Aristotle – Virtue Ethics

1. Aristotle – Virtue Ethics • Starter – reminder of the doctrine of the mean, vice, virtues and deficiencies • Ext – A few examples • HWK – Michael Slote article • LO s • To deepen understanding of the traditional formulation of virtue ethics including eudaimonism • To consider what is meant by Aristotilean concepts such as the golden mean and eudaimonia

2. Golden Mean • “Excess is error…deficiency is a fault…mean is successful.” • Aristotle refers to ‘cardinal virtues’ – justice, prudence (being careful), temperance (moderation) and fortitude (courage in adversity). • In pairs, come up with examples for the golden mean in the following situations…internet trolls, use of pornography, bankers bonuses, fair trade food

3. Aristotle • Loved notions of friendship and kindness but also held Greek heroism in high regard. • Virtue ethics teleological as the purpose of reason is to act virtuously and therefore achieve eudaimonia or flourishing happiness

4. Aristotle • Eudaimonia is achievable by anyone but more likely for the wealthy, good looking, educated contemplators. • It is not selfish as one would wish eudaimonia for loved friends and family.

5. Aristotle • “The good for human beings is an activity of the soul in accordance with arête (virtue).” • Rational theory – reason discovers virtue. • As above – to act virtuously leads to a better, happier life.

6. Aristotle - Crits • Virtue might not lead to happiness (self-sacrifice). • Sentimentalists (Hume/Anscombe)vsEudaimonists (Aristotle). • Virtue Ethics very popular today is not Aristotle’s. Either Humean or Neo-Aristotilean.

7. Aristotle the Headmaster • Aristotle is the Headmaster at the school. He is having a conversation with student x about expelling them for bullying. Write the script for the conversation, trying to including key themes and terms. What do you think he would do/say? • Ext – Include one direct quote