To judge a man is to judge his actions. The way in which we behave provides an opportunity for others to judge our virtues and vices.
Aristotle believed that all virtues lay at the mid point between two vices that of excess and that of deficiency. Courage is one of the virtues. If you don’t have enough courage then it is classed as a coward. On the other hand if there is an excess of courage then it is classed as being rash. It is pointed out that all of us could develop the virtues, only a small number will.
Aristotle tells us that we are most likely to learn virtuous behaviour from watching others. If we experience others being kind to us and see the happiness it creates we are more likely to practice it then if we were just told to do it. For example, if we were told to be courageous we may occasionally stand up for small things that we disagree with, but if we see someone telling others off for not doing the right thing then we are more likely to not allow bad behaviour towards ourselves. Aristotle said that the best way of becoming virtuous was to follow in the footsteps of a virtuous person, e.g. Mother Theresa.
Aristotle believed that every action is directed towards an aim. There are superior and subordinate aims. I get up in the morning to get an education; I want an education so I can have a great future. Getting up in the morning is subordinate to get an education.
James F. Keenan summaries virtue theory in three questions, “Who am I? Who ought I become? How do I get there?” Virtues provide a way of estimating a character, and suggest a direction in which you should go in order to become a better person. Virtue theory is person centered and focused on our development. By knowing this and understanding ourselves, we can practice to be better. Keenan recently suggested improving these theories for the modern day: prudence, justice, fidelity, self-care and the individual Christian virtue of mercy. These are backed up by three theological virtues, faith, charity and hope.
MacIntyre sees a moral society as one in which people recongise commonly agreed virtues and aspire to meet them. MacIntyre argues that modern ethics has lost sight of its roots and has forgotten all that has gone before. The virtues improve and clarify themselves over time.
He express that virtues is an acquired human quality the possession and exercise of which tends to enable us to achieve those goods which are internal to practices and the lack of which effectively prevents us from achieving any such goods.
In a way virtue ethics is about an individual seeking to develop a vision for their life. It is a matter of personal goals but these goals are also grounded in what it is to be human.
St Thomas Aquinas expressed that all human actions are moral actions. For example a footballer has to train and practice, would be virtuous has to train himself in a virtuous behavior.
- Moral relativist theories are too vague to be useful guides to decision making? Discuss
To many people, the statement may be true as decision-making is based on instinct and spontaneity.
For example, if your walking down a river. There are frantic cries for help. Two men are struggling in the water and clearly drowning. With dismay you see that one is your father, whom you love dearly, and the other a famous scientist, whom the newspapers report is close to a cure for cancer you will obviously save your dad. When you are placed in the situation you have no time to think because your mind just blanks out.
Conversely many people may disagree with this statement as they feel that their religion can give them the right answer and to live on how God wants us how to life our lives.
For example situation ethics seems to be prepared to accept any action at all if it fits the required criteria and relies heavily on the circumstances and can prove useful to someone unsure what to do in a moral dilemma where both options seem to be wrong. A moral situation would be a rape case where a twelve year old is raped and then becomes pregnant. An absolutist would say that an abortion is out of the question and would be wrong. Nevertheless the twelve year old then has to go through the whole situation of having a child before she is properly ready and will also will be always reminded of what happened. Alternatively a situationist would look at the circumstances and might come to the conclusion that the most loving thing to do would have an abortion as it may let the girl to grow up in the way that she would have been allowed to and in time might forget about the rape.
In conclusion personally I believe Moral relativist theories are too vague to be useful guides to decision making as decision making is common sense because from a young age we have been taught what is good and evil. But how people perceive what is good and what is evil and how to we come to know which is which is not decided as many people have different perceptions on it.
In many circumstances though many people think it is best to let their passions to guide to whatever they want.
I consider that there’s a common sense that there are some things that are just wrong and can never be right on any grounds. A believed loving end could justify actions that many other people think it is simply wrong.
BIBLOGRAPHY
then the links that were provided
- then the links that were provided
“Ethical Studies” by Robert A Bowie
Class notes
