Virtue TheoryVirtue Theory

Composed by:Composed by:Cole Garrow, Heydy Baca, Barb Cole Garrow, Heydy Baca, Barb

Surwillo, Katie Johnson.Surwillo, Katie Johnson.LP 5LP 5

March 25, 2008March 25, 2008

Virtue Theory…Virtue Theory…

……the path to eudaimoniathe path to eudaimonia

Virtue & EthicsVirtue & Ethics

►What is ethical is what develops moral What is ethical is what develops moral virtues in ourselves and our virtues in ourselves and our communitiescommunities

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/approach.htmlhttp://www.scu.edu/ethicks/practicin/decision/ethicsandvirture.htmlhttp://www.usafa.edu.isme/JSCOPE98/PFAFF98.htm

What’s a virtue?What’s a virtue?

Virtues are attitudes or character traits Virtues are attitudes or character traits that enable us to be and to act in ways that enable us to be and to act in ways

that develop our highest potentialthat develop our highest potential

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/thinking.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_ethics

Huh?Huh?Some examples of Some examples of

virtue that we can virtue that we can relate to:relate to:

•Honesty •Courage•Compassion•Generosity•Fidelity•Integrity•Fairness•Self-Control•Prudence The bodhisattva of compassion;

one virtuous dude

Modern contributors to Virtue Modern contributors to Virtue ethicsethics

(above) Alasdair Mcintyre

(below) Bernard Williams

Alasdair McIntyreAlasdair McIntyre

►Moral and political Moral and political PhilosophyPhilosophy

► Importance of moral Importance of moral goodsgoods

►Dialectic Dialectic ►Moral GoodsMoral Goods

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alasdair_MacIntyre

Bernard Arthur Owen Bernard Arthur Owen WilliamsWilliams

• Supportive of Women• Morality should be vital and compelling.• “Analytic Philosopher”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Williams

WilliamsWilliams

►"Understands what you're going to say "Understands what you're going to say better than you understand it yourself, better than you understand it yourself, and sees all the possible objections to and sees all the possible objections to it, all the possible answers to all the it, all the possible answers to all the possible objections, before you've got possible objections, before you've got to the end of your sentence." to the end of your sentence."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Williams

The shortcomings of virtue…The shortcomings of virtue…

Unable to provide “action-guidance’. Unable to provide “action-guidance’. Does not provide guidelines on how to Does not provide guidelines on how to behave.behave.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue

Two good examples…Two good examples…

President George W. Bush and the Easter Bunny havesomething in common besides warm blood andbipedal movement…

In the best interests of In the best interests of virtue…virtue…

►No formula for deciding conflict cases. No formula for deciding conflict cases. Honesty says to tell the hurtful truth, Honesty says to tell the hurtful truth, kindness & compassion say to remain kindness & compassion say to remain silent or lie. silent or lie.

http://www.helium.com/items/880446-virtue-ethice-independent-moral

And another thing…And another thing…

Virtue ethics leaves us hostage to luck. Virtue ethics leaves us hostage to luck. Some may not receive help & Some may not receive help & encouragement to attain moral encouragement to attain moral maturity.maturity.(and this is such an awesome segway)(and this is such an awesome segway)

Application of virtue theory to Application of virtue theory to an ethical dilemmaan ethical dilemma

►Let’s talk about the virtues (or lack of Let’s talk about the virtues (or lack of virtues) of the Higher Education Act’s virtues) of the Higher Education Act’s (HEA) current policy when dealing with (HEA) current policy when dealing with students convicted of drug-related students convicted of drug-related crimes.crimes.

Quick HistoryQuick History

►The HEA was signed into effect in 1965 The HEA was signed into effect in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnsonby President Lyndon B. Johnson

► In 1998, amendments attached to the In 1998, amendments attached to the HEA made it much more difficult for HEA made it much more difficult for people with prior drug sale or people with prior drug sale or possession offenses to obtain any possession offenses to obtain any federal financial aidfederal financial aid

http://ssdp.org

HistoryHistory► In 2006, Congress revised the aid In 2006, Congress revised the aid

elimination language to only exclude people elimination language to only exclude people who are convicted of drug offenses while in who are convicted of drug offenses while in school and receiving financial aid…school and receiving financial aid…

► So, Congress scaled it back so that So, Congress scaled it back so that taxpayers are not ‘subsidizing substance taxpayers are not ‘subsidizing substance abuse’ did they stop to examine the virtue abuse’ did they stop to examine the virtue of only scaling it back that far?of only scaling it back that far?

The ‘virtue’ of a federal aid The ‘virtue’ of a federal aid elimination policyelimination policy

►Taxpayers are not subsidizing Taxpayers are not subsidizing someone’s addictions or exploitations.someone’s addictions or exploitations.

►Federal aid is still available to those Federal aid is still available to those that undergo an approved treatment that undergo an approved treatment programprogram

►An up-front policy reduces the number An up-front policy reduces the number of potential applicants which will just of potential applicants which will just serve to bog down the systemserve to bog down the system

More virtues of a federal aid More virtues of a federal aid elimination policyelimination policy

►Consistent approach to controlled Consistent approach to controlled substance enforcement policy.substance enforcement policy.

►Reduces the incidences of drug sale Reduces the incidences of drug sale and possession on college groundsand possession on college grounds

On and onOn and on

►Federal aid elimination policy helps to Federal aid elimination policy helps to uphold virtues of prudence, self-control, uphold virtues of prudence, self-control, honesty and integrity in the student honesty and integrity in the student body…body…

►What do you think happens when What do you think happens when legislators are acting ‘virtuously’ on legislators are acting ‘virtuously’ on behalf of special interests and behalf of special interests and reactionary constituents?reactionary constituents?

So what would be some virtues of So what would be some virtues of eliminatingeliminating the federal aid elimination the federal aid elimination

language from the HEA?language from the HEA?

Virtue of eliminationVirtue of elimination

►Fiscally responsible; an educated Fiscally responsible; an educated workforce earns more and pays more in workforce earns more and pays more in taxes.taxes.

►Current law serves as a double-Current law serves as a double-punishment.punishment.

►Current law does not address more-Current law does not address more-violent or criminal acts.violent or criminal acts.http://ssdp.org

virtue virtue virtuevirtue virtue virtue

►Need-based eligibility unfairly Need-based eligibility unfairly discriminates.discriminates.

► Increased criminality, recidivism.Increased criminality, recidivism.

►Causes disengagement from Causes disengagement from community, government.community, government.

►Punishes hard-working studentsPunishes hard-working studentshttp://ssdp.org

Name that virtueName that virtue

► By repealing the language that eliminates Federal By repealing the language that eliminates Federal aid to drug offenders, what kinds of virtue would aid to drug offenders, what kinds of virtue would congress be demonstrating?congress be demonstrating? HonestyHonesty CourageCourage CompassionCompassion GenerosityGenerosity FidelityFidelity IntegrityIntegrity FairnessFairness Self-controlSelf-control PrudencePrudence

Review QuestionsReview Questions

►What are the strengths of the Virtue What are the strengths of the Virtue Theory?Theory?

►What are some applications to this What are some applications to this theory?theory?

►What is the attraction to this theory?What is the attraction to this theory?