Contemporary Virtue Ethics Neo-Aristotelian Virtue Ethics
Dr. Clea F. Rees
ReesC@cardiff.ac.uk
Canolfan Addysg Gydol Oes Centre for Lifelong Learning Prifysgol Caerdydd Cardiff University
Y Gwanwyn/Spring
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Outline e
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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 b Wisdom ion J ss us a ti Contemporary Virtue Ethics p ce m o C
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The Historical (Mis)fortunes of Virtue Ethics e
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F s o s o e l n i s h Contemporary Ancient Medieval Modern
Anscombe Epictetus Mill Aristotle Augustine Bentham
BCE CE
Plato Aquinas Kant Socrates Foot Right Action Virtue Ethics moral, right, law. . . Virtue Ethics? courage, justice. . . b Wisdom ion J ss us a ti Contemporary Virtue Ethics p ce m o C
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Aristotelian Roots e
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Aristotelian Roots Eudæmonia & Human Excellences
I Eudæmonia as the ultimate, distinctively human good for human beings. I Distinctively human excellences: . Intellectual. . Character ~Moral. [Aret¯e as broader than our contemporary sense of ‘virtue’.]
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Aristotelian Roots Excellences of Character
If x is an excellent (virtuous) action, doing x excellently (virtuously) requires:
I x is done knowingly (i.e. not by accident etc.) I x is the result of a decision to do x for its own sake I x is done from a stable character trait The virtues are the stable character traits required for morally excellent character. I Generally (but not always) means. I Habits: practising makes perfect!
Aristotle , / a. b Wisdom ion J ss us a ti Contemporary Virtue Ethics p ce m o C
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Aquinian Roots The Natural Law
Right action & good character are interdependent Good is prior to right I Right actions are those which realise the good. We can know the natural good through reason. I We can know the moral law through reason. Right action requires appropriate motivation and intention. I Realising the good requires appropriate desires, purposes — not just actions aimed at the right outcomes.
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Terminology h Philippa Foot Terminology Question :
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The Project h Philippa Foot The Project
Foot as formalising ideas from Aquinas and, especially, Aristotle. I Seeking a definition of ‘virtue’ based on the traditional notion.
i.e. Necessary and sufficient conditions. I Project is successful iff: I all virtues satisfy Foot’s conditions; I everything which meets Foot’s conditions is, indeed, a virtue. i.e. All and only virtues are captured by her definition. I Adopts the ‘cardinal’ virtues identified by Aristotle and Aquinas.
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‘Cardinal’ Virtues h Philippa Foot ‘Cardinal’ Virtues natural temperament and/or learnt . courage . temperance . wisdom . knowing means to ends I given good ends. . . I accessibility . knowing value of ends must be learnt I true values, correct judgements I more. . . . justice
Images: Paski, Harry; Food Standards Agency, The Eatwell Plate; danhortonszar.com b Wisdom ion J ss us a ti Contemporary Virtue Ethics p ce m o C
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Thesis & Argumentation h Philippa Foot Thesis & Argumentation Questions & :
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Sketching the Concept of a (Moral) Virtue h Philippa Foot Sketching the Concept of a (Moral) Virtue
The Concept of a (Moral) Virtue: A Sketch
I disposition (~Aristotle) I character trait which disposes you to act in a certain way, so you tend to act that way I generally beneficial in two ways . benefit the person with the trait . benefit other people/beings/. . . I a good will I importance of intentions I heart, values
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Sketching the Concept of a (Moral) Virtue h Philippa Foot Sketching the Concept of a (Moral) Virtue
Moral Excellence vs. Non-Moral Excellence . . . . involuntary error preferable voluntary error preferable
virtue = capacity + engagement with will + ??
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Are Moral Virtues Correctives? h Philippa Foot Are Moral Virtues Correctives?
I resisting temptations I courage is a virtue b/c fear is a temptation: I we are tempted to flee, hide, escape, duck etc. even when we shouldn’t I temperance is a virtue b/c gluttony is a temptation: I desire to eat, drink, be merry to excess. . . I compensating for deficiencies I lack enough of something I insufficiently concerned about others’ rights I insufficiently concerned about others’ well-being etc. ⇒ role of human nature (~Aristotle, Aquinas)
Images: Roger Hargreaves, Mr. Men (www.mrmen.com) b Wisdom ion J ss us a ti Contemporary Virtue Ethics p ce m o C
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Are Moral Virtues Really Correctives? h Philippa Foot Are Moral Virtues Really Correctives?
Image credit: Walt Disney I compare: I one who must resist miserly temptations in order to give I one who gives joyously w/o hesitation I is the first really more virtuous? I individual vs. general difficulty I different kinds of difficulty
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Are Moral Virtues Really Correctives? h Philippa Foot Are Moral Virtues Really Correctives?
I some actions have moral worth because they are ‘in accordance w/ virtue’ but don’t require virtue I some actions may have some moral worth because they are ‘in accordance’ with virtue, but really require virtue for true/most moral worth I charity requires doing the right thing for the right reasons AND having one’s heart in the right place I need to respond appropriately at an emotional level
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Are Moral Virtues Really Correctives? h Philippa Foot Are Moral Virtues Really Correctives?
I the moral worth of some actions requires: I emotional engagement, commitment, virtuous attitude/motivation I ABSENCE of duty as a motive (‘one thought too many’?)
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Virtuous Villains h Philippa Foot Virtuous Villains
story so far: action has positive moral worth/value iff it: I is in accordance with virtue I i.e. incompatible with no virtue I requires virtue objection: virtuous villains I can obviously say some of a thief’s actions are virtuous and some are not I but what if the thief carries out a very courageous burglary??
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Two Suggestions h Philippa Foot Two Suggestions
suggestion: only good/innocent actions can be virtuous (Aquinas) but: Von Wright etc.: I no problem in saying theft is courageous suggestion: try this: I thief is courageous but I courage is not a virtue in the case of the thief but: what if the thief courageously rescues children from dog attacks while working at the animal shelter on Saturdays?
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Virtues as Powers h Philippa Foot Virtues as Powers solution: think of virtues as powers/dispositions which typically have certain effects, but not invariably
cf. ‘medicines’: I penicillin is still a medicine even if, in you, it has atypical effects b/c you’re allergic to it
re. actions: I courage is not operating as a virtue when the thief scales the building re. persons: I connection is typically with defective action ⇒ not virtue in this person
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Evaluation h Philippa Foot Evaluation Question :
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Evaluation h Philippa Foot Evaluation
What can be said of Oskar Schindler?
Image credit: Yad Vashem, Argentina, Oskar Schindler, a Righteous Among the Nations, Postwar b