Aristotle's Virtue Ethics Overview

Definition and Focus of Virtue Ethics

• Virtue ethics centers on developing virtues (settled, purposive dispositions) within individuals, not on following specific rules.
• The core ethical question is “What kind of person should I be?” rather than “What should I do?”
• Aristotle is the main proponent, emphasizing reason, purpose (telos), and flourishing (eudaimonia).

Major Concepts in Aristotelian Virtue Ethics

• Every action aims at some good, ultimately happiness or eudaimonia (human flourishing).
• Virtue is found in the “golden mean”—the balance between excess and deficiency.
• Practical wisdom (phronesis) enables individuals to apply the right virtue in the right way at the right time.
• Intellectual virtues (e.g., practical wisdom) and moral virtues (e.g., courage, justice) are developed through experience and habit.
• The soul comprises rational and non-rational elements; humans are unique for their rational souls.
• Developing virtue is a lifelong, holistic process focused on becoming a good person.

Application and Development

• Virtue ethics must be applied to issues of human and animal life and death (e.g., cloning, embryo research, animal experimentation).
• Moral virtue arises from voluntary, reasoned choice, not from following rules or acting by accident.
• Moral exemplars (role models) are crucial for learning virtues through imitation.

Strengths of Virtue Ethics

• Provides autonomy and moral flexibility; not reliant on religious belief (supported by Anscombe’s revival).
• Holistic and human-centered; considers the whole person over a lifetime.
• More realistic as it allows for moral development and learning from mistakes.
• Remains relevant in a post-religious, individualistic society.

Criticisms of Virtue Ethics

• Lacks cultural relativism; assumes all societies value the same virtues.
• Does not provide clear rules needed for laws and societal order.
• Too anthropocentric, prioritizing human flourishing over non-human life.
• Application can be vague due to lack of specific guidance for moral dilemmas.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Virtue — a settled disposition in the golden mean, determined by right reason.
• Eudaimonia — supreme happiness/flourishing achieved by fulfilling one’s potential.
• Telos — final purpose or goal of an entity.
• Golden Mean — the desirable middle between extremes of excess and deficiency.
• Practical Wisdom (Phronesis) — ability to reason well about ethical matters.
• Intellectual Virtues — virtues of the rational mind (e.g., wisdom, understanding).
• Moral Virtues — virtues of character (e.g., courage, temperance).
• Moral Exemplar — a person whose virtuous behavior serves as a model.
• Anthropocentric — human-centered approach.
• Holistic — concerned with the whole person and life.