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Questions tagged [virtue-ethics]

Aristotle fathered virtue ethics, which has wide spread adoption, historically. The ethical view takes value in either the actions in themselves (Deontology) or the consequences of the act (consequentialism) based upon the character of the individual.

Aristotle fathered virtue ethics, through the golden mean, which has wide spread adoption, historically. The ethical view takes value in the character of the individual based upon acts themselves (Deontology) or the consequences of the act (consequentialism). Aristotle observed, in Nicomachean Ethics, that training is necessary, as with a child, to learn good and evil. Once this division is solid a good person will act instinctually on good behavior based on good intentions. Stumbling is possible, but a good person is good because of the nature in their intentions, not because of solitary actions which may fall out of line with the overall.

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Should this view of Zi Lu's be called "deontology" or "virtue ethics"?

Zi lu (Wade Giles: Tzu Lu) commented: ... Not to enter public life is to ignore one's duty. Even the proper regulation of old and young cannot be set aside. How, then, can the duty between ruler and subject be set aside? This is to cause …
Loki123
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Is Virtue Ethics based on self-interest?

I hope this question makes sense, but is it correct to say that virtue ethics accounts are based on self-interest? If virtue ethics are concerned with achieving a good life, is it possible for them not make ethical action based on the individual's…
flen
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How seriously is virtue ethics under attack by moral psychology?

K.A. Appiah, in his "Experiments in Ethics" (2008), gives a rather drastic picture of the attack virtue ethics finds itself under by moral psychology. In a nutshell, (a vast amount of) experiments arguably not only show that people are biased in…
user14511
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Which philosopher maintained that virtue ethics, deontology and consequentialism can be reduced to each other?

I remember skimming an article by a female philosopher that argued that each of the three major kinds of ethics can actually be expressed in terms of each other.
Nowhere man
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Are there any alternatives to the theory that virtues are the means between two vices?

Aristotle theorizes that virtues like courage are the average or mean of two vices such as cowardice and foolhardiness. Are there any competing theories of virtue which explicitly reject virtues as being between two vices?
Resting in Shade
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Discerning among ethics, morality, principles, virtues, and etiquette

Although I have studied these terms in my own language, could anyone possibly explain them in such a way that I could differentiate between them better. I have not gotten their basic difference in a vivid…
nima
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What's wrong with aretaic consequentialism?

What problems does it face, either as a classification of Buddhism or as meta ethical theory in general? Another approach [to how to classify Buddhist ethics] is aretaic consequentialism, an indirect form of consequentialism in which the primary…
user64448
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What does it mean exactly to live a good life in a place like earth?

I don’t know what living a good life means - people say being honest, truthful, generous, or to possess and practice many of the most important virtues. But all these things depend upon the way we think. Is there any standard answer for this…
Kroob.D
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On capturing the concept of eudaimonia empirically

In recent years, the social sciences have gained traction at painting an empirical picture of ethical concepts that before (albeit not forever) had been treated a-priori. I think of competing theories of fairness as in Fehr/Schmidt (2000), the…
user14511
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What moral theory can be used to illustrate that sex is permissible between consenting adults bound by love or comittment?

I just wanted to thank you all for your input! I used Epicurus and Maslow to support my position and refuted the opposing arguments based on the fact they couldn't possibly meet the Epicurian criteria of creating the most pleasure and therefore…
Ashley
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Argument over rules not being followed

I strongly think that rules are meant to be followed. But, according to my colleagues, it doesn't matter if the parties involved in the violation of the rules do not engage in anything harmful to them or to others. Is this point that they make…
Jonathan_the_seagull
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A typology of ethical theories for beginners?

Ethical theories can doubtless be classified, cross-connected and contrasted in many ways. I am not looking for a definitive classification, only a useful typology to get me started. Refinements and alternatives can come later. I have encountered…
Guilherme Penteado
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Are virtues non-relational?

I was reading this, by Shirong Luo, on the ethics of care care is notoriously difficult to define. As Ruddick points out, at least three distinct but overlapping meanings of care have emerged in recent decades—an ethic defined in opposition to…
confused
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Aristotle's Ethics - Moral Responsibility

I'm struggling to understand Aristotle's argument for moral responsibility. From what I could gather, he seems to claim that the cultivation of virtues comes out of habit and is our responsibility to "practice" their application, so that, as adults,…
Scb
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Are there counter examples to Kant's perfect duties?

Are there exceptions to Kant's perfect duties - duties always or never to do X? By this I mean, does the doctrine of perfect duties generate counter-examples - situations in which if we followed the requirement always or never to do X then what we…
user6917
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