# Virtue Ethics ### Today - Aristotle on Virtue - MacIntyre on Virtue

## Virtue Ethics Overview 1. Virtue ethics originated with Aristotle. 5. The highest good is happiness. 6. Happiness is "an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue." 3. There are moral and intellectual virtues. 4. There are individual virtues (such as moderation) and social virtues (such as justice). 6. Ethics is not just about actions but about the whole of life. 7. Applying virtues takes practical wisdom. 8. The "function" of humanity has to do with our rationality. 9. Friendship is a virtue. 10. Objections: Not everyone can know what is right; not practical; virtues can conflict; objective goodness of "living well"?

### 1. Virtue ethics originated with Aristotle. - It originated (in the west) with Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and other Greeks - (In the east) with Confucious, Laozi and others.

### 2. The highest good is happiness. - We want pleasure, honor, wealth etc. for the sake of something else. They are not "self-sufficient". - We want happiness (eudaimonia) *for its own sake*. - Happiness is not pleasure; though most people treat it as such (318) - Happiness is "something final and self-sufficient and the end of all action." (320)

### 3. Happiness is "an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue." - In other words, virtue ethics says that the good life, happiness, well-being, is only possible for the virtuous and wise person. - Every natural or artificial object has a function - The function of man is not life (which is shared with plants), sensation (with animals), but something rational. - "The function of man then is activity of soul in accordance with reason" (320). - "Happiness is an activity of soul in accordance with perfect virtue."

### 4. There are moral and intellectual virtues. - Aristotle says: "Virtues" are good habits of feeling, action, and thought." The goal is ‘to feel [desires and emotions] at the right times, with reference to the right objects, towards the right people, with the right motive, and in the right way’. - Excess and defect destroys (heat/cold, obesity/starvation, wet/dry) - Hence, moral virtues concern intermediate between excess and deficiency. - Intellectual virtues assist you in judging true and false.

### 5. There are individual virtues (such as moderation) and social virtues (such as justice). - Some virtues have to do with how I comport myself even when no one is looking. On a desert island, I could be virtuous or vice-ridden. - Other virtues have to do with how I comport myself in society. I can't be unjust to others if no others are around. I owe respect to my elders, but can't if I am the eldest. I owe care to my children, but can't if I don't have children.

### 6. Ethics is not just about actions but about the whole of life. - Ethical dilemmas are crucially important in Utilitarianism and Deontology. - In virtue ethics, dilemmas are still important, but not *as important* as daily life. Daily life is about setting priorities, pursuing them, and thinking long-term. - The primary question is: "how should I live?" What kind of life should I live? - For example, what major goods should I pursue? What career should I choose? Marriage or no? Kids or no? Where should I live? - "By doing brave acts we become brave."

### 7. Applying virtues takes practical wisdom. 1. A general conception of what is good or bad (conditions for human flourishing); 2. The ability to perceive, in light of that general conception, what is required in terms of feeling, choice, and action in a particular situation; 3. and the ability to act on that deliberation.

### 7. Applying virtues takes practical wisdom. - Ethics is not subjective; it is ‘context-sensitive’. - There are few safe generalizations about right and wrong. - Practical wisdom is a form of intuitive reason. It is a "know how" rather than a "know that". - Practical wisdom cannot be taught, but must be acquired through experience. Like piano playing, tennis, or making conversation.

### 8. The 'function' of humanity has to do with our rationality. What is it that humans do but no other creature does? - Not life -- plants are alive, reproduce, grow, etc. - Not consciousness -- animals are conscious - Rational choice -- only humans make rational choices on the basis of reflection. We judge what is true or false, good or bad, and act accordingly. We deliberate and act. - Should I move to Canada or stay in the U.S.? I can only answer that if I know what each place is like, and how well each place would fit my goals and allow me to acquire more virtue.

### MacIntyre, Virtue and practice 1. Virtues vary in cultures, traditions -- but there is a core. 2. Virtues depend "on some prior account of ... social and moral life" (336).

### Virtue and practice - Virtues "enable us to achieve the goods in practices" (340) - A practices is "any coherent and complex form of socially established cooperative human activity" pursuing the goods of that activity - Tic-tac-toe is not a practice, throwing a ball is not a practice - A practice is not just a technical skill (342)

### Virtue and practice - Chess is a practice, football is a practice, portrait painting is a practice - The good of chess includes winning and playing well - A practice has its own ends, and standards - Vices disable us to succeed in practices - Practices are not just institutions (344) - Virtues and truthfulness may prevent one from becoming rich (345)

### Discussion * What is MacIntyre's concept of virtues? * Do you agree? Why or why not? * Is it tradition relativism?

### Discussion * Your questions?

### Stoic and Christian Virtue

- Stoics - Sermon on the Mount

### Three big stoics - Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor - Seneca, philosopher - Epictetus, Greek slave

### Marcus Aurelius Living in the moment and doing "the task of the hour carefully, with unaffected dignity"

### Seneca - Living well, not just living - The quality, not quantity of life - Dying well

### Epictetus - The "fundamental distinction" between what is in my control and out of my control - I control: perception, intention, desire, aversion, my own doings - I do not control: body, property, reputation, political office, not my own doings. - Desire and aversion make you unfortunate, because you cannot control them - The idea of things is upsetting, not things themselves - Don't take pride in anything out of your control ("I have a fine horse") - Never say you have "lost it" but "given it back." You received it for a time, and gave it back