Virtue Theory and Aristotle's Moral Virtues, Golden Mean
How are the MORAL virtues acquired and developed according to Aristotle?
Acquired through habit and developed through practice E.g. Being a kind person is accomplished by practising kind acts until the habit is firmly established in one's character
What analogies did Aristotle use to show how virtues are developed?
An initial sketch that gradually turns into a picture The ultimate goal is that each individual and society, should flourish as a tree flourishes, with strong roots grounded in good soil
What are the three types of people striving to live within the mean with different levels of success?
> Those who live naturally within without effort > Those tempted but have a strong will power to resist > Those who are weak willed and cannot live in the mean
When did Aristotle believe humans are at their happiest and why?
A minute before death, because the process of personal growth is at its peak in old age
Who did Aristotle believe should be the person to judge where the Golden Mean is?
A philosopher with practical wisdom
List some of the MORAL virtues Aristotle claimed humans should cultivate to maximise their potential for a happy and fulfilled life?
Courage Generosity Truthfulness
Give an example of the key virtues and the golden mean?
Courage lies between fear and rashness Pride is bound by vanity and humility Indignation lies between envy and spite Magnificence lies between vulgarity and stinginess
How are INTELLECTUAL virtues acquired?
Developed through education, wise people are not born wise, they are taught
What are the 3 E's? How are they used to achieve virtues?
Emulating Education Experience Once we know what is good we can then practise it, make mistakes, learn from these mistakes, and grow in the habit of excellence
What did Aristotle claim a human's ultimate goal was?
Eudaimonia, happiness or well-being, in the sense of being successful or fulfilled
What is the Golden Mean a balance between?
Excess and deficiancy
What did Aristotle claim that a good life consisted of?
Forming good character, being a kind person, identifying what is the right way to act
List some INTELLECTUAL virtues?
Intelligence Wisdom
What three aspects does the word 'virtue', arete convey?
Moral excellence Physical excellence Intellectual excellence
What did Aristotle emphasise on?
Not on what people do, but what kind of person they are
What is the virtue theory of ethics based on?
On goodness and the path to achieving it, it seeks to define the personal qualities that make a person moral It focuses on a person's character and not their actions How to develop the correct 'character' so as to behave virtuously Not concerned with rules of whether an act is good or bad in itself
