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Euthanasia: Perspective from Theory of Personality Virtue

Decent Essays
Theory of personality virtue or, more commonly known as virtue ethics, is a moral school of thought which emphasises the personality attributes towards attaining a good life. Alternatively, it emphasises the role of one’s character and the virtues that one’s character embodies for determining or evaluating ethical behaviour. Aristotle has made a significant contribution in developing this theory through his book Nichomacheaen Ethics. The theory does not deal with neither the behaviour itself nor the consequence resulting from the behaviour, in order to decide whether something is regarded as right or wrong, as what concerned in consequentialism and deontology. Rather, it teaches to define good people and to identify the virtues that make them good.

In exploring theory of personality of virtue, Aristotle contended that eudemonia or genuine happiness lies in action that leads to virtue. To him, habitual repetition and correction are the only way to produce good habits, or more precisely, the personality virtues. He believed that personality virtues were to be found, in compromise, between the opposed vices of excess and deficiency. To illuminate this, a good example would be the quality of courage, which lies between the rashness and cowardice. Aristotle stated that every person should work to develop his or her own character by developing a habit out of virtue. This will automatically lead to good actions, as a good person will always make good decisions. He believed that
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