PHI 1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Cardinal Virtues, Virtue Ethics
15 Mar 2016
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Virtuous character as the measure of moral worth: Virtuous individuals, or role models like confucius, provide the standard for what kind of person to aspire to be. Humanity/ benevolence (ren) --- compassion/ concern/love/respect for others. Righteousness (yi) shame/ disdain for inappropriate and unjust behavior. Propriety (li) proper observance of social rites. Mencius says, all people are by nature good, because every human being is born with the four sprouts that lead to the four virtues, and therefore, have a moral status deserving of respect. Example: in chinese culture the ritual for thanks is for some relationship. You don"t thank your family members because the ritual of thanks just comes with that relationship so for you to say thanks will be weird that is why there are other ways to show gratitude instead of saying thanks . Ideal of society+ the family writ large (p. 33) Five basic human relationships (wu lun): father-son, husband-wife, elder brother-younger brother, ruler-subject, and friend-friend.
