Virtue Ethics Theory: Strengths, Traits, and Comparisons

Introduction to Virtue Ethics Theory

Virtue ethics is one of the most pragmatic moral theories, as it addresses the virtues that mould human character in its attempt to describe the good. The theory suggests that a good life and general well-being result from embracing virtues. It goes further to describe a good, holistic life, proposing that it is a life lived in harmony with others. In his view of humans, Aristotle considered people as both social and rational beings. It is evident that humans tend to coexist in groups; therefore, the theory considers the group as more important than the individual.

The primary virtues encompassed by the theory are temperance, justice, courage, and practical wisdom. All the virtues work in consonance—it would not be of much help to possess one and lack the others. Courage and temperance have a moral inclination; they help us build bravery. Self-control, on the other hand, is attained through restraint. Making the right decisions requires training. We need to learn how to weigh a situation. In the courts of law, judges not only learn on the job; they undergo years of rigorous training before they are bestowed with the title of Justice. Wisdom occupies a higher position in the hierarchy compared to all the other virtues. It is the culmination of learning that takes several years (Virtue Ethics 5).

Virtue ethics accommodates general rules that cover both imperfect and perfect duties, according to Immanuel Kant. The concepts highlighted in Kant's theory are not exactly notions of morality in terms of wrongness and righteousness. They involve notions such as vice and virtue, or the admirable and the deplorable (Slote 5). In the ordinary sense, many traits pass as virtues irrespective of the gains they grant to those who possess or exhibit them. For instance, mustering the courage to face the reality of a cancer diagnosis may cause pain and emotional turmoil for both the sufferer and their family and friends. Virtuous traits tend to be both self-regarding and other-regarding—for example, in virtues such as honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty. Common sense virtue ethics utilizes such constructs to emphasize the importance of a self-symmetric method towards ethical theory (Slote 8).

Virtue ethics presents a rare opportunity and resource for moral thinking. Some moral scholars, teachers, and writers consider it a superior framework to rule-based theories in professional and business settings. Some common rule theories it contrasts with include utilitarianism, Kantianism, and intuitionism (Audi 273). Virtue ethics is also different from other normative approaches such as situation ethics and utilitarianism. While those two emphasize the nuances of whether an act is right or wrong, virtue ethics instead asks whether the persons performing the acts are good—with regard to the quality or virtues they possess. Virtue ethics is inclined towards the virtues that make for a good quality of life.

This approach was popularized towards the middle of the twentieth century, although its roots are traced back to the teachings of Aristotle. Virtue ethics is one of the three major approaches in normative ethics (Boss 389). It can be identified initially as the one that places emphasis on virtues or moral character, in contrast to the approach that focuses on rules or duties (deontology), or the one that focuses on the effects or consequences of actions (consequentialism). Consider the case where it is obvious that someone in need must be helped: in the utilitarian perspective, the judgement depends on whether helping such a person will enhance well-being to the maximum (Hursthouse, para. 1–4).

Works Cited

Audi, Robert. "Virtue Ethics as a Resource in Business." Business Ethics Quarterly 22.2 (2012): 273–291. Business Source Complete. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.

Boss, Judith A. Ethics for Life: A Text with Readings. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2011. Print.

Hursthouse, Rosalind. "Virtue Ethics." Stanford University. Stanford University, 2003. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.

Slote, Michael. "From Morality to Virtue." University Press Scholarship. 1995. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.

"Virtue Ethics — Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy." N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2016.