Question

write an essay around 1000 words

What is a virtue ethical theory and what are its main strengths and weaknesses?

Answer 1

What is a virtue ethical theory and what are its main strengths and weaknesses?

A virtue ethical theory is an overall term that refers normative theories interested in the character and virtues of the person performing actions. An action is good if it is what a virtuous person would do. Moral actions are not measured by reference to normative standards such as rules and motives or outcomes and consequences.

Moral action is about character, what a person of virtuous character would do in a particular situation. Virtues are acquired character traits; they are not inborn or learned through reason. Unlike intellectual or physical characteristics, moral virtues are habits we acquire by practicing them and emulating exceptionally virtuous people or especially virtuous actions. Through practice we may acquire virtuous character.

STRENGTHS OF VIRTUE ETHICAL THEORY

1. Character Traits

Virtue Ethics deals with a person’s virtues and how he or she uses them in making the lives of other people better. If a person has virtues, he or she can act morally and will be able to treat others with respect, compassion and love. These virtues prompt a person to do good things to others because these are innate in him or her.

2. Better People

Virtues such as generosity, honesty, compassion, friendliness, assertiveness and the like are already present in people and should be practiced in everyday living. The theory of Virtue Ethics makes it possible for people to be better individuals and members of society who are willing to help other people, thinking of others first over personal interest. With these virtues, people become better persons.

3. Broad and Holistic

Having no particular criteria, Virtue Ethics encompasses different virtues which are important live in harmony with other people. It also does not attempt to worsen the complexity of things by categorizing what are moral acts or not nut instead had developed throughout the years. Also, as compared to other ethical theories which can be a threat to morality and are confusing, Virtue Ethics is a holistic approach that it considers the totality of a person, including the skills, character traits and emotions.

4. Agent-centered

Another powerful attribute of Virtue Ethics is its centeredness or focus on the character of the moral agent and not concerned on consequence and duty or obligation. This also makes it flexible since it allows an individual to decide depending on his or her moral values and not just by simply following the law.

5. Sense of Community

Virtue Ethics motivates an individual to have high regard to personal relationships and encourage or motivates a person to be sensitive of others and take care of other people.

6. Preservation of Goodness

According to Tacitus, people can be easily corrupted with power and luxury which can impede liberty. Having said this, Virtue Ethics serves as a shield against polluting the minds of individuals and making them bad people. Instead, this approach makes it possible for an individual to preserve and make better the life he or she already has and enjoy it rather than dream of a life with luxury and power.

WEAKNESSES OF VIRTUE ETHICS

1. Without Focus

Critics of virtue ethics say that this theory lacks focus when it comes to determining the types of actions that are morally acceptable and permitted from the ones that should be avoided. Instead, it concentrates more on the qualities an individual has to enhance or improve in order to become a good person. Virtue theorists can consider murder as an immoral act which makes it unsuitable to be used as a moral act when it comes to legislation, say in court. It is also considered to be not action-guiding.

2. Nature of Virtues

Another weakness attributed to virtue ethics is the difficulty in determining the nature if virtues. This is due to the difference in opinions and perspectives of people who are inherently different from each other and came from diverse cultures and societies. These aspects lead to differences on what is morally right or wrong for people. Thus, it is hard to identify these virtues.

3. Self-centeredness

According to opponents of virtue ethics, it deals with a person’s own character when it is supposed to be how the actions of an individual affect other people. Other theory of ethics expects a person to think or regard other people instead of personal gain and interest.

4. Misguidance

Those who are not in favor of virtue ethics find this theory to be misguiding when it comes to educating or motivating people. This is because it leads people to rely on luck when it comes to attaining moral maturity. Also, this can result to people asking why others are luckier to have achieved moral maturity while there will be those who are not lucky enough even if this is not brought about by their own doings.

5. Limited

Since Virtue Ethics concentrate on only a limited number of virtues, it is not able to help the population but only an individual. This is one of the weaknesses seen by opponents, saying that this theory is not concentrating on the bigger picture.

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