This document discusses virtue theory, which focuses on having virtuous character traits rather than judging actions based on rules. It emphasizes becoming an excellent person through virtues like honesty, courage, and justice. Aristotle's view placed importance on having proper social institutions to develop virtues through living well. Virtue ethics considers motives and character in addition to actions. While a pure virtue approach derives rules from virtues, other views see virtues and rules as complementary aspects of morality.

1. Chapter Nine:
Virtue Theory
Aretaic Ethics:
Come from the Greek word arete which
translates as “excellence” or “virtue”
The virtue or value of the actions is not in the
act, but is in the heart of the actor.
Virtue Ethics emphasizes being a certain person
with a certain quality of character.

2. Virtue Theory
Seeks to
produce excellent persons.
Seeks to have people act out of spontaneous
goodness.
Seeks to have those who are excellent inspire
others.
Aretic Ethics focuses on the goal of life which
is to live well and achieve excellence.

3. Virtue Theory
Virtues: trained
behavioral dispositions that
result in habitual acts of moral goodness
Vice: trained behavioral dispositions that result
in habitual acts of moral wrongness
Cardinal virtues: main virtues of wisdom,
temperance, courage, and justice
Theological virtues: faith, hope and charity

4. The Nature of Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics claims that it is important to not
only do the right thing, but also to have the
correct disposition, motivation, and emotion in
being good and doing right.
Virtue Ethics is not only about action, but also
about emotions, characters, and moral habits.
Virtues traditionally divided into two types:
moral and nonmoral virtues

5. Moral Virtues
Honesty
Benevolence
Nonmalevolence
Fairness
Kindness
Conscientiousness
Gratitude

6. Nonmoral Virtues
Courage
Endurance
Optimism
Industry
Rationality
Musical Talent
Self-Control
Cleanliness
Patience
Wit

7. Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics
To achieve a state
of well being (eudaimonia),
proper social institutions are necessary.
The moral person cannot exist apart from a
political setting that enables him or her to
develop the requisite virtues for the good life.
Ethics is therefore considered a branch of
politics.

8. Aristotle
Humanity
has an essence, or function.
The function of humans is to use their reason in
pursuit of the good life.
Moral virtues are different from intellectual
ones.
By living well, we acquire the right habits.
These habits are the virtues.

9. Aristotle
Virtues exist between a mean that has excess
and deficiency at either end.
We need to choose along this mean the proper
course of action, towards the right conclusion.
People have unequal ability to be virtuous.
Some have great ability; some lack it entirely.
Some people are worthless, natural slaves.

10. The Ideal Individual
Father Maximilian
Kolbe
Jesus
Socrates
Gandhi
Mother Theresa
All of their lives have exhibited
appropriate
attitudes and dispositions of Virtue Ethics.

11. Criticisms of Action-Based Ethics
Action Based Ethics Lack a Motivational
Component
Action Based Ethics are Founded on an
Obsolete Theological-Legal Model
Action Based Ethics Ignore the Spontaneous
Dimension of Ethics
Action Based Ethics are Minimalist and
Neglect the Development of Character
Action Based Ethics Overemphasize Autonomy
and Neglect Community

12. Connections Between VirtueBased and Action-Based Ethics
Pure Virtue Ethics:
The virtues are dominant and have intrinsic
value. Moral rules or duties are derived from
the virtues

13. Connections Between VirtueBased and Action-Based Ethics
Standard Action-Based view:
Action-guiding principles are the essence of
morality. The virtues are derived from the
principles and are instrumental in performing
right actions.

14. Connections Between VirtueBased and Action-Based Ethics
Complementarity (Pluralistic) Ethics:
Both action-based and virtue-based models are
necessary for an adequate and complete
system. Neither the virtues nor the rules are
primary; they complement each other, and
both may have intrinsic value.