PP247 Lecture 4: Unit4EthicalTheoriesVirtueJustice
Document Summary
Virtue ethics, including the ethics of care, deals with rights, social justice, and the capitalism vs. socialism debate. One way to distinguish ethical theories is by their guiding qs: Utilita(cid:396)ia(cid:374): (cid:862)is (cid:373)(cid:455) a(cid:272)tio(cid:374) p(cid:396)o(cid:373)oti(cid:374)g the g(cid:396)eatest happi(cid:374)ess of the g(cid:396)eatest (cid:374)u(cid:373)(cid:271)e(cid:396)? (cid:863) Ca(cid:374) the (cid:373)a(cid:454)i(cid:373) of (cid:373)(cid:455) a(cid:272)tio(cid:374) (cid:271)(cid:455) u(cid:374)i(cid:448)e(cid:396)salized? (cid:863) It is not so much about rules and actions, but about character. Aristotle: the classic exponent of virtue ethics. The cardinal virtues for the ancient greeks were courage, moderation, justice, and wisdom. Confucius can also be interpreted as a virtue ethicist. Virtue ethics tries to remain in touch with the way ordinary people think about ethics, rather than offering a single principle which is supposed to settle all issues. Kantian deontology- an ethics of duty; morality envisioned as a system of imperatives, prohibitions, and rules. Aristotelian virtue- an ethics of aspiration, concerned with living a good life, building good company, and achieving excellence.
