virtue ethics responses

Response 1 The responsibilities of parenthood do require character virtues. Simply being a parent does not make one virtuous, but parenting can bring out the best in people. Parenting requires the person to put their child ahead of any selfish desire, which promotes humility, magnanimity, and temperance—three of the essential character virtues (“Traditional Theories of Ethics,” n.d.). Developing character ethics promotes eudaimonia within the family, and each member of the family including the parent who exhibits a virtuous character (Aristotle; Husthouse, 2016).

In fact, the more one exhibits virtuous behavior in their role as a parent, the more likely it is for the child to embody the same virtues. In this way, virtuous parenting reverberates through the generations and helps create a more virtuous society overall. Having personal experiences with a father who did not have a virtuous approach to parenting makes it easier to recognize the importance of strong moral character.

When one is a parent, one is placed in a position whereby their actions have a profound impact on others, perhaps for the rest of their lives. While this also exhibits the importance of duty ethics, virtue ethics essentially describe the character traits that all parents ultimately need to exhibit. Response 2 Serving in the military does require the cultivation of ethical virtues.

Just as with parenting, a First Sergeant role involves placing the needs of others before the self—not only because it is one’s duty but because one is driven to do so by ethical virtues and strong moral character. The Air Force and any other military branch depends on ethical people because in times of need, those who have strong ethical characters will be able to rise to the occasion, being ingrained with a strong moral compass.

Relationships in the military are based on hierarchies, rules, and social order. When those rules are undermined, such as by disrespecting a commanding officer, it also undermines the virtuous character of the unit and of individual soldiers. Respecting others is a sign of ethical virtue. To respect others means to be magnanimous—to know when to be humble as opposed to arrogant.

There is no place for arrogance in the military, but soldiers also need to balance their humility with commanding officers with an equal sense of duty to the overarching ethical codes that guide their behavior. Having a strong character allows each soldier to remain steadfast no matter what the circumstances. Response 3 Being a parent can lead to profound satisfaction, sense of purpose and fulfillment, and eudaimonia—happiness. Yet along with all the good times also comes tremendous challenges from financial strain to the stress of children misbehaving.

Parents with virtuous character are less likely to react without the “practical wisdom” that Aristotle understood to be critical to character virtue (Hursthouse, 2016, p. 1). Parenting is all about practical wisdom; there is no guidebook for perfect parenting because there is no such thing as perfection in parenting. As.