team members: samantha nirschl dave opperman ryan tess-wanat adam bokelman
TRANSCRIPT
Virtue Ethics
Team Members: Samantha Nirschl Dave Opperman Ryan Tess-Wanat Adam Bokelman
Virtue Ethics: Summary
Moral Goodness Attitudes or Character traits Thoughtful reflection on what
kind of person we have the potential to become
Virtues are like habits, once acquired become characteristics
Examples of Virtues:
Honesty Compassion Generosity Integrity Self-control Trustworthiness
Influential People
Aristotle –(384 BC – 322 BC)
Philippa Foot –(1920-present)
Aristotle
I. Was a Greek Philosopher
II. Student Of PlatoIII. Father of Virtue
EthicsIV. First to really
stress the importance of having virtues
Aristotle
Identified that virtue is related to the proper function of a thing.
In order for us to function properly we need a virtuous happy self character
Once a virtuous person
Later develop wisdom
Philippa Ruth Foot
British Philosopher Founder of modern
virtue ethics Wrote a collection of
papers called “virtues and vices” (1978)
Was responsible for influencing Oxford philosophers
Philippa Foot
Modernized Aristotle's ethical theories and showed it was adaptable to a new contemporary view
Wrote “Natural Goodness” in 2001 Denys a fact/value distinction and found
room for a sophisticated kind of ethical naturalism.
Ethical Naturalism is a version of an Aristotelian ethic in which the nature of human beings is itself a determinant of their good.
Criticism Of Virtue Theory
Different cultures will have different virtues.
Ex: Greeks have more pride where as Christian monks have more humility
Criticism Continued…
Some critics say it goes beyond moral views and focuses more on our actions.
Not what should I do, but what kind of person should I be?
Criticism Continued
Ex: Running a marathon takes training and practice, so does our virtues.
Current Ethical Dilemma
You are driving to work and see
a person collapse on the
sidewalk What do you do? Stop and help Drive by ignoring the person
Current Ethical Dilemma
You stopped and helped, being a Good Samaritan
Consequences for stopping You are late for work and are
disciplined with 3 days off without pay
Current Ethical Dilemma You drive by
Consequences for not stopping?
Later you find out the person
died
If you would have stopped you
may have saved that persons
life!
Current Ethical Dilemma
You find out that the collapsed person was the spouse of the person that works next to you!
What do you tell that person?
What would
you do?
Review Questions
1. What (kind of thing) is a virtue?
2. Who founded the theory of virtue ethics?
3. How do Virtues differ from Morals?