...OBrien Ethics Virtue Theory Virtue ethics is one theory that people use to make moral decisions. It does not rely on culture, society, or religion; it only depends on the individuals. Aristotle was the main philosopher of virtue theory which he introduced his theory in ancient Greek times. Aristotle was a great believer in virtues and the meaning of virtue to him meant being able to fulfill one's functions. Virtue ethics is not interested in the question “what should I do?” but rather in the question “what kind of person should I become?” It has more to do with the nature of what it is to be human and their character, than with the rights and wrongs of actions. Instead of concentrating on what is the right thing to do, virtue ethics asks how you can be a better person. Aristotle says that those who do lead a virtuous life are very happy and have sense of well-being. Happiness is the ultimate goal for everyone in life. Aristotle's definition of happiness is, “happiness is the activity of the soul in accord with perfect virtue”. To become a better person, we must practice virtuous acts regularly. After a while, these acts will become a habit and so the virtuous acts part of our everyday life and the person will be leading a virtuous life. For example, if a singer practices singing every day, they will become better at it and used to doing it. Practicing virtue theory is similar, but it is more of an exercise for the the mind. People who practice their virtues improve their skills...
Words: 944 - Pages: 4
...Virtue Theory, Utilitarianism, and Deontological Ethics The most widely utilized approaches today to ethics consist of virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. Each are for doing the right thing, but have different ideas on what is the right thing. During this paper I will be discussing the differences in these approaches to ethics Virtue Theory This approach to ethics has to do with one’s moral character and how one should live. Aristotle was a famous mind who believed in this form of ethics. Utilitarianism In this approach to ethics one considers the consequences, and what maximizes happiness. If my son was dying of some disease and there was a cure that I could not afford. It would be ok to steal it to save his life, as long as it is saving his life without really hurting others. There is no shortage and the doctor could most definitely afford it. Deontological Ethics Deontological ethics deals with duty, and maxims, or universal law. Unlike virtue theory dealing with just ones virtues, deontology deals with the effects of the mass. With utilitarianism it was ok to steal to save a life as long as it maximizes happiness without truly hurting others. But with deontology if stealing for anything should become a maxim then the world would be without ethics. Conclusion During my time in the Army the word values was imprinted into my head. The way I conducted myself from day to day would be to live by these values for others to follow. My values...
Words: 361 - Pages: 2
...Similarities and Differences Between Virtue Theory According to Boylan (2009), “ethics is the science concerning the right and wrong of human behavior.” It is a method that allows us to organize our values and go after them. It helps us answer questions like: do I seek my own happiness, or do I sacrifice myself for a greater cause? According to "Ethics - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary" (2012), ethics is “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.” Because we are beings living together in society, we all go through tough moral decisions like a father deciding whether his son’s end-of-the-year school concert is more important than his business meeting or accepting gifts from vendors when a contract bid is under evaluation. Moral decisions require moral reasoning and deliberation, which takes place within certain perspectives two of which are virtue ethics and utilitarianism. Virtue ethics focuses on how to be; studies what makes the character traits of people. A person who has these traits will act by habit in certain ways not because of its consequences but because it is what a virtuous person would do. The Boy Scout pledge is an example of virtue ethics because he pledges to be a certain person. Utilitarianism is the view that says “if an act will produce more happiness than will alternatives, it is the right thing to do, and if it will produce less happiness, it would be wrong to do it in place of an alternative...
Words: 338 - Pages: 2
...the definition of a “virtue theory also known as virtue ethics is also sometimes called agent- based or character ethics” (Boylan, 2009, p. 133). This can be non-moral or moral. A non- moral example would be achieving excellence in whatever one may do. A personal experience that I have experience with virtue ethics is that when I played volleyball in middle school and I was the best player on the team. I always achieved excellence when I played. When you are the key player and your team is counting on you then all you want to do is strive to be the best. You don’t want to let your team down, you want to give it your all and you want the rest of the team to give it their all as well. “Utilitarianism is a theory that suggests that an action is morally right when that action is morally right when the action produces more total utility for the group than any other alternative” (Boylan, 2009, p. 153). A personal experience that I have had with utilitarianism is working in teams for school projects. We thought that doing the project one way was the right way until we turn it in and get a poor grade. The reason is that they wanted it done another way and the way that they wanted it done made more sense then the way that we did it. A good lesson that I learnt from this is that if you are having trouble with something then don’t hesitate to ask the teacher for help or if they can explain what exactly you have to do on the project. “Deontological is a moral theory that emphasizes one’s...
Words: 357 - Pages: 2
...Virtue Theory - Aristotle #8 In Aristotle’s book one chapter one he talks about activities. He says that from expert knowledge and from activities it can be concluded that some good will come from these things. I think he is talking about the goals of people. Some goals are set in which that they are acted in ways that they are activities. Products are also a form of goals and these goals Aristotle thinks are superior to activity based goals. He then goes on to talk about different goals and the outcome those goals, but he sees that many people’s goals work together and make up a bigger picture. He ends the first chapter open by saying is the end of an activity the start of another activity or is it something greater. At the beginning of the second chapter he changes his wording to projects but I think he is still referring to goals. I think he is saying next that there has to be an end to goals because if not they would go on forever and turn bad. The ends to our goals are then absolutely good. I think next he is brings doubt upon his argument by saying like an archer we could hit our make if we had this knowledge. I would say that next me moves on to say people need to learn from the government and endeavors. By looking at them one would be able not to make the mistakes that maybe they have made. And when things go as planed people can take that plan and change it in to a way that would work for them. It is much easier to complete the...
Words: 319 - Pages: 2
...Analyzing Virtue Theory’s Decision-Making Capability A doctor presented with a patient who insists on being euthanized to free himself from pain obviously creates an ethical dilemma. The doctor in the scenario has many factors to consider—honoring the wishes of his patient, respect for human life, compassion for a person’s suffering, and responsibility to his medical profession. Considering these things, the doctor is clearly left in a conundrum, with his virtues giving him no clear decision to make. In another situation, a German man hides a stranger being hunted by Nazis during the Holocaust era in his home. When approached, does he stay true to his virtue of honesty and give the wanted person up? Or does he lie to keep with his virtue of non-maleficence, protecting the person in hiding from physical harm or potentially death? Then, adding even more confusion to the mix, do his patriotism and loyalty to his country override all other factors and persuade him to release the innocent stranger? Any sort of ethical approach, be it utilitarianism, Kantianism, or virtue theory, leaves a remarkable gray area from which the doctor and German each must construct what he believes to be the most ethical decision. Of all the theories, though, Aristotle’s virtue theory presents the most conflicting decision-making process of them all. Virtue theory deals more with the character of what it is to be human, than the difference between right and wrong, and furthermore, aims to answer the...
Words: 1904 - Pages: 8
...The virtue theory states that a person’s character should be the key element in the matter of ethical thinking and not the moral rules of ethical thinking. Many philosophers that object to the virtue theory believe that theory cannot resolve the conflicts that arise in the theory, however, those philosophers agree that when supplementing a criteria of right action the virtue theory can then be accepted. People who believe in this concept are considered to be supplementalists. Philosophers that disagree with the concept of supplementing a criteria of right action into the theory are called non-supplementalists. Non-supplementalists believe that the virtue theory does not need to be supplemented with anything in order to be accepted by others,...
Words: 276 - Pages: 2
...According to Michael Voytinsky, (2011) he stated that Utilitarian theory have the concept that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes the overall happiness. It is therefore a form of consequentialism, which means that the moral worth of an action is determined only by its resulting outcome, and that one can only weigh the morality of an action after knowing all its consequences. So in other words the consequences in utilitarian includes all of the good and bad produced by the act, whether arising after the act has been performed or during its performance. According to John Stuart Mill, Bentham’s successor which is the leader of the utilitarians, he stated that Utilitarianism is often described by the phrase "the greatest good for the greatest number of people", and is also known as "the greatest happiness principle". This is in the view that no action is in and of itself bad or god, what is important is the state of the world that the action brings about. If the overall happiness is good result, then the action is good. For example, a healthy person walks into a hospital with broken fingers; however in the same hospital three different persons with the same blood type happens to be dying due to organ failure, but with different organs in each case. In this case the utilitarian theory says that it would be justify and more favorable to kill one healthy person for their organs, which therefore can be transplanted into several people dying for an organ which will save...
Words: 621 - Pages: 3
...semester, we have studied different theories and texts presenting ethics and feminist ethics contextualized within a variety of issues. While modern philosophers such as Mill and Kant have taken an approach to ethical questions that is more rule-based, their ancient counterparts (namely, Plato and Aristotle) have taken an approach to ethics that relies more on character and ethical way of being (Landes, 2013). The former attempts to create a set of rules which we can apply to our actions whereas the latter argues that rather than creating a system of ethics, we ought to focus on the very character of people; adopting good habits of character will lead us to doing was is right and what is essential for us to be a fully happy...
Words: 1386 - Pages: 6
...1. Analyze Kate’s decision from a virtue ethics perspective. The virtue ethics theory focuses on the motivation aspect of the decision making process. In this theory Kate’s motives are good; she doesn’t want her child to suffer from the same abuse that she has experienced in a foster home. She doesn’t have the support from family or the child’s father to help raise the child. If Kate were to be persuaded to not abort the baby she would not be doing it because she wanted to and that would make the action wrong according to the virtues theory. In this decision Kate has accomplished the golden mean by having the right amount of courage and caring enough about the infant’s quality of life. 2. Analyze Kate’s decision from a Kantian perspective....
Words: 412 - Pages: 2
...Virtue ethics is defined as “an action is right if and only if (and because) it is what a virtuous agent (acting in character) might choose to do in the circumstances under consideration.” According to Peter Singer, there is no question, a person would save a child’s life from drowning if that person is able to, despite if it will cause clothes to be wet and ruined and the possibility of being late for work. Beneficence fits the virtue ethics theory because it is a commonly recognized virtue; and, I believe it is a circumstance that should be demonstrated under consideration. According to Timmons, beneficence is described as “charity, which is roughly the duty to help those in dire need.” When it comes to beneficence, I believe we do have a duty. Not only is it morally right, but from a religious standpoint, it is an excellent practice to help those who are in need. Beneficence does not have to be monetary; beneficence...
Words: 531 - Pages: 3
...Under these principles, virtue is defined in terms of qualities that help one “pierce the veil of selfish consciousness and join the world as it really is” and morality can then be determined “by the possession and exercise of such virtues.” (Murdoch, 1971). John ignores the needs and happiness for others, selfishly concerned only for himself. Filled with vice, his acts result in moral wrongness. He does not exercise virtues, because he still does not possess a virtuous character when he performs his corrupt actions, selling overpriced products to innocent people. As a result of his self-driven impulses, John would not be classified as virtuous or moral at...
Words: 1081 - Pages: 5
...developed Aristotle’s ‘Virtue Theory’. [30 marks] Aristotle’s ‘Virtue Theory’ is an ethical theory that emphasizes on an individual’s character as a key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves (deontology) or their consequences (consequentialism). Thus making ‘Virtue Ethics’ and deontic ethical theory. Both Elizabeth Anscombe and Alasdair MacIntyre believed that modern ethical studies have lost their ways. The philosophers felt that they were too concerned with normative rules and this doesn’t help to fill the moral vacuum of society. And that ‘Virtue Ethics’ was the only solution to the moral vacuum in society. According to Anscombe, the best way to fill this moral vacuum is to chart our moral virtues. Virtues help ordinary people be moral and must be based on good will; similarly to Aquinas’ internal vs external goods idea in Natural Law. Anscombe believed that society needed the return of Virtue Ethics because she was critical of deontological ethics as she felt they had become outdated. She was also critical of teleological ethics as she believes the end doesn’t justify the means, which we can understand from when she says, “The concepts of obligation, and duty – moral ‘ought’, ought to be jettisoned.” In 1981, MacIntyre wrote a book titled ‘After Virtue’ in which he traces he history of ‘Virtue Ethics’ and attempts to establish a system of the ethical theory appropriate for the modern age. He developed Virtue Ethics by putting less...
Words: 305 - Pages: 2
...developed Aristotle’s ‘Virtue Theory’. [30 marks] Aristotle’s ‘Virtue Theory’ is an ethical theory that emphasizes on an individual’s character as a key element of ethical thinking, rather than rules about the acts themselves (deontology) or their consequences (consequentialism). Thus making ‘Virtue Ethics’ and deontic ethical theory. Both Elizabeth Anscombe and Alasdair MacIntyre believed that modern ethical studies have lost their ways. The philosophers felt that they were too concerned with normative rules and this doesn’t help to fill the moral vacuum of society. And that ‘Virtue Ethics’ was the only solution to the moral vacuum in society. According to Anscombe, the best way to fill this moral vacuum is to chart our moral virtues. Virtues help ordinary people be moral and must be based on good will; similarly to Aquinas’ internal vs external goods idea in Natural Law. Anscombe believed that society needed the return of Virtue Ethics because she was critical of deontological ethics as she felt they had become outdated. She was also critical of teleological ethics as she believes the end doesn’t justify the means, which we can understand from when she says, “The concepts of obligation, and duty – moral ‘ought’, ought to be jettisoned.” In 1981, MacIntyre wrote a book titled ‘After Virtue’ in which he traces he history of ‘Virtue Ethics’ and attempts to establish a system of the ethical theory appropriate for the modern age. He developed Virtue Ethics by putting less...
Words: 447 - Pages: 2
...Virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics In this composition, I will equate the relationships and variances between virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. I will examine the disparities in how each principle tackles principles and virtues, and finally illuminate an individual experience concerning virtue, values, and moral concepts, and how they relate to one of the three theories. Individually ethics has elements that are the similar and different. Virtue Theory is a method to ethics that highlights a person's character as the main component of moral thinking, rather than guidelines about the actions themselves or their costs. Utilitarianism is the examination we should do is justly generating the highest conceivable value for the highest achievable amount of people. Deontological ethics is in observance of the Scriptures, accepted ethical rule and perceptions from common logic. The similarities between the three are that they define moral and immoral characteristics about an individual, and with the determination of their activities, it also governs the quality of the person that is virtue ethics. Utilitarianism is comparable that finds the decency in an individual. A subject it avoids is finding the immoral in an individual. Per deontological ethics, the outcome of the act is moral not immoral. It holds actions that are ethically necessary for penalties made by individual activities. The differences amongst the three ethics are...
Words: 624 - Pages: 3
