Virtue Ethics
Virtue Ethics is a branch of Normative Ethics that emphasizes the role of one's character and virtues in evaluating the morality of actions. Unlike other ethical theories that focus on rules (deontological ethics) or consequences (consequentialism), virtue ethics shifts the focus to the agent's moral character.
Historical Context
Virtue ethics has roots in ancient Greek Philosophy, particularly with the works of:
- Aristotle, who developed the concept in his "Nicomachean Ethics," where he discusses virtues as the mean between excess and deficiency. For instance, courage is the mean between rashness and cowardice.
- Plato, whose work also touches on virtues, especially in "The Republic," where he discusses the virtues of wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice.
Key Concepts
- Virtues: These are characteristics valued as good. They include courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom, which are often considered cardinal virtues.
- Eudaimonia: Often translated as 'flourishing' or 'the good life.' Aristotle argued that virtues lead to eudaimonia, the ultimate goal of human life.
- Doctrine of the Mean: Aristotle's idea that moral virtue is a mean between two extremes, each representing a vice.
- Phronesis: Practical wisdom, which helps individuals discern the mean in moral actions.
Contemporary Virtue Ethics
While virtue ethics was somewhat overshadowed by other ethical theories during the Enlightenment, it saw a revival in the 20th century, notably with the work of:
- Elizabeth Anscombe, who in her 1958 paper "Modern Moral Philosophy," criticized the prevailing ethical theories and advocated for a return to Aristotelian ethics.
- Alasdair MacIntyre, whose book "After Virtue" (1981) is a seminal work in the revival of virtue ethics, arguing that modern ethical discourse needs to be reconstructed around the concept of virtues.
- Rosalind Hursthouse, who has further developed virtue ethics by integrating it with contemporary ethical issues.
Criticisms and Challenges
- Virtue ethics can be seen as overly individualistic or not providing clear guidance on what to do in moral dilemmas.
- There is debate over what virtues are and how they should be prioritized.
- Some critics argue that virtue ethics lacks the action-guiding force of deontological or consequentialist theories.
External Links