine Jude T. de Guzman

VIRTUE

ETHICS

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Brief HistoryofVirtue

Ethics Ancient Greeks : Ethics is a

component of politics

Ethics was not concerned withmoral obligation

Artistotle -concerned with the

question:

What sort of people we have to

be if we are to live the good

life?

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Aristotle B

orn in Stagira, North of Athens Father: Nichomachus: court

physician &scholar

Fond ofluxuryandwealth, ownedseveral slaves, and associated with

the rich and powerful

a scientist, philosopher, logician,

poet, psychologist

& writer

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He argues that the good

life--- the life of virtue--- isthe most important activity

of the human race.

The unique function ofhumans is reasoningand

thus virtue involves living

according to reason.

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Good human being

Fulfills the distinctive function of human being

ability to reason

(ultimate human function)

Virtues

Wellbeing

(ultimate human good)

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what sort ofperson must I be?

what makes an individual a good or virtuous

person?

emphasizes right beingover right action

assessment of moral traits that establish a

persons moral character

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VIRTUE Gk word:Arte meaning

excellences in character

Admirable character trait or

disposition to habitually act in a

manner that benefits ourselves and

others

Astate of characterthat promotes

the well being of the person who hasthem

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VIRTUES

INTELLECTUALVIRTUES

ART

KNOWLEDGE PRACTICAL WISDOM

PHILOSOPHIC WISDOM

COMPREHENSION

MORALVIRTUES

COURAGE

TRUTHFULNESS FRIENDLINESS

KINDNESS

TEMPERANCE

PRUDENCE

FORTITUDE

Etc.

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VIRTUES

INTELLECTUALVIRTUES

Vital to excellence in

reasoning, and

excellence in

reasoning is central to

well-being.

MORALVIRTUES

related to actions and

emotions or passions thataccompany intellectualvirtues

An excess, a deficit, or an

intermediate amount ofemotion accompaniesaction

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Doctrine of the Mean

Each virtue is a mean between two vices that involve feelingexcess and deficit amounts of emotion and acting

inappropriately.

Vice of Deficiency MEAN

VIRTUE

Vice of Excess

Cowardice Courage Recklessness

Stinginess Generosity Extravagance

Shamelessness Modesty Bashfulness

Self-depreciation Truthfulness Boastfulness

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An individual who embodies the virtues and

does not possess the vices.

Person possessingintellectual and moral

virtues

A person who is living the good life

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This person can be an actualvirtuous individual ora nonexistent ideal person.

To obtain well-being, one must strive to acquire

the virtues, eliminate the vices, and emulate themodel or the ideal person.

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Being a good personentailsmorethanmere

action

First: people must be aware of what they are doing

Second: choose the action because it isvirtuous andchoose it as an end in itself

Third: the action must be theexpression of their

characterand must be accompanied

by the proper emotion

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Thegood personhasachievedwell-being

Health

Longevity

Material prosperity

Living in a flourishing city

Without these things, we

would not really be able tolive good lives.

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The ethical person does not need to follow general rulesor evaluate individual actions

When faced with complexmoral dilemmas:

choose the right course

of action because

doing the right thing

comes from a developed

character

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StrengthsofVirtue Ethics

An Ethical Theory that is Not Simplistic

APractical Ethical Theory A TheoryConsistent with Human Nature

A Theory that Goes Beyond Pure Duty and Rights-

based Ethics

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LimitationsofVirtue Ethics

The Incompleteness of Virtue

Ethics

Moral Luckand Partiality

The FundamentalHuman

Function

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Implication,

Application &

Conclusion

On a personal note

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Watch it!

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become yourcharacter.

Watch your character; it becomes your

destiny.

~ Frank Outlaw