Virtue Ethics

Summary

This lecture introduces virtue ethics, emphasizing moral character development over adherence to rules or consequences. It traces the concept back to Aristotle, who believed that human actions are purposeful and aim for happiness, which is the ultimate good. Virtues are seen as habits that lead to human excellence and happiness, often represented as a 'golden mean' between vices of excess and deficiency. The lecture also touches on how our actions shape our character and how friendship plays a crucial role in moral formation.

Takeaways

• 📚 This semester focuses on three classical approaches to ethics: virtue ethics, principled ethics, and consequential ethics.
• 🌟 Virtue ethics is the starting point as it emphasizes moral formation and character building, which are foundational to understanding rules and consequences.
• 🧘‍♂️ Virtue ethics is about being a certain kind of person and embodying virtues, aiming for a moral vision of the world and the good life.
• 🏛️ Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is a foundational work on virtue and character, with the concept of teleology central to understanding human action as purposeful.
• 🎯 Aristotle posits that every human action aims at some good or goal, with happiness being the final, self-sufficient good that we seek.
• 🛠️ The function of something determines its goodness; a good human being does what a human being is supposed to do, which is to live according to reason and exhibit excellence.
• 🌱 Virtues are acquired dispositions or habits that lead to actions, developed through practice until they become second nature.
• 🤔 Virtue ethics considers virtues as the golden mean between two extremes, avoiding both excess and defect in behavior.
• 👥 Friendship plays a crucial role in good character formation, as Aristotle suggests that our relationships shape who we are.
• 🧠 Moral formation is integral to every action and part of life, with our character influencing our decisions and actions long before we encounter moral dilemmas.

Q & A

What are the three classical approaches to ethics discussed in the transcript?

The three classical approaches to ethics discussed are virtue ethics, principled ethics, and consequential ethics.

Why is virtue ethics considered an important starting point for ethical discussions?

Virtue ethics is considered an important starting point because it focuses on moral formation and building character, which are foundational to understanding rules and consequences in ethics.

What does virtue ethics emphasize in terms of moral development?

Virtue ethics emphasizes moral formation, the importance of forming a good moral character, embodying certain virtues, and having a vision of the good life.

Who are the key historical figures associated with the development of virtue ethics?

The key historical figures associated with the development of virtue ethics are Plato and his student Aristotle.

What is the significance of teleology in Aristotle's ethical philosophy?

In Aristotle's ethical philosophy, teleology signifies that every human action is intentional and purposeful, aiming at some good or goal, which is essential for understanding human happiness and flourishing.

How does Aristotle define the concept of 'good' in relation to function?

Aristotle defines 'good' as something's ability to perform its function well. For instance, a good computer functions as a computer should, and a good human being acts according to reason and exhibits excellence.

What does Thomas Aquinas add to Aristotle's virtue ethics from a Christian perspective?

Thomas Aquinas, a Christian thinker, agrees with Aristotle's ethics but adds that true human happiness is found in communion with God, which requires grace beyond our natural state and abilities.

What is the relationship between virtue and human excellence according to the transcript?

Virtue is tied to human excellence because it represents the state of character or disposition that enables a person to live well and achieve happiness, which is the ultimate goal of human function.

How does the concept of the 'golden mean' relate to virtue as discussed in the transcript?

The 'golden mean' is the concept that virtue lies between two extremes, neither in excess nor in defect. It represents the moderate position that leads to living well and happiness.

Why is friendship considered essential for good character formation according to Aristotle?

Friendship is considered essential for good character formation because friends shape us and contribute to who we are, influencing our virtues and vices.

What role do actions play in shaping our character according to the transcript?

Actions play a significant role in shaping our character because they are expressions of our virtues and vices, which are developed through habits and practices, and they influence our future choices and moral decisions.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Virtue Ethics

The script introduces the concept of virtue ethics as a foundational approach to moral philosophy. It emphasizes the development of moral character and the importance of being a certain kind of person, rather than just following rules or considering consequences. Virtue ethics is linked to the idea of living a good life and the pursuit of happiness. The historical roots of virtue ethics are traced back to Plato and Aristotle, with a focus on Aristotle's concept of 'teleology,' where every action has a purpose or goal. The script also discusses the idea that human actions are teleological, aiming at some good or goal, and that happiness is the ultimate goal of human life.

05:01

🧠 Human Function and Virtue

This paragraph delves into the concept of human function and how it relates to virtue. It suggests that what makes humans unique is their intellect and reason, and thus, true happiness and fulfillment come from living a life that aligns with rational thought and intellectual excellence. The paragraph also touches on how virtues are not just individual actions but are developed states of being, acquired through habits and practices. The idea of virtue as a 'golden mean' between extremes is introduced, with examples of virtues such as pride, truthfulness, generosity, and good temper, each having a vice of excess and defect.

10:01

🤝 The Role of Virtues in Daily Life

The final paragraph discusses how virtues are not just theoretical but have practical implications in everyday life. It highlights that virtues shape our character, which in turn influences our actions and decisions. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of moral formation and how our past actions and character largely determine our moral decisions. It also introduces the idea that friendship plays a crucial role in the development of good character, as friends can help shape and influence our virtues. The script concludes by suggesting that understanding virtue ethics is essential for grasping the morality of happiness and sets the stage for exploring other ethical perspectives.

Keywords

💡Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the development of good moral character and virtues. It focuses on the kind of person one should be, rather than on specific actions or rules. In the script, virtue ethics is introduced as the starting point for discussing ethics because it deals with moral formation and building character, which are foundational to understanding other ethical approaches.

💡Character Formation

Character formation refers to the process of developing moral character, which is central to virtue ethics. It involves cultivating virtues and is seen as a prerequisite for discussing rules and consequences. The script mentions that character formation is about becoming a certain kind of person and seeing a moral vision of the world, which is essential for living a good life.

💡Teleology

Teleology is the philosophical concept that everything has a purpose or goal. In the context of the script, Aristotle's notion of teleology is discussed, suggesting that human actions are purposeful and aimed at achieving some good. This idea is connected to the pursuit of happiness and living well, which are ultimate goals for human beings.

💡Happiness

Happiness, in the script, is described as the ultimate goal or end that humans naturally strive for. It is linked to the concept of living well and flourishing. The script suggests that happiness is not just an emotional state but also a result of living a life in accordance with virtue and reason.

💡Function

Function, as discussed in the script, refers to the purpose or role that something is meant to fulfill. In ethics, it is used to determine what makes something good by considering its purpose. For instance, a good human being is one who fulfills the human function, which is to live according to reason and achieve excellence.

💡Virtue

Virtue, derived from the Greek word 'arete,' means excellence. In the script, virtues are described as states of character that are developed through practice and habituation. They are not just individual actions but dispositions to act in certain ways that lead to human excellence and happiness.

💡Golden Mean

The golden mean, as introduced by Aristotle, is the concept of finding a balance between two extremes, which is considered the virtuous path. In the script, it is explained that virtues are often the middle ground between excess and defect, leading to a life of well-being and happiness.

💡Habits

Habits are routine practices that become automatic over time. In the context of the script, habits are crucial for developing virtues. They shape our character and influence our actions, making them a key component in achieving moral excellence.

💡Principled Ethics

Although not extensively discussed in the script, principled ethics is briefly mentioned as one of the classical approaches to ethics. It focuses on moral principles or rules that should guide actions, in contrast to virtue ethics, which emphasizes character development.

💡Consequential Ethics

Consequential ethics, also mentioned as a classical approach, is an ethical theory that evaluates the morality of an action based on its consequences. It is contrasted with virtue ethics in the script, highlighting the importance of outcomes over the character of the person performing the action.

💡Friendship

Friendship is highlighted in the script as essential for good character formation. It suggests that our relationships with others shape our character and contribute to our moral development. The script implies that friendships play a significant role in our pursuit of happiness and living well.

Highlights

This semester focuses on three classical approaches to ethics: virtue ethics, principled ethics, and consequential ethics.

Virtue ethics emphasizes moral formation and building character as a foundation for ethical discussions.

Character ethics is about being a certain kind of person and having a moral vision of the world.

Virtue ethics asks what it means to be a good person and how to find a good life, tying into the morality of happiness.

Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is a foundational work on virtue and character ethics.

Aristotle introduced the concept of teleology, where every human action is intentional and purposeful.

Human actions aim at some good or goal, with happiness identified as the final, self-sufficient good.

A good is defined by its function, and a good human being does what a human being is supposed to do.

Virtue is tied to human excellence, which is necessary for understanding human happiness.

Thomas Aquinas developed Aristotle's ethics within a Christian framework, adding the element of communion with God.

Virtues are defined as states of character, not just individual actions, and are developed through habits and practices.

Virtue ethics posits that 95% of moral decisions are made based on prior character formation.

Aristotle's concept of the golden mean suggests that virtue lies between two extremes of vice.

Examples of virtues include pride (healthy self-respect), truthfulness, generosity, good temper, and wittiness.

Moral formation is crucial as it shapes our character, which in turn influences our future choices and actions.

Aristotle argues that friendship is essential for good character formation.

Virtue ethics makes every action and part of life morally significant, emphasizing the importance of character.

Transcripts

this semester we're going to be dealing

with three classical approaches to

ethics virtue ethics principled ethics

and consequential ethics and we'll see

the other two the next week so this week

I wanted us to start with virtue ethics

and I think this is the important place

to start because it's about moral

formation and building character and it

that has to come before we start talking

about rules and consequences as

important as those are the concern of

character ethics is not just about moral

principles that you have to follow

it's about being a certain kind of

person it's about seeing a certain moral

vision of the world character ethics

emphasizes moral formation how important

it is to form a good moral character

embodying certain virtues that we'll get

to it's not just about individual

choices and it's not just about

individual moral rules and principles

it's about one's vision of the good life

what it means to live well so the virtue

ethics asks what does it mean to be a

good person how do we find a good life

and all this is tied in to that notion

of the morality of happiness that you

read about this week that living well

and flourishing requires us to be good

people and good communities and that's

what leads to happiness a real founder

for virtue ethics it goes back to Plato

and you'll see in the reading but it

goes to his student Aristotle you really

developed the idea of virtue and

character ethics and his classic worked

and Nicomachean ethics you can see his

fourth century dates there he studied

with Plato but then founded his own

school in Athens died in 322 BC

Aristotle's one of his most important

ideas is the notion of teleology that

everything has a purpose or a goal or a

good or which it is oriented and so for

ethics we can say that a human action is

intentional it is purposeful we act for

reasons human action is teleological

which means that every

human activity aims at some good or some

goal or purpose he says there are two

types of goals do types of ends that we

reach for some that are means to other

ends so why are you watching this video

I don't want to know if you're being

blunt or honest there why are you

watching this video well do you want to

learn this material why so you can pass

this course why so that you can get a

degree why do you want that degree you

probably have a mixture of reasons you

have some that are personal you want to

be a certain kind of educated person but

you also want it for career oriented

reasons why do you want a certain kind

of career well because it provides you

with a certain kind of life it gives you

meaningful work why do you want

meaningful work to be happy to live well

we can see how all these ends are means

to other ends there's one he identifies

that is good in and of itself the final

self sufficient good that we seek not

for its owns not for some other good

before its own sake is happiness why do

you want to be happy to be happy not for

some other good because we want to live

well we want to flourish and enjoy life

everything that we do as human beings is

oriented toward our own happiness even

if we have all these other goods we're

trying to achieve along the way we want

to live well and to flourish this is a

very important notion in teleology tied

to that of everything as a good is the

idea from Aristotle that something's

good depends upon its function so what

makes a good computer it does what a

computer supposed to do you can use it

to use a word processor connect to the

internet or watch videos what makes a

good car get you from point A to point B

safely you should have good gas mileage

what makes a good cell phone

can text on it you can contact you know

connect to the internet some people

still make phone calls on them keeps you

in touch what makes a good meal chump

should have something about nutrition

value quality it doesn't do what a good

phone is supposed to do and a good car

doesn't do what a computer supposed to

do something's good depends upon its

function a good car does what it's

supposed to do a good phone does what

it's supposed to do and you had to know

this was coming a good human being does

what a human being is supposed to do so

what's the human function Aristotle

would have you think this way

something's good or its chief function

is related to what makes it most

uniquely what it is

that sounds abstract but what makes us

most uniquely human in contrast to any

other animal in contrast to any other

object it's our intellect our reason so

happiness to fulfill the human function

requires living according to reason a

rational approach that's not just torn

by all of our appetites and desires it's

the activity of sole reason exhibiting

excellence

so that important idea virtue is tied

here because the Greek word arte which

is translated virtue is excellence so we

have to understand human excellence to

understand human happiness we have to

achieve that function to achieve

happiness all of this Christians

thinkers who come after Aristotle could

agree with the greatest one of the

greatest Christian thinkers Thomas

Aquinas in the 13th century will develop

Aristotle's ethics as a Christian

thinker and he'll agree with him almost

entirely up to a certain point what we

have to say in addition to that is that

true human happiness has not found just

in the use of our reason but it's found

in the communion with God for which we

were created and for this grace is

required Thomas wouldn't say that all

this ethnic stuff is then thrown out the

window it doesn't matter but rather that

would say we're created to live well and

to flourish but our ultimate happiness

comes from the grace that is gifted to

us that enables us to fulfill our nature

and our desires were created with this

desire for completion which goes beyond

our natural state and abilities and that

requires the gracious activity of God

within us and upon us but he could agree

with this notion of virtue virtues here

several ways of defining and virtue

refers to states of character meaning

not just individual actions or

individual choices but developed states

of being if virtue is an acquired

disposition or tendency Madison's word

for it is habits an acquired disposition

or tendency to respond in an appropriate

welcome back to moderate in an

appropriate way in a situation virtues

aren't just actions and just one time

things virtues are the disposition and

tendencies to act certain ways they lead

to our actions we develop them through

practices through habits we do we do

things enough they become natural for us

you want to be a courageous person act

like one until it comes naturally you

want to be a generous person do what

generous people do until it develops

like a second nature and it becomes a

disposition or tendency to act that way

I could go to the tennis courts hit the

tennis ball around maybe even get a

couple of good shots in but someone who

spent the hours training and dedicated

to that sport can do it consistently I

could go blink out a few things on a

piano or a guitar but someone who has

spent in these put in the hours training

and practicing can make beautiful music

consistently and they can even make new

music to create new happiness

virtue is a lot like that developing the

habits that enable us to live well not

just individual choices or the

occasional good act but something that

develops as a tendency within us in

order to be happy we have to develop

these habits the virtues that lead to

human excellence and these will show

through our actions are actions shape us

but the action our actions also reveal

who we are they lead to excellence I

said that I'll come back to moderate the

moderate position and when we respond

Aristotle says that virtue is the golden

mean a mean between extremes they

usually the position that leads to

living well and to happiness is between

two excesses you can have a vice that is

in excess too much of a certain tendency

or you can have one that's in defect too

little of a certain tendency see if we

can make sense of this here virtue is

the golden mean between extremes so

pride is a virtue pride is a healthy

sense of self the in Christian tradition

pride is usually considered a sin but

that's not this healthy position it's

the vice of excess pride as a as a vice

is arrogance that doesn't lead to living

well and Happiness the way a proper

healthy sense of self does at the same

time too little pride the Vice in defect

not enough healthy sense of yourself

leads to self-loathing and therefore not

to living well truthfulness is a virtue

that Aristotle includes seems like

something we should all do be truthful

but a truthful person habitually tells

the truth it's their nature someone who

has excessive truthfulness it's hard to

imagine that being a vice but excessive

truthfulness has to tell everything and

they don't care how they tell it the New

Testament says tell the truth in love

and it forgets that part truthfulness as

the other side we can easily come up

with names for someone who doesn't tell

the truth habitually they will lie and

they're deceitful the virtue of

generosity is one Aristotle includes

the generous person helps others with

their money but they're not excessively

generous to a fault in which they can't

then care for their own family give away

everything and have nothing left in

defect you also could imagine that

stingy person that doesn't give anything

doesn't care about anyone else's needs

good temper is a virtue and proper

control of our temper and anger because

someone without that controls and was

excessive temper or flies off the handle

with the slightest irritation you may

know people like this it's also a vice

when someone has no temper when it would

be appropriate

sometimes things should make us angry

and that is appropriate in those

instances it depends on the situation

and our response depends on the issue

wittiness is a virtue and I like to be

includes this one might seem strange but

if the goal is to live well and to be

happy it matters wittiness is that

virtue that enables esta good social

interaction too much wittiness is that

person who can't be serious even when

it's appropriate to little wittiness is

that boor that just doesn't seem to be

happy and can enjoy themselves if the

goal is to enjoy the good creation then

these are important virtues one of the

real important things about virtue and

character ethics and the reason we start

with it in this class is because moral

formation is so important and virtue

ethics has a way of making every action

and every part of life morally

significant everything we do shapes our

character which then feeds into our

later choices and then that way ethics

isn't just the big controversial

subjects like abortion and euthanasia

and cap

punishment will deal with most of them

but you have to start here first because

we are intentional reasoning creatures

and what we do comes out of our

character everything that we've done

demons are character up until now and

what we'll do next comes out of the

character that we have at this point the

whole of all of our virtues and vices

together is our character and I made

this number up I don't know where I get

it but I'll just say it 95% of the time

when we have to make a moral decision

when we enter the situation the decision

is already made based on everything that

we've done up to that point based on who

we are and how we understand understand

ourselves and all the character that

we've developed we act and the decision

was made long before we got into that

situation that's why moral formation is

so important leading up to it before

that that's why character formation is

so important we need to develop the

virtues to live well and those virtues

are embedded in a certain story we tell

about the world and its purpose and the

very nature of human morality and human

nature itself all of this is related to

virtue an Aristotle will throw in one

more idea here Aristotle says that

friendship is essential for good

character formation the fringe shape us

and make us who we are

I hope all these ideas help us

understand the morality of happiness

we'll see the other views moving forward