FINISHED Ethics Chapter 4 (Virtue Ethics)

CHPT 4 Mean in Ethics

Mean in ethics: cannot be determined mathematically, is a mean relative to us or who is trying to do the right thing (10 apples too much, 2 apples too little, mean of the two (6) can be just right or too much for someone, so you must decide your own mean Sir William David Ross tabulated this, aristotle established this, are examples of two extremes (page 63)

CHPT 4 Confucian Harmony: Mengzi or Mencius

Mengzi or Mencius who was confucius disciple argued that humans are innately good, drawn to goodness Said virtue must be worked on

CHPT 4 Moral Virtue

Moral Virtue: a disposition to choose by a rule, which a practically wise man would determine to be the mean between two extremes of excess or deficiency

CHPT 4 Vice and Virtue

Vices (like cowardice, jealousy, greed, etc) are undesirable, but become apart of our lives, making a person ruled by impulse instead of reason Virtues: are human excellences, consist of traits should be fostered in humans like honesty, loyalty, etc., their life is inner strength happiness and purpose

CHPT 4 Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics are character based ethics, all about becoming a certain person. Or development of human excellence Aspires to develop good people and communities Associated with Greeks and Aristotle, comes from ancient china Focus on development within human beings of a moral character by doing what "virtuous person would do among the oldest of all ethical theories, has experienced considerable resurgence in popularity over the last several decades. Rather than focus on consequences, rules, and/or intuitions, virtue ethics focuses on the development of human character, the shaping or molding of a good or "virtuous" person. It is also the locus of fruitful comparative philosophical discussions between West and East, with particularly striking similarities to the views of Confucius, for example.

CHPT 4 Philosophical Virtue by Aristotle:

the state of a thing which constitutes its peculiar excellence and enables it to perform its function well... in a man it is the activity of reason and of rationally ordered habits Focus on good character of human and not action or consequences Development of good character not the rules or consequences Ethics is teleological and aims at some end. For Aristotle that end is happiness. To achieve happiness for Aristotle one must live in accordance with reason, which prescribes a virtuous life.

CHPT 4 Aristotle's ethics relied exclusively on the emotions in moral life. True False

False

CHPT 4 Confucian "self-cultivation" can be straightforwardly substituted for Aristotelian views. True False

False

CHPT 4 For Confucius, the cultivation of de would lead to __________. 1) a moral self-transformation 2) an unbridled lust for life 3) a spiritual reawakening 4) a profound sense of inner "might"

1) a moral self-transformation

CHPT 4 According to Aristotle, after much moral training and participation in ethical practices, we learn that virtues are __________. 1) valuable in and of themselves 2) the lesser of two evils 3) of purely instrumental value 4) philosophically groundless

1) valuable in and of themselves

CHPT 4 Xiao is __________. 1) "eternal life" 2) "family reverence" 3) "enlightened individualism" 4) "peace"

Family reverence

CHPT 4 What would the relationship between emotion and reason be in a truly virtuous, self-perfected human? 1) Reason would liberate the self of all emotion, resulting in pure freedom. 2) Emotion and reason would be in harmony. 3) Reason would listen to and be led by emotion. 4) Reason would guide one's public life, emotion would guide one's personal life.

2) Emotion and reason would be in harmony.

CHPT 4 Which of the following is a virtue, according to Aristotle? 1) obsequiousness 2) wittiness 3) self-deprecation 4) profligacy

2) wittiness

CHPT 4 An advantage of Virtue Ethics is that it can easily answer the question, "Why be moral?" This is because it makes __________ the goal of ethical life. 1) the satisfaction of our most powerful desires 2) philosophical contemplation 3) human flourishing 4) immortality

3) human flourishing

CHPT 4 Mengzi or "Mencius" is __________. 1) the name of the town where Confucius was born 2) Confucius' term for the virtue of friendship 3) the name of one of Confucius' most influential disciples 4) the Chinese word for philosophy

3) the name of one of Confucius' most influential disciples

CHPT 4 Which of the following claims is TRUE of Aristotle's theory of Virtue Ethics? 1) It is deeply hostile to organized religion. 2) It refuses to acknowledge that different cultures might have different, but equally valid, moral systems. 3) It grounds ethics in something extra-human, namely, God. 4) It is based on a conception of natural human tendencies that can be cultivated and perfected.

4) It is based on a conception of natural human tendencies that can be cultivated and perfected.

CHPT 4 Contemporary analysis of virtue ethics

A reaction against moral theories to fix our moral experience in established system o rules Virtue ethics oppose moral theories that dominate world- mostly consequentialism and kantianism, say individual consideration of character fits better in modern life and issues in modern times

TCHPT 4 Contemporary versions of virtue ethics

Alasdair Macintyre is the best-known proponent of contemporary virtue ethics. Human beings must know what they are doing when they judge and act virtuously, and they should do what is virtuous because it is so. Advantages: Attempts to create good human beings rather than good acts or rules Virtue ethics unifies reason and emotion. Anc and Kant separate reason/emotion Emphasizes moderation and situatedness rather than absolutes or grossly relativistic principles Disadvantages: Do humans have a telos, an end or purpose? Are morals naturally implanted? What is virtue and what constitutes the virtues?

CHPT 4 Confucian Role Ethics: Analects of Confucius

Analects of Confucius: says that people who have a sense of family won't defy authority, and if you won't defy authority won't start rebellion

CHPT 4 Aristotle Virtue:

Aristotle Virtue: is a mean between two extremes. Both which are vices- either excess or defect

CHPT 4 Disadvantages or problems

Aristotle assumes all things have a purpose or end He argues that the end is happiness, but that assumes there is no other end like loving god Some argue that happiness is not the end, but is something else responding to the demands of the world

CHPT 4 Are morals naturally implanted?

Aristotle assumes we have moralness in us, is there evidence? Some argue that it is taught from experience, our tendency to reason does not mean we imply morality, which is opposite of Xunzi's belief Macintyre says there is a deep conflict as to what is involved in human flourishing, and that many different people in different times present us with several sets of virtues (examples of this 70)

CHPT 4 Li is a matter of "ritual propriety." True False

True

CHPT 4 Development

Aristotle says humans start with capacity for goodness, then develop it (we tell the truth as little kids, then realize its a virtue and later continue using it) Aristotle states that virtue is a disposition that has been developed by proper exercise of that capacity

CHPT 4 Franklin Thirteen Virtues

Benjamin franklin "a universal man" who was many different things, wanted moral excellence, he chose 13 virtues THese were temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, humility Wanted these to be a habit by doing one at a time

CHPT 4 Confucian Harmony: Roger Ames

Confucian Scholar Roger Ames each person is an end in himself and a condition or means for everyone else in the community, model is mutuality

CHPT 4 Confucian Harmony: Xunzi

Confucian Xunzi thought human nature is evil and that people are not naturally go towards goodness since we conflict over similar desires, so thought society needs discipline, says people are fixed as easy as fixing crooked wood- which is not natural

TCHPT 4 Confucian Role Ethics

Confucian role ethics has no Western equivalent. The Confucian does not consider abstract individuals but places the focus of attention on concrete persons in a matrix of role relationships with others. The ground of this ethic is "family reverence" or "family feeling" (xiao).

CHPT 4 More Confucian Role Ethics

Confucian role ethics no western equivalent, considers people in role relationships with each other- ground of this ethic is family feeling Family reverence - xiao, is glue that holds confucian relationships, through this they can use all virtues

CHPT 4 Confucian Analects: Confucianism

Confucianism: five cardinal relationships, patriarchal and hierarchical, specify duties and privileges Ruler and subject Father and son Husband and wife Elder brother and younger Friend and friend

CHPT 4 Confucius and Confucianism

Confucius wrote Analects, said that if you shame people they will order themselves if you lead them with excellence and keep li All confucian relationship governed by shu: reciprocity, father is to care for son, give protection, in return son cares for him in old age Marriage, man head household, honorable, faithful, wife is look after home and be obedient in return Friendship only one not hierarchical, equal relationship These relationships mean respect equally to all, not everyone is equal, and in these relationships each person knows their place Confucian virtues are social in nature

CHPT 4 Confucian Analects: Confucius

Confucius: most influence over asian ethics, greatest teacher, humanistic, emphasize responsibilities we have to each other, lived during Spring and autumn period, his moral insights became basis for china's stability as civilization and nation Confucius believed one's identity tied to the group and its relationship within social order at all time Chinese world the fundamental unit is the family, while the state is the family writ large Li: ritual propriety and customs De in some cases royal virtue

CHPT 4 Confucian Moral self cultivation: De

De (Virtue): is the inherent power or tendency to affect others and is hence translated as either virtue or power, word came from chinese Can develop De into self transformation, so t carries self realization and signifies what a person can do in their community We all inherently have de, but excellence is to develop it in your life and society People used De in the Zhou dynasty - connected it to statecraft, good rulers used it in order to get into heaven and maintain heaven harmony, and to get loyal subjects Kongzi/Confucius said governing with excellence (de) compares with north star, shows that it has a powerful effect on society

CHPT 4 Unifying Reason and emotion

Different since unify them by virtues should be act and feel, use reasoning to do what is virtuous

CHPT 4 Which of the following is true of Confucius' philosophy? 1) He is concerned exclusively with the moral cultivation of society. 2) He is concerned with moral self-cultivation as a route to both personal and social transformation. 3) He is concerned exclusively with the moral cultivation of the individual. 4) He is concerned with moral self-cultivation for non-moral reasons.

He is concerned with moral self-cultivation as a route to both personal and social transformation.

CHPT 4 Who is Ideal moral person?

How do we decide who a virtuous person is since we should model ourselves after them? Wouldn't we all have different models? Even our models don't always act in virtue Christine Swanton argues that requirement for virtues are not set by one standard, like aristotle explained in his practically wise man, or a Junzi, standards for virtues should be from human condition and many different troubles and difficulty. Virtue should always be understood and applied contextually Virtue ethics help fix incomplete modern moral philosophy, but fail to tell us what we should do in specific situations

TCHPT 4 The Confucian Analects

Human beings are fundamentally social and thus defined, in part, by the relationships into which a person is born, into which he/she grows, and within which he/she lives.

CHPT 4 Confucian Harmony: Li

Li: Ritual propriety, confucian virtue required to be a citizen in community Refers To all meaning invested roles and life forms in the community given by community and tradition from generations Li allows individual to have appropriate conduct in right situation, manners in the right place Li allows society to run well without laws or punishment

CHPT 4 Alasdair MacIntyre's analysis of virtue ethics

Most significant contemporary analysis of virtue ethics is Aristotle's version, found in Alasdair Macintyre's book After Virtue Macintyre stated not to just act in particular ways but also to feel in particular ways , one must feel that way and not just act one way Macintyre stated is not acting against inclination (against kant) but to act from inclinations that form through civilization of virtues Says that humans know what they're doing and to use virtue because it is so

TCHPT 4 Confucian Harmony

Much as Aristotelian ethics is a matter of achieving a sort of balance within the soul, so one sees in Chinese thought an aim at a grand harmony, both individual and cosmic. Two virtues are particularly meaningful here - ren which is a matter of fellow-feeling or benevolence and li which is a matter of ritual propriety and appropriateness.

TCHPT 4 Goodness in Character

Natural ethical tendencies in human beings. Following these tendencies with consistency and proportion will lead to goodness of character and aid in living the ethical life. Development of the Good or Virtuous Human Being: Goodness of character must be developed by practice and habit. Practicing telling the truth, for example, will make us truthful.

CHPT 4 Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Nicomachean Ethics: where virtue ethics derived from, aim toward some end or purpose (teleological in character) Every action seems to aim at some good, good is what we aim for Aristotle concerned of action, as it is conductive to human good We generate general principles by compare contrast of moral judgements Aristotle claims that there are natural ethical tendencies implanted in human beings

CHPT 4 Practical Wisdom

Practical Wisdom: ability to see what is right thing to do any circumstance Person must choose what a practically wise virtuous man would do

CHPT 4 Confucian Role Ethics: Roger Ames and Henry Rosemont

Roger Ames and Henry Rosemont identified confucian system of morality as role ethics, says different than basic moral theories in western tradition, considered new type of ethical theology that must be understood as a distinct ethical theory since chinese consider different world, etc

CHPT 4 St Augustine's Vices

St augustine great christian philosophers, wrote "The depths of vice" and looks at evil, see this on 72

CHPT 4 Confucian Harmony

Study of chinese thought suggest aim is to achieve grand harmony Two chief confucian virtues: Ren: human heartedness, goodness, attempts to harmonize individual interests with the good of the community Li: Rights, appropriateness Ren etymologically refers to member of clan Confucius silver rule: not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself Ren chief confucian virtue and highlights relationship between individual and community Ideogram for ren is one being with others. Confucian agree that virtues are developed through moral self cultivation until they become habits ,eventually becoming junzi- or superior person

TCHPT 4 Confucian Moral Self-Cultivation

The concept of virtue, de, is central to Chinese theories of moral development and the cultivation of the self. The notion that the life of a virtuous person would have a powerful influence on the lives of others. De is seen as the stable and guiding character from which flows good conduct, respect and loyalty, and positive power.

TCHPT 4 How to determine the mean

The mean is determined as "relative to us": too little courage is cowardice, too much is foolhardy. Note that "relative to us" does not mean "relative" in the sense of "relativism." There is, on Aristotle's view, an objective fact about the universe that dictates where the mean is for any particular individual. For example, a very large adult man would need more calories each day than a very small adult man would. The range may not be significant, but it is distinct and "relative to the individual."

TCHPT 4 The Five Confucian Cardinal Relationships

There is a significant difference between being a good person and doing the right thing. A bad person, for example, might well do "the right thing." Confucian relationships are a matter of reciprocity or shu. The notion of Confucian friendship is a profitable comparison to the Aristotelian notion.

CHPT 4 Virtue ethics is the belief that good character can be developed. True False

True

CHPT 4 Confucian Harmony and Aristotelian Balance are comparable concepts. True False

True

CHPT 4 Advantages of virtue ethics: creating the good human being

Virtue ethics work to create good human beings, not just robots Cannot create moral society without moral people in it Prez Harry Truman passed law of racial integration, said you can't make people feel a certain way

CHPT 4 Conclusions:

Virtue ethics- want someone to develop morality within and without,based on assumption that we have an end or purpose

CHPT 4 Virtue

Virtue: The quality of moral excellence, righteousness, responsibility, a specific type of moral excellence or other exemplary quality considered meritorious; a worthy practice or ideal Aristotle is regarded as main virtue ethicist. Virtue ethics focuses on "character" and developing this character in accordance with the virtues.

TCHPT 4 Who is the ideal virtuous person?

We all have our favorite but there is no agreement of ideal traits. Virtue ethics seems to suggest that we merely educate the virtues creating virtuous people and moral problems are solved.

CHPT 4 Alasdair MacIntyre's analysis of Virtue Ethics interprets virtue as __________. 1) consisting in dispositions both to act and to feel in certain ways 2) the ability to think for oneself 3) the awareness of one's place in the cosmos 4) a social but not personal matter

consisting in dispositions both to act and to feel in certain ways