Neo-Aristotelian Virtue Ethics

21 Pages·2015·2.7 MB·English

ContemporaryVirtueEthics
Contemporary Virtue Ethics
Neo-Aristotelian Virtue Ethics
Dr. Clea F. Rees
ReesC17@cardiff.ac.uk
CanolfanAddysgGydolOes CentreforLifelongLearning
PrifysgolCaerdydd CardiffUniversity
Y Gwanwyn/Spring 2015
(cid:98)
ConOteumtlipnoeraryVirtueEthics tutolGnyCompassionWisdom JusticeTeecmnpare
ecitsujnIssenhsilooF ytleurC
The Historical (Mis)fortunes of Virtue Ethics
Aristotelian Roots
Aquinian Roots
Philippa Foot
Terminology
The Project
‘Cardinal’ Virtues
Thesis & Argumentation
Sketching the Concept of a (Moral) Virtue
Are Moral Virtues Correctives?
Are Moral Virtues Really Correctives?
Virtuous Villains
Two Suggestions
Virtues as Powers
Evaluation
(cid:98)
ConTthemepHoisratoryricVailrt(uMeisE)tfhorictsunesofVirtueEthics tutolGnyCompassionWisdom JusticeTeecmnpare
ecitsujnIssenhsilooF ytleurC
Contemporary
Ancient Medieval Modern
Anscombe
Epictetus Mill
Aristotle Augustine Bentham
BCE 500 0 500 1000 1500 2000 CE
Plato Aquinas Kant
Socrates Foot
Right Action
Virtue Ethics moral, right, law... Virtue Ethics?
courage, justice...
(cid:98)
ConAtreimstpooteraliraynVRiortoutesEthics tutolGnyCompassionWisdom JusticeTeecmnpare
ecitsujnIssenhsilooF ytleurC
Aristotelian Roots
Eudæmonia & Human Excellences
(cid:73) Eudæmonia as the ultimate, distinctively human good for
human beings.
(cid:73) Distinctively human excellences:
1. Intellectual.
2. Character ~Moral.
[Aret¯e as broader than our contemporary sense of ‘virtue’.]
(cid:98)
ConAtreimstpooteraliraynVRiortoutesEthics tutolGnyCompassionWisdom JusticeTeecmnpare
ecitsujnIssenhsilooF ytleurC
Aristotelian Roots
Excellences of Character
If x is an excellent (virtuous) action, doing x excellently
(virtuously) requires:1
(cid:73) x is done knowingly (i.e. not by accident etc.)
(cid:73) x is the result of a decision to do x for its own sake
(cid:73) x is done from a stable character trait
The virtues are the stable character traits required for morally
excellent character.
(cid:73) Generally (but not always) means.
(cid:73) Habits: practising makes perfect!
1Aristotle 2002, 115/1105a25. (cid:98)
ConAtqemuinpioarnarRyoVoitrstueEthics tutolGnyCompassionWisdom JusticeTeecmnpare
ecitsujnIssenhsilooF ytleurC
Aquinian Roots
The Natural Law
Right action & good character are interdependent
Good is prior to right
(cid:73) Right actions are those which realise the good.
We can know the natural good through reason.
(cid:73) We can know the moral law through reason.
Right action requires appropriate motivation and intention.
(cid:73) Realising the good requires appropriate desires, purposes —
not just actions aimed at the right outcomes.
(cid:98)
ConPthemiTliepprpomarainFryoolooVtgirytueEthics tutolGnyCecoitmspuajsnsIionsseWnhissdiolomoFJyutslteiucreCTeecmnpare
Philippa Foot
Terminology
Question 2:
(cid:98)
ConPthemiTlihppepoarPaFrryoojoVetcitrtueEthics tutolGnyCecoitmspuajsnsIionsseWnhissdiolomoFJyutslteiucreCTeecmnpare
Philippa Foot
The Project
Foot as formalising ideas from Aquinas and, especially, Aristotle.
(cid:73) Seeking a definition of ‘virtue’ based on the traditional notion.
i.e. Necessary and sufficient conditions.
(cid:73) Project is successful iff:
(cid:73) all virtues satisfy Foot’s conditions;
(cid:73) everything which meets Foot’s conditions is, indeed, a virtue.
i.e. All and only virtues are captured by her definition.
(cid:73) Adopts the ‘cardinal’ virtues identified by Aristotle and
Aquinas.
(cid:98)
ConPthemi‘lCippapordarainFryaolo’VtVirtiruteueEsthics tutolGnyCecoitmspuajsnsIionsseWnhissdiolomoFJyutslteiucreCTeecmnpare
Philippa Foot
‘Cardinal’ Virtues natural
temperament
and/or learnt
1. courage
2. temperance
3. wisdom
3.1 knowing means to ends
(cid:73) given good ends...
(cid:73) accessibility
must be learnt
3.2 knowing value of ends
(cid:73) true values, correct judgements
(cid:73) more...
4. justice
(cid:98)
Images:Paski,Harry;FoodStandardsAgency,TheEatwellPlate;danhortonszar.com
ConPthemiTlihppeposariasFry&ooVAtirrtguuemEetnhtiactsion tutolGnyCecoitmspuajsnsIionsseWnhissdiolomoFJyutslteiucreCTeecmnpare
Philippa Foot
Thesis & Argumentation
Questions 1 & 3:
(cid:98)