Advantages And Disadvantages Of Virtue Ethics

Utilitarianism, deontological, and virtue theory ethics are three normative approaches to ethics. This paper will go over the similarities and differences between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological principles. It will include information of the variations in how each concept details ethics, morality, and it will also discuss a personal experience to describe the correlation between virtue, values, and moral perceptions as they relate to one of the three theories.

Aristotle was a well-known and respected Greek philosopher. Some of his philosophies have been time less and are still around and being debated. He primarily pondered on what is a good person and a good life? His philosophy focuses on these questions. For Aristotle in order to know whether a person/ life is good, then we first need to understand what is the goal or purpose of that person/life. Aristotle believes that there are virtues, which are good habits or skills that allow us to live a good life. This is called the virtue theory, which aims to achieve the ultimate objective to a good life, which is happiness. He however does state that virtues should not be at extremes, and that one should try to achieve the idea of the "golden mean". In his view, morality is based on these virtues rather then right and wrong. Virtues define our person, our character while the right or wrong are only

Moral virtue is acquired through the habituation of good acts which constantly aim for a mean between excess and deficiency in each circumstance. It is the choice of moral virtue through our acts, which allows us to satisfy a major requirement for happiness. Virtue, for Aristotle is a state in which reason helps us decide to do good acts. This is a part of our natural function as human beings, since reason is our distinguishing characteristic and good is the always the object of “correct reason.” The habituation of good acts, then, is what leads us to states of virtue in our lives. Since action always implies either pleasure or pain, it is our job to maintain the appropriate amount of each in the things that we do.

Virtue ethics does not deal with which action is wrong or which action is right. It deals with the character of person. Virtue ethics promotes the idea of a person bettering themselves by striving to be a good person. . Virtue ethics deals with happiness by proposing that a certain character would bring that person the most happiness. Virtue ethics is when a person knowing what the right thing is and having the want to do that right action. Aristotle used virtue ethics to try to reach Eudemonia. Eudemonia is when a person strives to reach or reaches the highest level of happiness a certain charter can reach. When a person is trying to reach this state of happiness or Eudemonia, that person does actions that help develop his/her character. An example of this is a person with no need to study for test other than the fact that doing well on the test would bring personal happiness.

Virtue ethics emphasize the importance of one's character and their morals above dutiful behavior. Many virtue theories are built upon Aristotle's teachings that define a virtuous person as "someone who has ideal character traits" (Athanassoulis, 2004). Virtues can be defined as an agreement to standards of right or can refer to particular moral excellence (Merriam-Webster Online, 2013). Virtue theories hold that there are a universal set of principles and virtues that can be applied to various situations. Some virtue theories that have seen recent resurgence are Eudemonism, agent-based theories, and the ethics of care (Athanassoulis, 2004). In Eudemonism, virtues are based in flourishing with flourishing being "equated with performing one's distinctive function well" (Athanassoulis, 2004). Agent-based theories, on the other hand, contend individuals aim to mimic virtuous qualities they see in others based on common-sense concepts, and the ethics of care contends qualities like caring and nurturing should be considered to be virtuous traits as well.

This approach takes into consideration an individual’s character as the main point behind ethical thinking. Instead of just evaluating whether or not a person followed the right rules (Deontology) or obtained the right results (Consequentialism), the Virtue Theory maintains that the their individual character plays into the actions. Aristotle was a supporter of this theory and believed that people’s characteristics are individual and therefore, they cannot be understood as a larger community. With the idea of Virtue Theory, Aristotle developed the Golden Mean which explains that one should have the desirable middle between two extremes of moral virtues. The Virtue Theory focuses on an individual’s character which serves as the key difference between this theory and the

Aristotle recognizes that actions are not pointless because they have an aim. Every action aims at some good. Furthermore, some things are done for their own sake and some for the sake of others. Aristotle then observes that when an object has a function the good of the object is when it performs its function well. For example, the knife has a function, to cut, and it performs its function well when it cuts well. This argument is applied to man. Man has a function and the good man, is the man who performs his function well. This is the life of eudaimonia. Eudaimonia is the life of achieving virtues through activity in conjunction with reason, man's highest function. Therefore, when linked to moral decision making the person making the

Aristotle’s Virtue Theory claims a person’s actions are deemed good if they are performed based on virtue and are deviant if based on vice. Saying a virtuous person will make the right decision no matter the situation.

Aristotle defines virtue as behavior one cultivates through practices, habits, and moderation. Also interprets the role of virtue and the importance in moderation in the “middle way” and “gold mean”. In addition “golden mean” is represented as the nature or development of virtues in which are essential to accomplish the ultimate goal, happiness. It is a way of life that enables us to live in worship and to offer the good of the whole not just the individual. Also virtue is explained as two extremes of excess (possessing too much) and deficiency (possessing too little) behavior.

Virtue ethics is a theory used to make moral decisions. It does not rely on religion, society or culture; it only depends on the individuals themselves. Since actions flow someone’s character, virtue ethics aspires to develop good people and good human communities. Virtue ethics is typically associated with the Greeks and especially with Aristotle in the 4th century b.c.

This paper here is intended to identify the moral responsibility that best works for my profession. I will compare and contrast what ethical theory’s will work best in my opinion. Virtue is similar in the way that the rest of is a good deed or good action, but it is more so of your character and personality. It is the good that you do, or don’t do because of the type of person you are and your beliefs. The philosophical question to be answered is which approach is better at determining what a good action is or what a good rule is? By comparing and contrasting the ideas about duty’s and Virtue I will prove that Aristotle’s view on Virtue is the better ethical theory using examples of situations in my chosen profession of criminal justice.

Confucius and Aristotle are some of the greatest thinkers in the history of mankind. While Confucius was born in China and spearheaded a new way of perceiving morality, Aristotle was born in Macedon/Greece and also immersed his philosophical work to addressing moral thinking.Both philosophers have addressed similar subjects with major points of divergence and convergence. On virtue, these two authors have almost similar opinions. However, it is their points of convergence or agreement that have had a huge impact on the modern world’s thinking and understanding of virtue and moral behavior.

Those who subscribe to virtue theory would contend that the inclinations and desires of an individuals are relevant to that person's sense and practice of morality. Virtue theory does not put focus on the acts of the individual or the collective. Some theorists have problems with act-centered normative theories because of those theories' intense emphasis upon ends and means. Virtue theory contends that there are not fixed rules or standards that must be applied whenever one encounters a moral issue or debate. Virtue theory perceives an individual as correct or having performed the correct action as long as a behavior or action taken is perceived as and/or reflects whatever is construed as virtuous in that situation.

An advantage of virtue ethics is that it brings in all the qualities of being human such as reason, responsibility and emotion to influence a person’s ethical consideration. This can be applied in situations where a person asks what sort of person he or she should be. However, our text book clarifies that “determining what the specific virtues are, and what the appropriate balance among those virtues should be, can be difficult” (Mosser, 2011).

In books one and two of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle lays a foundation for and explains reasoning behind his theory of moral virtue. Aristotle does this to give understanding of what it means to be morally virtuous, and how to achieve it. I believe Aristotle’s theory, in the face of objections regarding the relativity of virtue, is sufficient to achieve an understanding to what it means to be morally virtuous and how to act in a morally virtuous manner.