What is Virtue Ethics?
- Created by: Abena
- Created on: 18-03-13 11:17
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- Virtue ethics is neither deontological(act based) or teleological (consequentialist), is is a hybrid of the two types
- Virtue ethics was originally formulated in ancient Greece by Aristotle
- Aristotle - 'ethics is all about character,
- 'individuals need to be trained to make moral decisions'
- 'it then becomes a habit through practice'
- people of good character do good things Matthew 7:17 - 'all good trees bear fruit'
- The greek word for virtue (arete) means exellence
- striving for excellence can benefit others
- At the heart of virtue ethics is Eudiamonia (happiness)
- yet it has more of the characteristic of human flourishing - It's the happiness that comes from within, the happiness we experience from being good people?
- Virtue's like patience, temeperance and courage help us to flourish
- According to Aristotle 'virtue is a skill, learnt through observing other virtuous people and praticing and developing the virtues
- Aristotle distinguishes between 3 types of people in his virtue ethics;
- A person who lives for contemplation (i.e. a philosopher)
- Honour seekers (e.g…
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