“We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.” ― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America. In this quote steinbeck poses the question of the value of virtue and its place in the world often as humans we are attracted to the opposite and it seems to workout fine sometimes.
A virtue is when a person behaves in a moral manner. Certain virtues that societies should possess can be harmful. Typically, good virtues, such as honor, courage, and compassion. are commonly used by people as a way of living. Every society should live by the good virtues and strive to ensure that all citizens are treated equally.
As far as the virtue ethics tradition goes, the topic called duty (or principle) ethics arose. Duty, or principle ethics, differs from virtue ethics in that it focuses more on objective actions and interpretations. For example, Wilczenski stated that principle ethics encourages the use of situational, ethical conflict-resolving behavior in the school counseling environment (Wilczenski pg. 8). While I agree that objectivity and self-restraint should be learned and applied in certain situations, I cannot abandon the subjective outlook that virtue ethics provide in philosophic skill building.
Thus, Aristotle suggests that virtuous behavior is not innate but is developed through choosing good, guided by reason. Virtue Ethics aligns with the Honor Concept by highlighting the importance of moral character and the internalization of virtues that discourage dishonest or deceptive behaviors. While this approach offers valuable insights into personal development and the role of community standards in shaping ethical behavior, it is less directly prescriptive than Kantian Ethics regarding specific actions like lying or stealing. In response, while virtue ethics undoubtedly enhances our understanding of ethical living and the importance of character, personally, it does not provide as clear guidance on specific actions as Kantian ethics does. The categorical imperative's strength lies in its clear condemnation of actions that can't be universally justified, offering a straightforward rationale for adhering to the Honor Concept.
Followers of virtue ethics believe the intention of an action matters. Virtue ethicists pose the question: what kind of person should I be? They try to be just, generous, temperate, honest, and courageous. The man, on the other hand, tends towards ethical egoism, which means he prizes his and the boy’s safety over anyone else’s benefit. Since the boy is never fully responsible for his and his father’s survival he prioritizes his ideas of goodness over day to day practicality.
Anscombe (1958) pointed out how modern philosophers who recognize the origins of the notions of‘obligation’or ‘duty’ in the natural law conception of ethics, do not believe in God as a lawgiver and reject the notion of a divine legislator. That is like retaining a law conception of virtue ethics without a divine legislator. Therefore, without a grounding of the divine law and an idea of a sovereign God as the supreme legislator, the concept of virtue ethics expressing overriding obligation has no
Aristotle describes virtue theory as an ethical theory that emphasizes an individual 's character rather than following a set of rules. Breaking it down even further to specify knowing right from wrong, being able to read an atmosphere by knowing what is right, and it is the midpoint between two extremes. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. display to be a virtue ethicists through his letter oppose to being a deontologist or utilitarian. Laws define a set of rules that the people should follow; however, there are unjust laws that are meant to be challenged.
For instance, Margaret A.McLauren describes the role of feminism in virtue ethics as the most promising context. According to Aristotle, as Duffy mentions in this essay, happiness always comes from a life with purpose. For example, the knife has the function to cut, the plant to grow, and the horse to run. Therefore, it is a rational conclusion that human beings also have a purpose that makes them different from things and animals. Following this, the most significant improvement in modern virtue ethics comes from a theory for differentiating between right and wrong, a theory for responding to specific situations.
" The Situationist Critique and Early Confucian Virtue" Slingerland discusses the foundational importance of emotions, automatic, and unconscious process has to do with virtue ethics in moral reasoning and the way you act. The idea that virtues have to do with people's way of acting in weakness and in pressures. Virtue ethics is derived from Harman and Doris notion on the character that was under attack and vulnerable ties back to the idea of " lack of character" argument. Slingerland argument against situationist critique having two stages.
The relativist’s objection Aristotle’s writings are the best prototype of virtue ethics. Contemporary virtue theories do not grasp nor represents the Aristotelian theory, because they think that it is impossible to escape the charge of relativism in virtue ethics. According to the relativist approach, ethical goodness is relative to each society depending on its traditions and practices. It is thought that virtue can only be outlined locally with reference to a single locale. Relativists reject the idea that there is a general rule, based on specific virtuous actions, that leads to the good life i.e. they reject that there is a single virtue (or norm of flourishing life) that is able to flourish the life of all human beings.
The last theory is Aristotle’s virtue ethics which states that we should move from the concern towards good action and to focus on the concern with good character. This paper argues that Aristotle’s virtue ethics is better than the other ethical theories. The divine command theory says that what is morally right and what is morally wrong is determined by God and God alone. People who follow the divine command theory believe that God is the creator of all things, therefore, he must also be the creator of morally right and wrong acts.
Firstly, Virtue Ethics makes for better individuals. Compassion, modesty, honesty, ambition, generosity and the like are all virtues already possessed by people. When these virtues are practiced habitually, it ultimately results in a virtuous world. Opponents of Virtue Ethics may say that the theory is self-centered. That is because it only deals with an individual’s own character instead of how a person’s actions may affect other people.
Question 1: Insight 1 On page 73 the author states “faith or its lack is the root cause of obedience or disobedience, faithfulness or sin”. Our society lacks of faith in God has lead us to disobey God’s Natural laws. I believe that we are subject to suffering because we do not believe in God’s power. According to the author faith is more than just mere belief, it is a deep commitment to God.
The idea of virtue ethics was first introduced to the world by Aristotle over 2,300 years ago in 325 BC (Rachels 173). Virtue ethics operate on the belief that people develop good character by looking at the virtues they admire in other people and emulating them. In order to do this, a person must ask themselves what kind of person they want to be and focus on choosing characteristics not specific people to emulate. Unfortunately, virtue ethics were quickly overshadowed by other perspectives on ethical theory as Christianity gained popularity and values changed. As time went on people stopped asking themselves, “What traits make a good person?”
The virtue theory, which pursues virtuous principles, strategies and actions, can lead companies to understand their values, including mission, purpose, profit potential and other objectives. Virtuous employees tend to perform their roles consistently and competently in the direction of the company's goals. Virtues are the kind of thing you allow someone to take action to appreciate. Business people increase their likelihood of reaching their values and goals when they reach Objectivist virtues. Virtues emphasize the importance of each employee's valuable contribution.
