Talk:Virtue ethics

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The example I gave (of the hospital) comes from some half-remembered text I read years ago, it would be nice to give a reference. Anyone recognise it? Evercat 00:23 6 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Sorry, I forgot to post a summary for my first (substantial) edit. I added brief references to Greek, Christian and modern writers who focused on virtue ethics. Once that was done, the example seemed kind of lost. Where it was it interrupted the flow, and at the end it seemed like an orphan. Think it needs amplification before coming back in. Where it was was fine for the length of article it was at that time.

Moss Hart 03:42 24 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Oh well. Away it goes, I guess. :-) Evercat 11:19 24 Jul 2003 (UTC)

Contents 1 Virtue 2 What is the Greek plural for eudaimon? 3 Abolitionism 4 Reconsidering organization

[edit] Virtue

A virtue is a disposition or a tendency to act in a specific way or do what is right. It is a habit, an inner motivation manifesting itself through outward conduct. The basis of our virtue ethic comes from both Greek and Biblical influences. The Bible places more weight on virtue than on the rules of conduct. Up until the modern era, the history of ethics gave equal weight to both virtue and conduct. Plato studied virtues such as courage, wisdom, temperance, and justice. Aquinas later added the virtues of love, faith, and hope. Aristotle looked at the weakness of the will that undermined the moral character of man.

It is not enough to have a moral reasoning about what we should do and not do, we must have a moral tendency to choose and do what is right. This makes a reliable and responsible person. I have heard that more than half of America's young people have had sexual intercourse by the time they are seventeen. Is it because they are morally ignorant, or because they have flawed moral reasoning? Knowing what is right will have no effect on a person without a virtuous inner disposition.

The article already mentions the four cardinal virtues of Greek philosophy in the "Historical origins" section, but does not mention the three theological virtues of love, faith, and hope expounded by Aquinas. This could be a valuable addition to the article. Someone should consider adding, perhaps to the "Historical origins" section.--Jjhake 04:04, 23 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is the Greek plural for eudaimon?

From the 'Acheiving eudaimonia' section: "This is why, for many virtue ethicists, such as Aristotle, only older people can be truly called a eudaimon as only they have enough practical experience of life." It seems to me that 'a eudaimon' should be pluralized, or the sentence should be rephrased. Anyone know Greek plurals? WhiteC 06:46, 24 January 2006 (UTC)

The plural of eudaimon would be eudaimones, however, I would leave the sentence as is. Ig0774 02:01, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

Why? 'Older people' is plural isn't it? WhiteC 18:02, 26 January 2006 (UTC)

Grammatically, you are, of course, right. But 'older people' may each individually be referred to in the singular, thus "a eudaimon rather than eudaimones. Besides which, Aristotle and the other "virtue ethicists" (G.E.M. Anscombe and Philippa Foot) I am familiar with tend to focus on the more individual nature of virtue (i.e. my virtue). Thus, I would favor rephrasing the sentence, if you feel that some change is necessary. Sorry that my last comment didn't make that sufficiently clear. Ig0774 06:27, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

Ah! Yes, that makes sense. Thankyou. I changed the article to keep 'eudaimon' in it. WhiteC 01:05, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

I would change the sentence to read "This is why, for many virtue ethicists, such as Aristotle, only older people can be truly called eudaimon..." 'eudaimon' is an adjective, not a noun.

[edit] Abolitionism

I've included a reference to David Brion Davis' work to illustrate the idea that the practice of the virtues does not preclude contemplation, and amendation, of what constitutes virtue and the good life, as some critics of the tradition have averred. There should really be a footnote to Davis in the main page, but I don't know how to add one. If anybody does, I would appreciate it if they could add it on my behalf. The work in question is Davis' monograph The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolution.

[edit] Reconsidering organization

Perhaps it would be best to reorganize the entry to emphasize, at the beginning of the article, how contemporary normative ethics conceives of the distinction between deontological, consequentialist and virtue-focused approaches, and framing the article's structure around the central question of the definition of virtue.

Any thoughts?

Sounds like a fine idea to me.Talented Mr Miller 18:30, 5 September 2006 (UTC)