Is Ethics Based on Virtue?

mean

an average. that which falls in the middle. for aristotle, virtuous action always fell within the mean or middle between two extremes

virtue

for the ancient greeks, virtue and excellence were the same word. for aristotle, virtue was found in the mean between too much and too little.

character

global concept referring to the unique combination of needs, desires, emotions, feelings, moods, beliefs, talents, and skills, which together make up who an individual's uniqueness

if a person mastered several virtues, then for aristotle, that person possessed

phronesis

phronesis

practical wisdom which, for aristotle, comes after a number of virtues have been mastered

eudemonia

synonym for joy. for greeks was an overall condition of life which includes many of the emotions but is not simply joy nor is it to be tied to a specific emotion or feeling, like pleasure

virtue ethics tends to focus on

character

According to Aristotle, virtue is to be found in the mean between

deficiency and excess

decision procedure

description of how a person should and does decide or choose according to some clearly articulated rule or principle

aristotle's virtue ethics, as opposed to both Kantianism and Utilitarianism

does not attempt to provide a formula or decision making procedure for evaluation all actions

a core concept for aristotle's virtue ethics is

eudaimonia

for aristotle and the greeks in general, virtue was synonymous with

excellence