Virtue ethics focuses not so much on principles or the consequences of action, nor even the action itself so much as on the agent, the person who performs the action, in the light of the circumstances and all of his or her other actions. The focus is on the person’s character, or alternatively, on those traits of character expressed in this and other actions, his or her virtues. Aristotle’s virtue ethics The most famous virtue ethicist, and in many ways still the starting point for most virtue ethicists, is the great Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BCE). In his Nicomachean Ethics (1954), Aristotle laid out a system of virtue ethics which still remains the starting point, if not the model, for most virtue ethicists. A virtue (areté which can also be translated as “excellence”) for Aristotle was the mean between the extremes.

1. Virtue ETHICS
B y
F r o m
S a y e d G h a y o o r A l i S h a h
M o i z K a r i m
U m a i r A h m e d S a f i
M u h a m m a d A l i

2. Virtue Ethics
 Virtue ethics focuses not so much on principles or the
consequences of action, nor even the action itself so much as
on the agent, the person who performs the action, in the light
of the circumstances and all of his or her other actions.
 The focus is on the person’s character, or alternatively, on
those traits of character expressed in this and other actions,
his or her virtues.
GHAYOOR

3. Father of Virtue Ethics
 The most famous virtue ethicist, and in many ways still the
starting point for most virtue ethicists, is the great Greek
philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BCE).
 In his Nicomachean Ethics (1954), Aristotle laid out a
system of virtue ethics which still remains the starting point,
if not the model, for most virtue ethicists.
 A virtue (can also be translated as “excellence”), for
Aristotle was the mean between the extremes.
GHAYOOR

4. Aristotle's virtue ethics
o Aristotle claimed that all human action must aim at something
- he believed this to be eudaimon.
o Eudaimon is sometimes translated as happiness but this is
somewhat misleading as Aristotle really meant was a state of
flourishing, or leading a worthwhile life.
o In order to reach this state of flourishing one must possess the
relevant virtues. Aristotle called these virtues, excellences.
o To lead a fulfilling life, one must exercise these excellent
character traits.
GHAYOOR

5. Virtue ethicists would argue that what is essential to
ethics is not universal rules and objective rational
principles but rather an established way of doing
things, a shared sense of value and significance,
shared heroes and role models, a clear sense of
what sort of a person one should be.
GHAYOOR

6. Virtu o u s Pers o n
 A virtuous person is not simply one who just does a good or
right act once in a while, rather a virtuous person is someone
who “consistently” chooses the right acts for the right
motives.
 Being virtuous is a habitual act and you are what you do.
 If you lie constantly, you are a liar and the act of lying
establishes that character trait in you.
 In business, if you cut corners and practice unethical
business tactics you are an unethical businessman.
GHAYOOR

7. Mo s t Imp o rtan t Virtu es
 I n t e g r i t y
 T r u s t
 H o n e s t y
 S e l f - C o n t r o l
 F a i r n e s s
GHAYOOR

8. Virtu es Org an izatio n s
o Essential to understanding most human activities is
the idea of a practice – a shared cooperative activity
with mutually understood goals and ways of doing
things
o –and an idea of excellence in that activity, both in the
sense of the specific skills and talents required for the
activity, and in the sense of the more general traits
and habits that make the activity possible.
GHAYOOR

9. Role of Virtue Ethics
• Virtue ethics can also be used to criticize the dominant
culture within the business world
• This entails a criticism of;
 Individualism
 Pure profit orientation
 Competitive culture
 Materialism
GHAYOOR

10. Modern Virtue Ethics
⁕ Alasdair Macintyre is one of the most influential virtue
ethicists.
⁕ He criticized the dominant culture of business world.
⁕ He thinks that businesses are only concerned with external
goods and this prevents practice from flourishing.
⁕ Example practices; farming, science, art, education,
architecture, engineering…
GHAYOOR

11. I nternal And External Goods
• External and Internal goods It is characteristic of what I
have called external goods that when achieved they are
always some individual's property or possession.
• Moreover characteristically they are such that the more
someone has of them, the less there is for other people....
• External goods are therefore characteristically objects of
competition in which there must be losers as well as
winners.
GHAYOOR

12. I nternal And External Goods
• Internal goods are indeed the outcome of competition to
excel, but it is characteristic of them that their achievement
is a good for the whole community who participate in the
practice.
• Internal goods, on the other hand, are goods of
the profession.
• One becomes a good manager, doctor,
businessman through achieving the internal
goods of the practice.
• Internal goods is the quality/excellence of the
product or service one produces.
GHAYOOR