Analysis: Whose Virtue Compass Is More Valuable?

Consideration and responsibility are both virtues that virtue ethics holds in high regard (Shannon 32). Under virtue ethics, this move was

For a given ethical dilemma, there is usually a dominant pair. Frequently, more than one must be considered, and sometimes all four. But, as Kidder

I believe virtue is anything that may be advantageous in one’s own way. It may be good, it may be bad in

Hursthouse, R (2007) Virtue ethic. In Zalta,E(ed) , Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Stanford University. Online. Available: http://plato.stanford.edu/ (accessed 5 August 2015).

Whether an employer or health insurance company should have access to your genetic information can one day be the difference between having a job and health insurance to having neither. Even though it’s prohibited for an employers to ask or request for genetic information there will be people who voluntary provide that information. Those who do provide genetic information might be doing themselves more harm than good. Many are against providing their genetic information as they fear it could lead to genetic discrimination and prevent them from acquiring the proper insurance needed to cover health problems or obtain employment (National, 2002). To prevent genetic discrimination laws like “The Americans with Disabilities Act” (ADA), “The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act” (GINA), and “Affordable Care Act” (ACA) have been passed to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing rates, employers from denying work, prohibit discrimination in public services areas, and prohibits the discrimination against those who need accommodations (National, 2017). While providing genetic information is not required, some employers feel that’s its necessary to have this information. If an employer is are able to access a person genetic information they can to determine whether the person poses a risk to themselves or to those around them (Midwest, n.d).

The art of virtue is a distinct method employed by Franklin. The method features thirteen different aspects: “Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity, and Humility”. Franklin believed that it was essential and advantageous for one to follow this instruction of method, not only to be happy, but to attain clarity, morality, and virtue. Franklin’s first act of virtue, temperance, necessitated self-control of eating and drinking “Eat not to Dulnesss / Drink not to Elevation” (987). Franklin’s second virtue, silence, dictated not to involve yourself in useless discussion, as he illuminates “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself” (987). Franklin’s

Did you know that almost half of the population in the United States belongs in jail, according to the law on marijuana? It’s true. In 2008 Time Magazine reported that researchers had found more than 42% of people surveyed in the United States had tried marijuana at least once (Lynch, 2008). So if marijuana use is so common in the United States, why should it not be legalized? In this paper I will discuss both the supporting and opposing positions on the legalization of marijuana. I will also explore the moral and ethical views for legalizing marijuana.

Confucius and Aristotle are some of the greatest thinkers in the history of mankind. While Confucius was born in China and spearheaded a new way of perceiving morality, Aristotle was born in Macedon/Greece and also immersed his philosophical work to addressing moral thinking.Both philosophers have addressed similar subjects with major points of divergence and convergence. On virtue, these two authors have almost similar opinions. However, it is their points of convergence or agreement that have had a huge impact on the modern world’s thinking and understanding of virtue and moral behavior.

After filling out the Ethical Inventory again I found that Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics are the two areas that made the most persuasive thinking for me. Utilitarianism looks at the consequences and weighs the positives to see if it is going to bring happiness to the greater number. Every situation is looked at from a pros and cons point of view and a decision is made from there. One statement that is on the inventory sheet says, “When I am trying to decide what the right thing to do is, I look at the consequences of the various alternatives open to me.” In this example for myself I usually don’t think about consequences and react on emotions. After reacting from emotions I think about the consequences and realize most of the time it wasn’t the right thing to do. There are many times that I react and then realize I could’ve done things differently in that situation. I think about my own self interest before I think about the effects of the greater number. I see myself now looking at the situation and seeing both sides of it. I look at the positives and negatives before I react on emotions. By learning more about utilitarianism and changing my thought process I see my virtue ethics in a different perspective compared to what I did before this class. All the virtues that are stated in the book are virtues I hold very deeply in myself. These virtues are courage, generosity, honesty, loyalty to friends and family. Courage was one I had a hard time with because I don’t always

Throughout life, one must make difficult choices. People are often faced with decisions of the good (temptation and temporary and immediate pleasure) and the greater good (pain and sacrifice). The most important moral virtues are moderation, courage, and justice. Moderation keeps us from overindulging in limited goods, pleasure, and temptation. Courage is facing your fears, and justice (the laws) encourages people to behave virtuously and create relationships with others. Reaching happiness is highly dependent on living a balanced virtuous life.

The lawyer in this case has an obligation to the child under the virtue theory, the lawyer must exhibit strong core moral values such as integrity, non- maleficence, and justice and fairness when approaching this case. Since the lawyer suspects that the couple he is representing is involved in illicit drug use, it is his responsibility to work in the child’s best interest. Though his professional role is to represent and ‘win’ the case against the adoptive parents, the lawyer must remain virtuous (as a human being) and consider what he morally ‘ought’ to do to ensure the welfare of the child involved. The virtue of caring and concern is paramount in this case. Under the virtue theory, the lawyer must show strong moral character as well as caring and concern for the wellbeing and future of this child, in spite of the legal leverage his clients may have.

According to critics, a major problem with the theory is the difficulty of establishing the nature of the virtues, especially as different people, cultures and societies often have vastly different opinions on what constitutes a virtue. Some proponents counter-argue that any character trait defined as a virtue must be universally regarded as a virtue for all people in all times, so that such cultural relativism is not relevant. Others, however, argue that the concept of virtue must indeed be relative and grounded in a particular time and place, but this in no way negates the value of the theory, merely keeps it current.

Virtue, when I hear that word I think of value and morality and only good people can be virtuous. When I hear the word ethics I think of good versus evil, wrong and right. Now when the two are put together you get virtue ethics. You may wonder what can virtue ethics possibly mean. It’s just two words put together to form some type of fancy theory. Well this paper will discuss virtue ethics and the philosophy behind it.

Virtue Ethics is neither deontological nor teleological, since it is concerned with neither duty nor consequences, but rather the state of the person acting. Aristotle believed that once you are good, good actions will necessarily follow, and this belief is at the centre of Virtue Ethics. Rather than defining good actions, Virtue Ethics looks at good people and the qualities that make them good. The non-normative theory, although very effective in determining the morality of individuals, is particularly flawed when applied to whole societies. This weakness is largely due to its imprecision and abstraction; however, before these weaknesses can be considered, it is necessary to give an account of the theory itself.

An advantage of virtue ethics is that it brings in all the qualities of being human such as reason, responsibility and emotion to influence a person’s ethical consideration. This can be applied in situations where a person asks what sort of person he or she should be. However, our text book clarifies that “determining what the specific virtues are, and what the appropriate balance among those virtues should be, can be difficult” (Mosser, 2011).