Slide 1

VIRTUE ETHICS

Morality for Daily Life

INTRODUCTIONThere are two general types of ethics in moral theology: VIRTUE ETHICS and DILEMMA ETHICSVIRTUE ETHICS is the ordinary times of our lives when we face daily decisions of doing good and avoiding evil.DILEMMA ETHICS is for the extraordinary times when we face major ethical decision that involve conflict of values

Virtue EthicsIs concerned about how people express and form their character through their choices and action in everyday situationsSees the ordinary life as the place where most of moral life takes place

The task of being moral is to grow intoperfection in imitation of ChristWe do this by growing in the virtues

How do we develop virtues?

By developing and regularly practicing good habits and avoiding vices

When we develop and maintain good habits/virtues we get used to doing good, and thus choosing and doing the good woud become easier and easier for us.Virtues and vices are dispositions of the will. They are patterns of deciding and acting that draw us toward goodness or evil.

Traditional VirtuesDivine or infused virtues : Faith, Hope and LoveCardinal or acquired vitures: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance

Virtue ethics is a goal oriented ethics because we strive to live morally in order to move closer and closer to the perfection God desires for us and the perfect union with God that awaits us.The virtues are the means we use to achieve this goal of perfection and union with God.

Divine VirtuesThese virtues are received directly from GodWe cannot attain them on our ownWe receive them as gifts from GodWe receive them during Baptism

Cardinal VirtuesThese virtues are acquired which means that we can attain them and increase them by constant practiceThey are called cardinal from the Latin word cardo meaning hingeLike the hinges that hold a door and allow it to swing, the cardinal virtues hold up our moral lifeThey are like the skeleton on which our ordinary moral life hangs on

Prudence

The virtue that enables us to make proper choices, avoiding extremes (too much or too little)Means being able to govern and discipline oneself with reason, in speech and in actionsWhen you are a prudent person you know how to make good judgments and make balanced decisions

JusticeThe virtue that governs our relationships with othersEnables us to decide and act in a way that gives to every person what is properly due eachIt means being impartial and exercising fair judgment' also conforming to truthYou are a just person if you give to every one what they deserve

FortitudeThe virtue that guides our response to difficulties in lifeEnables us to bravely and heroically face challenges in order to achieve what is goodMoral courage means to have courage and strength in mind, when faced with danger, adversity or painA person who has fortitude is able to make sacrifices for what is good for himself or for others

TemperanceThe virtue that guides our response to pleasureEnables us to be disciplined in satisfying our human needsMeans to moderate oneself in our thoughts, emotions, and our use and consumption of thingsTo be a temperate person is to be able to practice self-control and restraint

Finding the Golden MeanEach virtue is attained by finding the golden mean in every activityThere is an appropriate way to be just, tempered, prudent and courageous in every occasionOne's character grows in perfection when one gradually learns to live according to the mean that is called for in every situation in daily life.

Interrelation of the cardinal virtuesPrudence is the balancing and the decision-making virtue that enables us to choose the mean when applying fortitude and temperance to our personal behavior and applying justice to our relationships

Vices

A vice is the opposite of virtue It is either an excess or a deficiency in what a virtue should be

Vices

Imprudence or negligenceInjustice in doing too much or too little for othersIntemperance, timidityFear or too daring

Applying virtue ethics:Three basic questions we ask ourselvesWHO AM I?WHAT KIND OF PERSON DO I WANT TO BECOME?HOW DO I ACHIEVE THIS GOAL?

CONTEMPORARY VIRTUESBenevolenceRighteousnessProprietyWisdomFidelity

Additional virtuesHospitalityGratitudeSympathyHumorSolidarityTransparencyCare for the environment

Questions for DiscussionAs Filipinos, what virtues do we need to develop?As a Filipino youth, what vices do you have to correct/What role models do we have who can help us follow Christ?