virtue ethics

Summary so far….

Alisdair McIntyre describes it as ‘the state of being well and doing well in being well’.

Why did Aristotle believe rational choices to be uniquely human and necessary?

Explain Aristotle’s idea of acting in the most appropriate way.

What is Aristotle’s idea of ‘practical wisdom’?

Explain Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean. What is the link between action and

aptitude? List the moral virtues and their extremes.

British Philosopher born 1929-

He re-examined the work of Aristotle and was really impressed with what he found and really alarmed at the fact this kind of approach to morality had been ignored and overlooked by western philosophy.

He set about developing a virtue theory for modern readers. In his influential book ‘After Virtue’ (1981) he argued that we live today in ethical confusion a type of moral vacuum where to use moral language such as good, bad, right and wrong no longer makes any sense.

He urges people to consider why it is that human beings seem utterly incapable of coming to enough basic agreement in matters of ethics to enable us to deal with the moral chaos that surrounds us. MacIntyre argues forcibly that society needs to reassert Aristotle’s moral and intellectual virtues in society ie in medicine, education, politics and business.

Here is an example of the moral chaos that surrounds us…..

Political Bureaucrats Spin merchants Media Moghuls Directors of Multinationals Traders and investors

People whose expertise is efficient management with no moral strings attached. Profit not principle. These are dominant people in the modern world and are morally neutral.

These pursue greater and ‘more exciting’ pleasures. The image of the ageing rock star fits the bill. In the public eye of a celebrity obsessed culture lacking virtue and meaning.

These people keep the whole show on the road, charging the rich huge amounts of money to listen to their neurotic values (diminished and self justifying existences) meaningless echoes of their meaningless lives. The society we have created teaches us to value others less and ourselves more.