Virtue ethics is of little use when dealing with practical ethics Discuss.

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'Virtue ethics is of little use when dealing with practical ethics' (35 marks)

It is often argued that virtue ethics is of little use when dealing with practical ethics. Virtue ethics does not focus on actions being right or wrong, but on how to be a good person. Virtue ethics raises three questions,- "who am I?", "Who I ought to become?" and "How do I get there?". On the other hand Practical ethics describes situations where an action is needed.

Firstly virtue ethics goes back to Plato and Aristotle. Plato's moral theory centres on the achievement of man's highest good, which involves the right cultivation of his soul and the harmonious well being of his life (eudaimonia). Plato seemed to consider that certain virtues such as temperance, courage, prudence and justice (cardinal Virtues) are in balance a person's actions will be good. It motivates people to want to be good. It shows the importance of education in showing that good actions are their own rewards. When these virtues are in balance a persons actions will be good and therefore would disagree that virtue ethics is of little use.

Aristotle's ethical theory is known as virtue ethics because