Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics, or virtue theory, started in ancient Greece with Plato and Aristotle, but traces of it have been found amoung early Chinese thinkers. It was a predomonate moral theory until the Enlightenment, and was invigorated the 1950s.

Several key terms to define are: arete-- excellence or virtue phronesis-- practical or moral wisdom eudaimonia-- a state of happiness or flourishing coming from moral or virtuous excellence virtue-- A character or moral trait that others find admiriable

Virtue theory is unique in its approach to moral choices. It is unlike utalitarianism or conseqentualism, both of which stress decisions based on benefits or punishment, or deontology, by which one follows a set moral law. One following virtue theory makes choices based upon a set of principles or virtues deeply embedded in that person's beliefs. An example is that should one consider lying, that person would tell the truth not because a set of laws told that person not to, but because telling anything other than the truth wouldn't be honest and be against his or her virtues and ingrained beliefs. This alone isn't enough, because one needs phronesis (practical wisdom) in order to temper and focus these virtues. Phronesis comes into play in such times as when one is lying. One must use wisdom to decide whether or not the complete truth should be sacrificed for tact or to protect another person.    Virtue ethics concerns itself chiefly with the virtue or morality of a person, not the act. The most commonly accepted virtues are fortitude, justice, temperance, and prudence. Sometimes faith, hope, love, and charity are included.The ideal example of virtue theory is a person that constantly does what is right, even when other choices would benefit them more and suffers little doubt about what is right and what to do. However it is hard to judge some one as virtuous because we cannot see that person's thoughts. But if one can practice these virtues, tempered with wisdom, that person may experience the state of eudaimonia. Although translated it means flourishing or happiness, its full meaning is lost. Perhaps thriving is a better word, but still the full impact of the word is lost.     Although virtue is the main part of this this theory, when it comes to moral dilemmas phronesis is more of a help. Sometimes it is virtuous to do something but wisdom tells us otherwise. Say if some one is dying from a incurable painful disease, it would be charitable (virtuous) to kill them and end their suffering, but the phronesis tells us this is wrong.    In summary, virtue theory tells us to ingrain virtues into our character, and guide these virtues with wisdom. Should we succede in this, we should enter a state of eudaimonia.

Information was gathered from: plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_ethics