Moral Philosophy: Vice and Virtue

3. • Virtue Ethics (Virtue Theory) is an approach to
Ethics that emphasizes an individual's character as
the key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules
about the acts themselves (Deontology) or their
consequences (Consequentialism).
• A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be
morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of
principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are
characteristics valued as promoting collective and
individual greatness.

4. Virtues are thought to be closely
connected with our moral characters.
They are the sorts of dispositions we
have towards our emotions and desires,
such as, self-control in regard to
pleasures and passions, fear, and anger.
They also concern proper social relations,
that is, questions of fairness, honesty,
and respect.

5. Plato: There are thought
to be 4 cardinal/ key virtues
Temperance
self-control of
pleasures.
Courage
self-abnegation and
control of fear.
Fairness or justice
giving others what is
their due.
Prudence or wisdom
good moral decision
making.

6. It can be shown that in some respects,
the three cardinal character virtues
form a certain dependence.
Temperance teaches self-control of
one’s pleasures and desires. Without
such an ability, it would be difficult
to be fair to others. Greed, and desires
for pleasures for oneself can be
a significant inhibitor of fairness.

7. Courage encourages nobility, that is,
denial of self-interest for the sake of
something larger than one’s own
interest or self.
Courage lends itself to fairness,
since fairness requires looking
at what is in the common good,
and not just what is one’s own
good.

8. TT
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Self-control
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Self-
sacrifice
Regard
for
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FAIRMINDEDNESSFAIRMINDEDNESS
The cardinal/ key
virtues are
interdependent.

9. Since fair-mindedness or justice
is a paramount social virtue, it
is the virtue that holds societies
together and allows them to
flourish.
It is clear how important
the virtues of temperance and
courage are for fairness.

10. Virtues can be viewed as a
mean between two extremes.
A virtue such as temperance is a mean
between two extremes in regard to the
sensation of pleasure.

11. Those who enjoy too much
pleasures, or the wrong sorts
of pleasures, are called
self-indulgent.
Those who don’t enjoy proper
pleasures, or lead too austere
of a life are called insensitive.

12. All the virtues and vices can
be organized as means and
extremes in regard to a certain
pleasure, feeling or emotion.

13. The cardinal virtue of self-control.
The ability to modulate the
desire for pleasure; to forego
immediate pleasures for long-term ones.
TEMPERANCE

14.  The inability to control desire for
pleasure is the vice of self-
indulgence.
 The inability to enjoy even proper
pleasures is the vice of insensitivity.
Temperance is associated with two vices:

15. Many psychologists claim that there are
two sorts of Pleasures:
Consummatory: pleasure derived from
satisfaction of a desire; satiation.
Appetitive: pleasure derived from the
pursuit of a pleasure; anticipation.
Characteristics of Pleasure:

16. COURAGE
The cardinal virtue of self-efficacy.
Behavior which involves, risk, harm
or suffering for the sake of
something greater than oneself.

17. FAIRMINDEDNESS
The cardinal virtue of cooperation.
Behaviors which take into consideration
the interest of others; regard for others.

18. There are several views concerning
the proper relation between pleasure
and the good life.
Hedonism
Sybaritism
Epicureanism
Eudaimonism
Stoicism
Asceticism

19. SYBARITISM
Unbridled pursuit of pleasure. “Eat,
drink, and be merry.” “If it feels good, do it.”
HEDONISM claims that
Pleasure is the goal of life.
EPICUREANISM
The pursuit of only highly qualitative
pleasures. The search is for the kind
of life of high quality and enduring pleasures.
There are two versions of hedonism:

20. EUDAIMONISM
Good practices rather than pleasure
ought to be the goal in life; proper
pleasures are the result of good practices.
Eudaimonism is best expressed in the
work of Aristotle (384-322 B.C.E.)

21. Eudaimonism argues that pleasure
ought not to be the ultimate goal
of our activities and pursuits, although
a pleasurable life is certainly desirable.
Instead pleasure ought to be seen in its
proper place as the result of activities
and practices done excellently and
virtuously.
To do something for the sake of pleasure
is to chance corrupting the good of
the activity.

22. Eudaimonism
1. Flourishing is the goal in life.
2. Flourishing is the result of the virtuous
exercise of good practices, which results in
a certain sort of pleasure.
3. This pleasure completes the good life, but is
not its goal.

23. ASCETICISM
A radical denial of pleasure, in favor
of the spiritual or ethical.
STOICISM is that neither pleasure nor
pain ought to be a factor in the
determination of the best life---only
what is good and right.

24. • Vice is a practice, behavior, or habit generally
considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo,
depraved, or degrading in the associated society.
• In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a
negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a
bad or unhealthy habit.
• Vices are usually associated with a transgression in
a person's character or temperament rather than their
morality.
• Synonyms for vice include fault, sin, depravity,
iniquity, wickedness, and corruption.

25. • Absence of shame ()
• Absence of
embarrassment (​ )
• Jealousy ()
• Parsimony (in the sense
of stinginess =​ ​ )
• Remorse ()
• Drowsiness ()
• Distraction (​ )
• Torpor ()
• Anger ()
• Concealment of
wrongdoing ()