Question

explain in your own words what Virtue Ethics is and tell if it works. In addition , discuss the downside of Virtue Ethics

Answer 1

Virtue ethics is one of the three major approaches in normative ethics. Virtue ethics can be defined as the approach of normative ethics that emphasizes the role of character/virtues. Here virtues include any desirable or noble character in a person. It is in contrast with the dentology approach to ethics of consequentialism that emphasizes duties or rules and the end results respectively.

Virtue ethics work because it is based on on the emphasis of noble character and fits with the humanistic psychology school of thought that says that every human being strives to be his/her best self. Thus emphasizing on noble characters and Virtue is always a plus as it comes naturally to a person and isn't something that is forced upon a person such as duties, rules from the outside. Also it helps an individual in the long run unlike the short term benefits of consequentialism where only the end result matters.

The downside of virtue ethics is that the nature and definition of what is virtuous is ever changing and not definite. So what is considered virtuous today might be considered foolishness tomorrow. Thus a definitive answer to the definition of virtues isn't attained. Secondly virtue ethics only tells us about the desirable quality that one needs to develop and tells us nothing about what one can do in cases of moral dilemmas. For example if a person is going to get killed and the only way to save yourself is killing the other person the consequentialism ethics approach would concentrate on end result and thus for this moral dilemma require us to kill the person. But in case of virtue ethics no such definitive answer would be found.