Virtue Ethics- Alasdair MacIntyre
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- Created on: 27-02-16 13:45
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- ALASDAIR MACINTYRE
- CONTEXT
- We ought to see ethics as a developing story. Therefore we must know the context of theories.
- For this reason, he rejects QUANDRY ethics, where theories are judged by looking at unrealistic dilemmas. (Atomic bomb application etc).
- These applications force us to choose between absolute rules, or the relativising which could end up saving peoples lives.
- Ethics has become a 'lose/lose' game, because we are left so confused between abandoning our principles or letting others be harmed. People don't know what to do, so they just give up.
- These applications force us to choose between absolute rules, or the relativising which could end up saving peoples lives.
- Gathering information about situations through context can be said to resemble resourcefulness secondary virtue and understanding.
- For this reason, he rejects QUANDRY ethics, where theories are judged by looking at unrealistic dilemmas. (Atomic bomb application etc).
- If ethics is going to tell us how to live our lives, we must look into our own contexts to see what type of person we should be.
- If we know what makes a good person, we should be able to reason what actions support/don't support it.
- We ought to see ethics as a developing story. Therefore we must know the context of theories.
- Relative Values
- Different societies have different values. Virtues change over time.
- Application= Homeric virtues praised cunning, physical strength, courage, and friendship. As did small tribes as they were seen as protection.
- However, referring back to context- these virtues change over time as cities develop. Athenian virtues valued justice and temperance.
- Today's society values wisdom as it is needed to ensure justice for so many people living in a society etc.
- However, referring back to context- these virtues change over time as cities develop. Athenian virtues valued justice and temperance.
- Application= Homeric virtues praised cunning, physical strength, courage, and friendship. As did small tribes as they were seen as protection.
- Different societies have different values. Virtues change over time.
- Internal and External Goods
- Practices are what we do with other people in order to achieve virtues.
- Internal goods can only be achieved through participation and are intrinsically good. They have known standards of excellence.
- E.g- Chess playing is achieved through 2 players (participation) and develops qualities of diligence, hard work, and concentration.
- Carrying out these practices on a regular basis helps people fulfill their telos (purpose). It gives people a reason for rationally acting ethically.
- Internal Goods help us act ethically every day and exercise the virtues. External goods like good food, shelter, etc give us the foundations for happiness.
- EVALUATIVE= It's reasonable to put situations into context because it helps us understand the decisions people make. However, in the eyes of the law some things are always wrong.
- Criticisms of deontology/utilitarianism- cold logic is applied without compassion. The love of God and humans doesn't count here. In utilitarianism morality is reduced to a mathematical equation.
- ''Morally bankrupt society''= Just as a person has no money left, we have no morals left as it has been replaced by materialism and hedonism as opposed to noble virtue.
- ''Moral Vacuum''= We have been reduced to a society with no morals, just as a vacuum has no air in it, our society has no morals.
- CONTEXT
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