Outline the Principle Advantages and Disadvantages of an Approach to Ethics Based Around Virtue

Virtue Theory is one of many different moral theories that exist today. It is based off of Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics which focuses on having an ideal character. The main focus of Virtue Theory is the role of one’s character, which is closely related to its roots in Aristotle. A Virtue Theorist would do things because it is who they themselves are, not because it is good to do them or because they will get something good from doing them.

Virtue ethics is a theory of ethics in moral philosophy in which it emphasizes that the notion of virtue is key to a

The Virtue Theory, also know as Virtue Ethics, refers to the character of each person. This theory states that every person should try for excellence. The characteristics of each individual are made up from their environment that they are a part of. The theory would further suggest

The first theory I will compare virtue ethics against is ethical egoism. The two theories share a commonality apart from being normative in nature. They both seek what is best for the doer. Aristotle claimed that happiness is ultimately attained by striving for the “function of man” which is the excellence found within virtue. This is comparable to ethical egoism because of it’s principle of exclusively acting in one’s own best interest. While virtue ethics states that a virtuous character is the goal, ethical egoism is not specific to what is in a person’s best interest. If attaining a virtuous character is

Virtue ethics is one of the three major approaches in ethics. This approach of ethics emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, in contrast to other approaches which emphasizes duties or rules. Virtue ethics has three central concepts; virtue, practical wisdom, and eudemonia, however, these are often misunderstood. The three approaches of ethics are virtue ethics, consequentialist ethics, and deontology ethics. Each approach provides a different way to understanding ethics.

Both religions follow the “Golden Rule” and enlighten their followers on the benefits of it in achieving salvation. Utilitarianism also focuses its teachings on decision’s outcome as suppose to a code of laws which gives individual ethical grounds for making decisions that reduces suffering, similar to virtue teachings. A good example is when people compliment another person about their looks despite the negative outlook in their mind.

The development of humans ethical abilities called virtue through training; often exposes the ethical behavior from being around families and communities. We learn how to be generous, courageous, honest, cheerful, and cooperative through virtues. These virtues come from everyday living conditions as well as from different social settings. We also learn from ethics that the learning habits we have embraced can help us excel in everyday life. “However, PharmaCARE’s virtue ethics with the Colberians were wrong because even though the executive managers own the native land, they should have treated the people with some dignity and respect,” (Halbert & Ingulli, 2012).

Aristotle’s idea of Virtue Ethics was influenced by his belief that all things and all humans have a purpose (a telos). For him a complete explanation of something has to include its final cause or purpose which essentially is to realise its potential. Virtue Ethics itself is concerned with the characteristics of a person rather than how a person behaves and it is this he outlined in his book Nicomachean Ethics. A ‘’virtue’’ are qualities that lead to a good life e.g. courage and honesty. Aristotle explains for a person to adopt these qualities into their own lives is to maximise their potential to achieve a happy life and he goes

Virtue theory uses practical rationality to explain why one ought to act morally. Considerations that stem from human needs help us find reason in our actions. Those actions are ones that help us retain the function of our human will and the goodness of that will.

The third ethical theory is virtue ethics. Virtue ethics is character-based, which mean virtue ethics shows how a person’s character matter above everything else. It focuses more on a person’s character rather than the action. Being virtuous mean that no matter the situation your character will depict how you respond to that situation. Which is why when determining if an act is morally good or bad it depends on the character and motive. For example, if someone is having a bad day and gets upset at you and start yelling at you, your response isn’t going to be getting mad at that person and yelling back at them. Instead of doing that a virtuous person would show kindness toward that person so that they can make him or she feels better. The moral excellence of a person or being a good person is a start to being virtuous.

Despite these claims held by Aristotle, Hursthouse and Anscombe they are not strong enough to contend against the main assertion at hand of virtue ethics being insufficiently action-guiding. Such accounts fail ultimately because, they do not change the fact that virtue ethics does not provide any guidance for our actions. Principally, how can an ethical theory be judged on its sufficiency (hence why virtue ethics is insufficient) when it does not even promote any guidance for our actions in the first place?

To first create an argument over the conflict of virtues one must first understand what makes a virtue a virtue. In Aristotelian Virtue Ethics, a virtue is described as something a virtuous person does. In turn, a virtuous person is someone who does virtuous acts. This is where a big issue arises in this theory. There are hardly any ground laws

Virtue ethics is a theory that focuses on character development and what virtues one should obtain to be who they are supposed to be, as oppose to actions. An example of virtue ethics would be someone who is patient, kind, loving, generous, temperance, courage and flourishing as oppose to a person who lies, cheats, and

the virtues are that the good man can tell what to do in a morally

This idea of goodness and virtue goes anything beyond worldly values and ideals. "A good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death"(41d), says Socrates further explaining that no matter what, "a better man [cannot] be harmed by a worse"(30d). Having virtue gives you a certain happiness that is well beyond life or death or worldly values and goods.