Virtue Ethics
- Created by: abbyparkes
- Created on: 11-02-16 18:29
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- Moral Natural Law
- Intro
- By studying our nature and purpose, using reason, we can work out the right way to live.
- It is a deductive theory. It is Deontological, looking at the intent behind an action and the nature of the act itself, not its outcomes.
- Reason and Human Purpose
- Natural Law works on the assumption that we have, within our own nature, a guide to what is good for us.
- If we follow this we flourish
- A moral life is a life lived according to and in accordance with reason and an immoral life is a life at odds with reason
- Aquinas deduced that, fundamentally, humans should go to avoid evil.
- Natural Law works on the assumption that we have, within our own nature, a guide to what is good for us.
- Real and apparent goods
- Human actions that are not in the pursuit of perfection can be explained as the pursuit of apparent good.
- something that doesn't fit in the perfect human ideal.
- To choose an apparent good is an error, because it isn't really good for us. The adulterer or adulteress commits adultery because he or she believes that it is good.
- This is an error of reason, because adultery prevents humans from drawing close to what God intended.
- Human actions that are not in the pursuit of perfection can be explained as the pursuit of apparent good.
- Virtues
- Cardinal Virtues
- Acquired through reason applied to nature; they are
- Prudence: wise in handling practical matters; excising judgement or common sense
- Justice: the upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment
- Temperance: moderation or abstinence
- Fortitude: firm courage; strength; bravery
- Primary Precepts
- Absolute and Unchanging
- Worship God
- Ordered society
- Reproduction
- Learning
- Defend the innocent
- Learning
- These are absolute deontological principles that are derived from the Primary precepts
- This nature is common to us all must lie in accordance with it.
- Perusing natural laws develops virtues.
- This nature is common to us all must lie in accordance with it.
- Acquired through reason applied to nature; they are
- Theological Virtues
- Faith Hope Charity
- According to Aquinas, to lack any of these virtues is to lack the ability to make a moral choice.
- For example, consider a man who possesses the virtues of justice, prudence and fortitude yet lacks temperance. Due to his lack of self-control and desire for pleasure, despite his good intentions, he will find himself swaying from the moral path
- To adhere to natural law, an individual should seek to develop both cardinal and theological virtues- this development takes practice. These virtues must become habitual.
- Cardinal Virtues
- Secondary Precepts
- These are the rules- absolute deontological principles
- Deried from the orimary precepts
- For example, the teleological principle " protect and preserve the innocent" leads to rules such as "do not abort"
- These rules cannot be broken, regardless of the consequences. They are absolute laws.
- Suicie is wrong because humans have the natural inclination to preserve life.
- These are the rules- absolute deontological principles
- Intro
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