Post on 18-Dec-2015
2
IntroductionIntroduction
Common feature of the two theories we have seen:
Morality = abstract and general rules
Virtue Ethics: There is no absolute rule nor general recipe: we face particular situations for which we need to make the right particular decisions.
- Ethics must be based on concrete experience
- Ethics is like the art of construction, not the science of geometry:
Any decision is objective, but flexible and context-dependent
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
3
AristotleAristotle
The philosopher (4th century BCE)
- Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
- The lyceum
- Research in all domains
- Empiricist
The importance of ethics
- Nichomachean Ethics
- First separated, systematic treatment
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
4
OutlineOutline
The good life: the life of a virtuous man
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Virtues: what are they?
Virtues: how to acquire them?
Conclusion on Virtue Ethics
5
OutlineOutline
The good life: the life of a virtuous man The good life: the life of a virtuous man
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Virtues: what are they?
Virtues: how to acquire them?
Conclusion on Virtue Ethics
6
The Good life: The Life of a The Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManVirtuous Man
Who needs Ethics?
- Experiences
- The need for a sound and concrete plan to lead a good life
How to do Ethics?
- No general recipe
- Follow role models
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
What is it to be a man of virtue? What is it to be a man of virtue?
Virtue Ethics:
Virtue Ethics is the view that what is right to do is to do whatever a man of virtue would do
7
The Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManThe Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManPractical WisdomPractical Wisdom
Practical Wisdom:
The man of virtue lives according to reason
Argument: Living according to reason is the only way to flourish as a human being
- Life shared with plants
- Sentience and mobility shared with animals
- Reason: humans only
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Practical Wisdom:
The man of virtue is committed to action
Note: the hermit in the mountain is not a man of virtue
8
The Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManThe Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManPractical WisdomPractical Wisdom
“Just as at the Olympic Games it is not the best-looking or the strongest men present that are crowned with wreaths, but the competitors (because it is from them that the winners come), so it is those who act that rightly win the honors and rewards in life”
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
9
The Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManThe Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManVirtue and PleasureVirtue and Pleasure
The man of virtue enjoys being virtuous:
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Thinks? Acts? Feels?
Vicious Wrong way Wrong way Wrong way
Incontinent Right way Wrong way Wrong way
Continent Right way Right way Wrong way
Virtuous Right way Right way Right way
Feelings and emotions taken into account Feelings and emotions taken into account
10
The Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManThe Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManMorality and PleasureMorality and Pleasure
“Indeed, we may go further and assert that anyone who does not delight in fine actions is not even a good man; for nobody would say that a man is just unless he enjoys acting justly, nor liberal unless he enjoys liberal actions, and similarly in all the other cases. If this is so, then virtuous actions must be pleasurable in themselves.”
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
11
The Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManThe Good life: The Life of a Virtuous ManConclusionConclusion
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Ethics: A sound and concrete plan for a good life
Virtue Ethics: what is right is to do whatever the man of virtue would do
The life of the man of virtue:- The man of virtue lives according to reason- The man of virtue is committed to action- The man of virtue enjoys being virtuous
Ethics: A sound and concrete plan for a good life
Virtue Ethics: what is right is to do whatever the man of virtue would do
The life of the man of virtue:- The man of virtue lives according to reason- The man of virtue is committed to action- The man of virtue enjoys being virtuous
Virtue Ethics: a fully human life Virtue Ethics: a fully human life
12
OutlineOutline
The good life: the life of a virtuous man
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Virtues: what are they?Virtues: what are they?
Virtues: how to acquire them?
Conclusion on Virtue Ethics
13
Virtues: What are they? Virtues: What are they? A List of VirtuesA List of Virtues
A virtue for each sphere of “grounding experience” which together define the fully human life
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Grounding Experience
Virtue
Important Damages Courage
Body Moderation
Limited Resources Justice
Personal Property Generosity
Self-appreciation Greatness of Soul
Mild damages Mildness of temper
Speech Truthfulness
Social association Grace, Friendliness
Others’ fortune Proper Judgment
Conduct Practical wisdom
14
Virtues: What are they? Virtues: What are they? The Appropriate Emotional ResponseThe Appropriate Emotional Response
Example: Courage
- Grounding experience: important damages – death
- Emotion: Fear – an important part of our lives
- Courage: the appropriate amount of fear
Virtues:
Virtues are tendencies to display the emotional response which is appropriate to the situation at hand.
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
What is the appropriate response? What is the appropriate response?
15
Virtues: What are they? Virtues: What are they? The Doctrine of the MeanThe Doctrine of the Mean
Virtues as a mean between two excesses
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Grounding Experience
Deficiency Virtue Excess
Important Damages
Cowardice Courage Rashness
Personal Property Stinginess Generosity Wastefulness
Body Intemperance
Moderation Ascetism
16
Virtues: What are they? Virtues: What are they? DisclaimersDisclaimers
Strong emotions are not always bad:
The appropriate emotional response can be strong – but is still a mean!
No General Rule:
What counts as the appropriate response depends on the particular circumstances – but is still objective!
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
17
Virtues: What are they?Virtues: What are they?ConclusionConclusion
Virtues: - One virtue for each sphere of grounding
experiences - Virtues are tendencies to display the
emotional response which is appropriate to the situation at hand.
- The right kind of emotional response is a mean between two excesses
Virtues: - One virtue for each sphere of grounding
experiences - Virtues are tendencies to display the
emotional response which is appropriate to the situation at hand.
- The right kind of emotional response is a mean between two excesses
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
18
OutlineOutline
The good life: the life of a virtuous man
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Virtues: what are they?
Virtues: how to acquire them? Virtues: how to acquire them?
Conclusion on Virtue Ethics
19
Virtues : How are they acquired? Virtues : How are they acquired? Human NatureHuman Nature
Human’s nature: good or bad?
- Men are not naturally good
- Men are not naturally bad
The true nature of men is to be malleable – i.e to have a capacity for change
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
20
Virtues : How are they acquired? Virtues : How are they acquired? HabituationHabituation
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Virtues and Vices are acquired by habituation:
- We learn how to be virtuous in practicing virtue
- Virtues become second natures
- Analogy: learning a language or how to play an instrument
- Example: Food
21
Virtues : How are they acquired? Virtues : How are they acquired? Human nature and habituationHuman nature and habituation
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
“In a word then, like activities produce like dispositions. Hence we must give our activities a certain quality, because it is their characteristics that determine the resulting dispositions. So it is a matter of no little importance what sorts of habits we form from the earliest age – it makes a vast difference, or rather all the difference in the world...”
It goes both ways ! It goes both ways !
22
Virtues : How are they acquired? Virtues : How are they acquired? Human nature and habituationHuman nature and habituation
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
How do we acquire virtues? - Human nature is to be malleable- Virtues – and vices! – are acquired by
habituation We become virtuous in acting like virtuous
people We ARE truly virtuous when the virtue has
become a second nature
How do we acquire virtues? - Human nature is to be malleable- Virtues – and vices! – are acquired by
habituation We become virtuous in acting like virtuous
people We ARE truly virtuous when the virtue has
become a second nature
23
OutlineOutline
The good life: the life of a virtuous man
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
Virtues: what are they?
Virtues: how to acquire them?
Conclusion on Virtue EthicsConclusion on Virtue Ethics
24
Virtue EthicsVirtue Ethics
Method: No general rule – flexibility without giving up on objectivity
Ethics: a sound and concrete plan to lead a good life
Virtue Ethics: what is right is to do whatever the man of virtue would do
The life of the man of virtue: The man of virtue lives according to reason, is committed to action, and enjoys being virtuous
Virtues are tendencies to display the emotional response which is appropriate to the situation at hand -- a mean between two excesses – and are acquired by habituation
Method: No general rule – flexibility without giving up on objectivity
Ethics: a sound and concrete plan to lead a good life
Virtue Ethics: what is right is to do whatever the man of virtue would do
The life of the man of virtue: The man of virtue lives according to reason, is committed to action, and enjoys being virtuous
Virtues are tendencies to display the emotional response which is appropriate to the situation at hand -- a mean between two excesses – and are acquired by habituation
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana
25
Virtue Ethics Virtue Ethics What to take from it? What to take from it?
Advantages:
- A fuller notion of humanity – including emotions and feelings
- A more concrete and practical take on morality – dependence on context
Problems:
- Incompleteness? does not give answers – compare with utilitarianism
- No absolute rule – compare with duty theory
Soazig Le Bihan -- University of Montana