Explain the theory of Virtue Ethics Essay Example for Free

Explain the theory of Virtue Ethics EssayAristotle originally introduced legality Ethics to society in ancient Greek times. Virtue Ethics tells us that we should look at the character of the person preferably of the actions or duties a person performs. Instead of concentrating on what is the right thing to do, virtue ethics asks how you can be a get out person. Aristotle claims that leading a sodding(a) smell is easy, and those who do, do so to be happy. Happiness is the supreme goal for every mavin in life. To become a better person, you moldiness practice vestal acts regularly.After a while, these acts will become routine and so the virtuous acts will be nothing more than everyday life and the person a virtuous person. Aristotle verbalise that although virtues should become a habit we must never forget that we be be possessed of in such a way because it is right. For example, if a singer practices singing everyday, they will become better at it and used to doing it. T his is the like as citizenry who practice their virtues and soon automatically act in the right way, by practicing our skills we better them, becoming happier. Virtues should not be an effort, just now simply a part of everyones personality.Aristotle says that virtue is something that we acquire and atomic number 18 not just born with, people argon not inherently good or shitty, but become good or bad according to the habits they develop. Aristotle said that a virtue was a favorable Mean in between to vices. These Vices are two extremes of a scale at opposite ends, one of excess and one of deficiency. For example the vices would be shamelessness and shyness, and the virtue modesty. An separate example of this would be strikeence and a sense of temper as the two vices and the virtue as wittiness.Such virtues must be cultivated, we must learn when to use certain virtues and to what extent, for example we must not ever use humour in excess to act like a fool, but at the same t ime we must also not pass into rudeness. Two philosophers, Anscombe and MacIntyre say that thither has been a mistake in how virtues have been portrayed. The majority of people look at the actions a person does to judge whether they are virtuous or not. The way in which we behave provides an opportunity for others to judge our virtues and vices. This however is not right.People should look at the character deep down and look at what the person believes is right and how they think they should tending people instead of what they do to help. A famous example of a virtuous person is Mother Theresa. She helped millions of suffering people across the world and for this became well known as a virtuous person. There are hundreds of other virtuous people who would have liked to have helped but were unable to do so in such a huge way who are not considered as virtuous, but these people are just as virtuous but not recognised for it.Aristotle tells us that we are most promising to learn vir tuous behaviour from watching others. If we experience others being kind to us and see the mirth it creates we are more likely to practice it then if we were just told to do it. For example, if we were told to be courageous we whitethorn occasionally stand up for small things that we disagree with, but if we see someone telling others off for not doing the right thing then we are more likely to not allow bad behaviour towards ourselves.Aristotle said that the best way of becoming virtuous was to follow in the footsteps of a virtuous person, e.g. Mother Theresa and do what they do. Virtue Ethics is relative Aristotle recognised that virtues in one country may not be the same as virtues in another. He believed that there was no absolute Platonic good beyond our world. As virtues have evolved through habits of society it is probable that several(predicate) societies would deem unlike actions good or bad. However there is no difference between the virtues of a community and individua ls within that community, the supreme happiness that Aristotle talks about is one for the community, and not just and individual.MacIntyre suggests that philosophy is too outlying(prenominal) removed from ordinary life and said that it is not good enough that philosophers spend their time debating the record of ethical language or forming reasoned theories of morality in a way that is far removed from real people and real life. All actions are done in order to reach an aim. A successive series of actions are also for an aim, for example getting up in to morning to go to work, is to make money, is to feed our families is to go on nice holidays is to but them nice things etc. all ultimate aims is to make people happy, everything is subordinate to the supreme good, which is happiness.Everyone has different ideas of what happiness is and different things all make different people happy, and Aristotle called this feeling of all round well being eudemonia. Therefore, Virtue Ethics conc entrates on what a person is then what a person does. Its aim is to achieve something, which people genuinely want kinda then being based on arguably incoherent ideas about the after-life. It is a system, which can be easily applied and understood by all. It fits into a variety of philosophies, and religions, which both do and dont include God.However, there are a few problems with Virtue Ethics. Ones of these which has been pointed out by MacIntyre is that although a virtue is the golden hatch between two vices it cannot be applied to all virtues. Virtues such as promise keeping, loyalty, and compassion do not fall between any two vices and so Aristotles theory of this does not really work. other problem with this theory is that it is of little help to people faced with a moral dilemma. It does not help them make a decision like other theories such a natural law or utilitarianism.