Virtue ethics is concerned with the traits of character that make one a good person. Virtue ethics seems to be more personal because it is not about choosing which side of an issue one would prefer to take part in, but the kind of person one wants to be. A virtuous person is considered to be a morally good person, and virtues are good traits. For virtue ethics, the moral life is about developing good character.
Ethics and virtue have been a very contentious issue facing society for centuries. Many argue over the merits of various theories, each with its own philosophies and assumptions. It is this argument that has given rise to many popular and followed theories of ethics and virtues. The theories discussed primarily in this document include the virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological theory. Each is very distinct to the others in regards to its principles and assumptions regarding human behavior. Each however, has merit in regards to question of ethics and virtue, and how it should subsequently be valued.
Virtue ethics is a normative theory whose foundations were laid by Aristotle. This theory approaches normative ethics in substantially different ways than consequentialist and deontological theories. In this essay, I will contrast and compare virtue ethics to utilitarianism, ethical egoism, and Kantianism to demonstrate these differences. There is one fundamental aspect of virtue ethics that sets it apart from the other theories I will discuss. For the sake of brevity and to avoid redundancy, I will address it separately. This is the fundamental difference between acting ethically within utilitarianism, egoism, and Kantianism. And being ethical within virtue ethics. The other theories seek to define the ethics of actions while virtue ethics does not judge actions in any way. The other theories deal with how we should act, while virtue ethics determines how we should be.
you ask what the virtues are, it is likely you would be told that we
Luke, an employee of ABC Company has an ethical issue that makes him go and look for advise at the Ethics Department of ABC Company. The department of Ethics Department is dedicated to advise employee and prevent any risks of losing their jobs because of unaware immoral decisions. Now that the company has decided to build an adult entertainment retail store, Luke has come across a big decision. The Department of Ethics needs to help Luke decide to whether, obey his commencement with ABC Company and keep confidentiality until they make it public, or to warn his brother, Owen (who lives in the neighborhood that would be affected) that his house would substantially depreciate and he may lose money if he does not sell the house now
I. Provide answers for five (5) of the following (6 points each, total of 30 points):
Different ethical theories would view this issue in various ways. Virtue ethics believes in placing a heavy focus on moral character, while focusing less on the action itself. In this situation a virtue ethicist would evaluate if ending or continuing Samantha's treatment would impact her moral character. The beliefs of strong moral character carried by a virtue ethicist would encourage Samantha to further her parents wishes of continuing treatment. A virtue ethicist respect for human life causes them to believe that Samantha should continue treatment because of the courage and strength it shows. However some virtue ethicist might argue that because of the value for human life, Samantha should be allowed to discontinue treatment to end the immense suffering she is in. A virtue ethicist would considered all of the details of the patients suffering before making a
In week four of ethics we went over chapters 8, 9 and 10. Chapter 8 was over Virtue Ethics, chapter 9 was about feminists thought and the ethics of care, and chapter 10 was about euthanasia. These three topics were very interesting to me, but one in particular topic that was interesting for me was the chapter on virtue ethics. This chapter stood out the most for me because it is so important to have good character no matter what you are personally going through or what has happened to you in your life it is always important to give others respect and treat them how you would like to be treated. Virtues are good character traits, for example courage, loyalty, self sacrifice, and patriotism. They are the traits that make a person good. According
Hursthouse might respond to this objection that moral philosophy is sufficient for a virtuous person to make a decision in any given circumstances because it guides the person to be certain not in making the correct decision but in having virtuous intention. A person’s virtuous intention is based not by what end it reaches. It is by what action is made. Hursthouse might argue in our given example that the surgeon’s action is certain because he makes a decision with the intention to save a life of a patient instead of losing two. In addition, Hursthouse might claim that this act of virtuous intention is reasoned in terms of what a virtuous person would do. However, this response fails to recognize that certainty is not just
Luke’s ethical dilemma is clear: The conflict that Luke faces is between disclosing confidential information about his company to his brother and being 100% and/or remaining loyal to his close family member. Luke is faced with the dilemma of choosing whether or not he should disclose workplace sensitive information about project plans of ABC. In conjunction with such, Luke must also decide if he should revile insider information, against company obligation policy, that the in expectation of the property value in the area is expected to go down drastically to his brother Owen.
The ethical theory in the reading that appeals to me the most is virtue ethics. This theory appealed to me the most because it is something that I agree with and live by. Virtue ethics supports what it means to be human. It includes the person as a whole. I use this ethical theory in everyday life. Virtue ethics is not used in a single situation; it is spread out overtime. I practice virtue ethics by showing wisdom, having courage and temperance, and avoiding vices. I feel as if virtue ethics is the ethical theory that appeals to me the most because it is something that I follow by in everyday life.
“I would rather be a good man than a great king” said the character Thor in Thor: The Dark World. In these words we find a frightening tension. Almost everyone agrees that it is good to be ethical; this is an easy affirmation. It is much more difficult, though, when ethics is in direct opposition to success. This dichotomy- between ethics and success- will no doubt confront an engineer during a professional career of any substantial length. Can you say that you would rather be a good man than rich? Or popular? Or a successful engineer? What should happen when an engineer faces this question? One real world example that can shed some light on this problem is what is known as bid shopping. This essay will provide a thorough definition of the problem of bid shopping and the ethical dilemma surrounding it. It will then apply the ethical theories of Duty Ethics and Virtue Ethics to the question. And seek to show that bid shopping is unethical according to both ethical theories.
Luke has two choices; either help his brother make a decision on selling his house or upheld the company confidentiality agreement. The ethical issue presented is to breaking confidentiality of company polices to help someone make a bad choice. If Luke has no knowledge of this information then he can help his brother make an educated guess. Since he possess this valuable information he must remain neutral and not sway his decision in any form. When the information leaks to the public his brother will be furious that he did give him that information prior to the announcement. Regardless, since Luke works for this company he bound by rules and regulation of employment. If he does leak the information he subjected to the
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.
After taking careful consideration of these theories and the effects they will have on Luke as well as the stakeholders on either side of his decision. I advise that Luke remain loyal to ABC company’s confidentiality regarding the plans to construct the adult entertainment store. In doing so Luke can tell his brother to make any decision he feels comfortable with regarding his home, without disclosing any confidential information. Luke will avoid the major consequences of breaching confidential information with the help of utilitarianism and the universal ethics theory. Because of utilitarianism Luke will make sure that the majority of the stakeholders continue to benefit from his decisions, while also keeping himself within the law thanks