Aristotle's Virtue Ethics - AQA A Level Philosophy
4 reasons why people think Virtue Ethics doesn't give clear guidance on how to act - ANS-- The
Golden Mean is different in different situations
- "too much" and "too little" aren't quantities on a scale
- Without practical wisdom I cannot know what a viruous person would do in order to become
virtuous, and I need to be virtuous to understand what is good and thus have practical wisdom
- We don't know how to tell if we are virtuous/have practical wisdom/right desires. This makes it
hard to tell whose desire to prioritise.
Define telelogical - ANS-Considering the end result and the purpose served, rather than the
cause.
Give a situation where negative traits that don't contribute to Eudaimonia would be considered
virtuous. - ANS-In a WW2 concentration camp - you may be forced to be cowardly/deceptive
regularly, making these traits into habituated vices. However, they would still be the right thing to
do in the circumstances.
Give an example of an issue arising from conflicting virtues. - ANS-The axe murderer - honesty
conflicts with kindness.
How did Aristotle describe lying? - ANS-"in itself mean and culpable"
How did Aristotle differentiate between unjust situations caused by actions and unjust situation
caused by states of affairs? - ANS-- If a situation is caused by an unjust state of affairs then
deliberately choosing an unjust act is worse, so you shouldn't steal
- If a situation is caused by unjust acts then the situation demands justice, which may justify
stealing (although you must apply practical wisdom)
How did Aristotle eliminate pleasure, wealth and honour as his "final end"? - ANS-- Animals
seek pleasure; pleasure-seeking is a "bovine existance
- Money is only a means to an end
- Honour is only achieved through doing something, so that thing is the final end, not the honour.
How did Russell view virtue ethics? - ANS-Virtue ethics doesn't refer to helping other people
and some of the traits involved such as pride would make us uncomfortable, so Russell
observed that Aristotle's ideal person would only be looking out for themselves.
How do we have to think about moral decisions under Aristotle? - ANS-A virtuous person does
not have to persuade themselves to behave virtuously, they just do it instinctively. However, by
constantly choosing to be virtuous we will form a habit.
, How does Aristotle solve the issue of competing virtues? - ANS-Sometimes the mean can lie in
an extreme. You just need to use your practical widom.
How does the flexibility of the golden mean help us determine how moral violent games are? -
ANS-Some people can distinguish the game from reality and not develop vices, so playing
might be acceptable to them. Others may use the game to fantasise about killing, which is not
acceptable.
How have modern virtue ethicists justified stealing? - ANS-If there is a conflict of virtues e.g.
justice vs kindness, then the virtue stopping you from stealing may be considered less
important.
How is the definition of Eudaimonia circular? - ANS-- A person reaches Eudaimonia by doing
virtuous acts
- Virtuous acts are acts done by virtuous people
- Virtuous people are people who have reached Eudaimonia
How is the definition of virtue circular? - ANS-- A virtuous act is an act done by a virtuous person
- A virtuous person is a person who does virtuous acts
How would you dispute cases where traits that don't contribute to Eudaimonia would be
considered virtuous? - ANS-Developing vices in the short-term may still contribute to
Eudaimonia if they allow you to survive so you can flourish later.
In what situation did Aristotle think lying was more excuseable? - ANS-Lying to protect your
reputation is much better than lying for money. Also, much like clashing virtues, practical
wisdom could be used to tell if lying is appropriate.
What are Aristotle's three levels of happiness? - ANS-- The pleasure-seekers: driven by basic
desires
- Seekers of honour: solving important issues to get honour e.g. politics
- Those who love contemplation
What are the issues surrounding how a virtuous person would engage with violent video
games? - ANS-- Would a virtuous person play them at all, as time spent playing could be better
spent developing virtues?
- What sort of strategies would they use? Wouldn't they be more likely to minimise deaths and
kill in a more humane way?
- What parts of the game would give them pleasure? The competitiveness or the death?
What are the two different interpretations of Aristotle's views on lying? - ANS-- Lying has no
mean
- Truth is an end in itself
4 reasons why people think Virtue Ethics doesn't give clear guidance on how to act - ANS-- The
Golden Mean is different in different situations
- "too much" and "too little" aren't quantities on a scale
- Without practical wisdom I cannot know what a viruous person would do in order to become
virtuous, and I need to be virtuous to understand what is good and thus have practical wisdom
- We don't know how to tell if we are virtuous/have practical wisdom/right desires. This makes it
hard to tell whose desire to prioritise.
Define telelogical - ANS-Considering the end result and the purpose served, rather than the
cause.
Give a situation where negative traits that don't contribute to Eudaimonia would be considered
virtuous. - ANS-In a WW2 concentration camp - you may be forced to be cowardly/deceptive
regularly, making these traits into habituated vices. However, they would still be the right thing to
do in the circumstances.
Give an example of an issue arising from conflicting virtues. - ANS-The axe murderer - honesty
conflicts with kindness.
How did Aristotle describe lying? - ANS-"in itself mean and culpable"
How did Aristotle differentiate between unjust situations caused by actions and unjust situation
caused by states of affairs? - ANS-- If a situation is caused by an unjust state of affairs then
deliberately choosing an unjust act is worse, so you shouldn't steal
- If a situation is caused by unjust acts then the situation demands justice, which may justify
stealing (although you must apply practical wisdom)
How did Aristotle eliminate pleasure, wealth and honour as his "final end"? - ANS-- Animals
seek pleasure; pleasure-seeking is a "bovine existance
- Money is only a means to an end
- Honour is only achieved through doing something, so that thing is the final end, not the honour.
How did Russell view virtue ethics? - ANS-Virtue ethics doesn't refer to helping other people
and some of the traits involved such as pride would make us uncomfortable, so Russell
observed that Aristotle's ideal person would only be looking out for themselves.
How do we have to think about moral decisions under Aristotle? - ANS-A virtuous person does
not have to persuade themselves to behave virtuously, they just do it instinctively. However, by
constantly choosing to be virtuous we will form a habit.
, How does Aristotle solve the issue of competing virtues? - ANS-Sometimes the mean can lie in
an extreme. You just need to use your practical widom.
How does the flexibility of the golden mean help us determine how moral violent games are? -
ANS-Some people can distinguish the game from reality and not develop vices, so playing
might be acceptable to them. Others may use the game to fantasise about killing, which is not
acceptable.
How have modern virtue ethicists justified stealing? - ANS-If there is a conflict of virtues e.g.
justice vs kindness, then the virtue stopping you from stealing may be considered less
important.
How is the definition of Eudaimonia circular? - ANS-- A person reaches Eudaimonia by doing
virtuous acts
- Virtuous acts are acts done by virtuous people
- Virtuous people are people who have reached Eudaimonia
How is the definition of virtue circular? - ANS-- A virtuous act is an act done by a virtuous person
- A virtuous person is a person who does virtuous acts
How would you dispute cases where traits that don't contribute to Eudaimonia would be
considered virtuous? - ANS-Developing vices in the short-term may still contribute to
Eudaimonia if they allow you to survive so you can flourish later.
In what situation did Aristotle think lying was more excuseable? - ANS-Lying to protect your
reputation is much better than lying for money. Also, much like clashing virtues, practical
wisdom could be used to tell if lying is appropriate.
What are Aristotle's three levels of happiness? - ANS-- The pleasure-seekers: driven by basic
desires
- Seekers of honour: solving important issues to get honour e.g. politics
- Those who love contemplation
What are the issues surrounding how a virtuous person would engage with violent video
games? - ANS-- Would a virtuous person play them at all, as time spent playing could be better
spent developing virtues?
- What sort of strategies would they use? Wouldn't they be more likely to minimise deaths and
kill in a more humane way?
- What parts of the game would give them pleasure? The competitiveness or the death?
What are the two different interpretations of Aristotle's views on lying? - ANS-- Lying has no
mean
- Truth is an end in itself
