2. What is the meaning of ‘Virtue’
The world is inundated with references to ‘virtue’ and being ‘virtuous’
Popular virtues include: love, humility, compassion, being industrious
So, we get an impression that virtue is about one’s character and character
traits.
Virtue refers to behaviour showing high moral standards, an excellent trait
of character.
Virtue ethics is a branch of normative ethics.
3. Aristotle on Virtue
Aristotle argues that virtue should have a goal.
He argues that the goal of virtue should be happiness – but in his perspective
happiness is not a feeling but a life well lived (Eudaimonia), or holistic wellbeing.
So, all virtues must lead to happiness.
Aristotle argues that happiness is a final intrinsic good, meaning that it is good for
its own sake.
Why is happiness an intrinsic good? Aristotle classifies a good as either being
intrinsic (good for its own sake) and instrumental (good for its usefulness for
others). Thus, happiness is an intrinsic, i.e., it is good for its own sake.
5. BUT, how do we know that we are developing virtues?
Aristotle says that a virtue must sit in the middle of its opposite (vice1) and its
excess (vice 2).
For example, honesty is a virtue for as long it sits in the middle of dishonesty (its
opposite, i.e., vice 1) and blunt (its excess, i.e., vice 2).
[dishonesty, honesty, blunt].
It seizes to be a virtue when it is dishonest or when it is honest ‘in excess’. Egg
new food, cosmetics
Consider scenario of: ambition [Unambitious, Ambitious, Too Ambitious],
generosity [Stingy, generosity, indulgent], courage [cowardice, courage,
recklessness].
So there is a right way to be generous, courageous and ambitious.
Thus, a virtue is one that occupies a middle ground (golden mean) between its
opposite and its excess.
6. How can we learn to be virtuous?
Aristotle says that Virtuosity is a skill and as such it cannot come from
scholarship/reading books, but from experience!, that is Practical Wisdom.
1. Theory of Practical Wisdom:
• Virtue has to be learnt and developed in real world, scenarios and
environment.
• This learning can only be done via repetition or HABITUATION, i.e., a
virtue has done to over and over again until it becomes part of you/your
character.
7. How can we learn to be virtuous?
2. Theory of Moral Exemplars:
• This theory states that as humans we can recognize virtue/or good
character traits in other people, and we can then emulate and pattern our
behaviour after them.
• The theory of Moral Exemplars also incorporates Habituation, one has to
continue to emulate the desirable virtues of others until they become part
of one’s character.
8. Some objections to virtue ethics
1. Application: no codes, guidelines as the definition of virtues are open to interpretation
2. Adequacy: virtue ethics sometimes cannot provide an adequate account of right
action, a virtuous person can perform the wrong action, a right action can be
performed without being virtuous.
3. Relativism: the meaning of virtues are varied definitions according to various cultures
and religions. For example juxtapose Jesus humility analogy of allowing an individual
to a slap you on both cheeks, Faith/Commitment justifying a jihad/purge against
‘heathens’ in extremist Islam.
What other objections or challenges to virtue ethics can you think of?
9. Why should one lead a virtuous life.
The Principle of Eudaimonia (a life well lived):
Greek term meaning a well lived/human flourishing
Constant improvements on one’s virtues: new virtue development
Thus for Aristotle a life well lived is the meaning of morality.
