Chapter 7 Inquizitive

One objection to virtue ethics is that virtues can conflict. One way to respond to this objection is to create a rule for weighting which virtues are more important than others in cases of conflict. Which of the following is a problem with this response?

- This response undermines what makes virtue ethics distinct from duty-based ethics.

Virtue ethics says that which determines if an action is right is if a virtuous person would do it based on their judgment. Given this feature, which of the criteria of moral adequacy does virtue ethics satisfy?

- consistency with our considered moral judgments

According to Aristotle, which of the following have functions?

- non-human animals - Plants - Human beings

One objection to virtue ethics is that virtues can conflict. Duty-based moral theories like Kantian ethics face a similar problem: moral principles can conflict. One response to this problem for duty-based theories is to ________. Virtue ethics can use a similar strategy to _________________, providing an answer to the objection.

- weight one principle more than another - weight one virtue more than another

According to Aristotle, generosity, like any virtue, is a mean between two extremes. Select the two statements below that describe the extremes between which generosity lies.

-Valuing money so much that one parts with it only with great difficulty. -Valuing money too little, and giving it so freely that one runs out.

Aristotle makes the following argument about human flourishing:1. The function of a human being is to reason.2 _________________________3. Therefore, a good human is one who reasons well.What is the implicit premise needed to make Aristotle's argument valid?

A good thing is one that fulfills its function well.

One objection to virtue ethics is that it is not always clear what a virtuous person would do. One way to respond to this objection is that a virtuous person would do whatever maximizes happiness. What is the problem with this response?

Defining what a virtuous person would do in terms of max happiness undermines the point of virtue ethics.

Aristotle argues that the way humans achieve eudaimonia is through fulfilling their ____. According to Aristotle, this fulfillment is best described as living fully in accordance with __________.

Function, Reason

Jun Lin is in a difficult situation. His friend Nadia has asked him what he thinks about her poetry. Jun Lin generally tries to tell the truth, but in this case, his opinion is that Nadia's poetry is inelegant. If he says this, Nadia's feelings are likely to be hurt, and that could damage their friendship. Since Jun Lin is a virtue ethicist, which of the following describes how he would think about this situation?

How Jun Lin Would Think: -He would think about what the Golden Mean would be in this particular situation. -He would ask himself whether a virtuous person, such as Martin Luther King Jr., would lie in this situation. Not How Jun Lin Would Think: -He would do whatever would contribute more to his friend's eudaimonia (happiness). -He would not lie, since lying violates the moral rule, "Tell the truth." -He would not give much thought to the situation, since virtue ethics is concerned with having the best character, not with performing the correct action.,

According to Aristotle, why does eudaimonia require virtue?

Humans achieve eudaimonia by living in accordance with reason, and virtue is a rational mode of behavior.

According to Aristotle, once a person has achieved eudaimonia, they have achieved happiness. At that point, how do they become a good person?

If they have achieved eudaimonia, they are already a good person.

Match each virtue below with the category it best fits into: intellectual virtues or moral virtues.

Intellectual Virtues: -Wisdom -Prudence Moral Virtues: -Honesty -Courage

Which of the following is a major difference between moral and intellectual virtues, according to Aristotle?

Intellectual virtues can be taught, but moral virtues can only be learned through practice.

Which of the following is a reason for thinking that we need moral principles in addition to virtues in order to know which actions are right and which are wrong?

It is hard to know which character traits are virtuous unless we know which principles should be acted on.

One of the criteria of moral adequacy is consistency with our moral experience. In what way does virtue ethics meet this criterion?

It shows that there is an indispensable role for character in our moral decision making.

Immanuel is a person who always does what is right. For instance, when he encounters someone who needs money, he gives them money, but does not give too much or too little. Although it is a constant struggle for him to do the right thing and part with his money, he always does it out of a sense of duty. Would Aristotle say that Immanuel is virtuous?

No, because Immanuel does not want to do what he does.

Which of the following are beliefs that virtue ethics, consequentialism, and nonconsequentialism share? Which of the following are not?

Shared: -Discovering the right thing to do is important. -Virtue is an important part of being a good person. Not Shared: -Moral rightness is determined by the amount of happiness created by an action. -Moral conduct is primarily a matter of applying a moral principle or rule.

One could challenge virtue ethics by noting that it is not always clear what a virtuous person would do. One proposed—but problematic—solution to this objection is to claim that we can identify virtuous people by their actions, since people who reliably do the right thing are most likely virtuous. Why is this solution problematic?

This solution is circular/tautological, using the action to define the person and the person to define the action at the same time