Comparing Socrates And Meno's Definition Of Virtue Ethics

532 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Aristotle’s theory of virtue

Differences There are many different opinions and theories about the subject of ethics. There are also many different branches and beliefs. Virtue ethics is the main branch we have discussed throughout this course. By studying Socrates’ and Meno’s views on virtue ethics, I have come to develop my own definition of virtue ethics and what it stands for. We have also studied Immanuel Kant’s opinions on duty and the ultimate goal and meaning of life. This has helped mold my opinions on teleology, our purpose in life. This paper will answer the questions of what virtue ethics is, if I believe all human beings are teleological, and if every human being has the same purpose in life. The founding fathers of virtue ethics are Aristotle and Plato. Through Plato’s “Meno”, examples and definitions of virtue ethics are voiced through Socrates and Meno. …show more content…

Each person has a purpose, whether that’s saving lives, discovering new technology, or enhancing the minds of the next generation. That is what makes our world so diverse. Every human being has a different calling in life and our purpose cannot be determined by anyone but ourselves. The one purpose or duty that I think all humans may share is happiness or Eudaimonia. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Eudaimonia is “usually translated as happiness or flourishing”. No matter what purpose or duty a person has, I think we all just want to be happy and content with our lives and what we do. Throughout this course, I have learned many things about ethics. I now understand the importance and how much of a presence ethics has in my everyday life. Virtue ethics focuses on one’s moral character as the groundwork for one’s behavior. Every human being is teleological and strives to fulfill their purpose in life. There is no one purpose for every individual. This is what creates variation, diversity, and

Show More
Related

  • Virtues of Character and Joe Arpaio: A Virtuous Man

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Virtue ethics is an approach that “deemphasizes rules, consequences and particular acts and places the focus on the kind of person who is acting” (Garrett, 2005). A person’s character is the totality of his character traits. Our character traits can be goo...

    Read More

  • Explaining Aristotle, S Virtue Ethics In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

    1636 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Aristotle 's Nicomachean Ethics, the basic idea of virtue ethics is established. The most important points are that every action and decision that humans make is aimed at achieving the good or as Aristotle 's writes, “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and choice, is thought to aim at the good... (Aristotle 1094a). Aristotle further explains that this good aimed for is happiness.

    Read More

  • The Virtues of the Vices of Virtue Ethics by Robert Louden

    1596 Words  | 4 Pages

    On Virtue Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003. http://www.oxfordscholarship.com. ———. "

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Rosalind Hursthouse's On Virtue Ethics

    2529 Words  | 6 Pages

    In this article “On Virtue Ethics”, Rosalind Hursthouse attempts to formulate and defend her moral philosophy of neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics to its rivals utilitarianism and deontology. She is also interested in rebutting claims that virtue ethics cannot give us guidance on what to do in a particular situation because it emphasizes on character formation. She does this by saying that there are claims that virtue ethics cannot be a genuine rival towards utilitarianism and deontology (often referred to as duty ethics), because virtue ethics is “agent-centered” rather than “What sorts of actions should I do?” These claims state that ethical theories should be able to tell us about right actions which utilitarianism and deontology do. However, she fights back by saying that virtue ethics says that right action is an action that is among those available. It is an action that a virtuous human would do characteristically under the circumstances that they are in. She then goes on to say that with virtue ethics the agent is one who has, and exercises, certain character traits which are virtues. This means that virtue is a character trait a human being needs to flourish in life. She compares this with the other two saying that while utilitarianism and deontology introduce consequences and moral rule, virtue ethics does not focus on that and rather focuses on the virtuous agent and the criteria that person follows.

    Read More

  • The Conversation Between Meno And Socrates

    630 Words  | 2 Pages

    In what we’ve come to call “Part 1” of the Meno (70a-80a), we find a similar process of conversation between Meno and Socrates and other interlocutors from the early Socratic dialogues. Meno claims to have knowledge on what virtue is and through conversation with Socrates on trying to find what virtue is in and of itself, Meno is brought to a

    Read More

  • Is Aristotelian Virtue Ethics a Successful Moral Theory?

    1806 Words  | 4 Pages

    Virtue ethics is a moral theory that was first developed by Aristotle. It suggests that humans are able to train their characters to acquire and exhibit particular virtues. As the individual has trained themselves to develop these virtues, in any given situation they are able to know the right thing to do. If everybody in society is able to do the same and develop these virtues, then a perfect community has been reached. In this essay, I shall argue that Aristotelian virtue ethics is an unsuccessful moral theory. Firstly, I shall analyse Aristotelian virtue ethics. I shall then consider various objections to Aristotle’s theory and evaluate his position by examining possible responses to these criticisms. I shall then conclude, showing why Aristotelian virtue ethics is an unpractical and thus an unsuccessful moral theory in reality.

    Read More

  • Why Torture is Morally Wrong

    2139 Words  | 5 Pages

    Hursthouse, R. (2003, July 18). Virtue Ethics. Stanford University. Retrieved March 6, 2014, from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2013/entries/ethics-virtue

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Virtue Ethics And Virtue Theory

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    Virtue theory is the best ethical theory because it emphasizes the morality of an individual in which their act is upon pure goodness and presents as a model to motivate others. Aristotle was a classical proponent of virtue theory who illustrates the development habitual acts out of moral goodness. Plato renders a brief list of cardinal virtues consisting of wisdom, temperance, courage, and justice. This ethical theory prominently contradicts and links to other theories that personifies the ideal being. However, virtue theorists differ from their own expression of these qualities yet it sets a tone that reflects on the desire to express kindness toward others.

    Read More

  • Comparing Athanassoulis's Approach To Virtue Ethics

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    Those who support the action-guiding rebuttal suggest that there is a lack of rigidity to the virtue ethicist’s approach to the normative question (Athanassoulis, pp. 17). Both Kantian and Utilitarian ethics provide in their doctrine clearly defined rules regarding how to distinguish moral conduct. Critics claim that this rigidity is a strength to the doctrines, allowing its followers to explicitly know how to conduct themselves. Conversely, virtue ethics responds to the normative question by suggesting that men should live a virtuous life through good moral character (Athanassoulis, pp. 1). Critics suggest that imprecision regarding the definition of virtue its application can create an ambiguous understanding of what it means to conduct a ‘good’ life: “A theory that fails to be action-guiding is no good as a moral theory” (Athanassoulis, pp. 17). Consider, for example, a new recruit for the local pick-up football team.

    Read More

  • Strengths Of Virtue Ethics Essay

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    The concept of virtue ethics was first developed by Aristotle in 'nichomachean ethics '. He believed that the point of ethics is to become good, and virtue ethics highlights this well. It is an agent centred idea of morality and focuses on how a person can develop virtues and what sort of person you should be, rather than how you should act in order to be good. An alternative name for it is aretaic ethics, which comes from the Greek arete meaning any kind of excellence.

    Read More

  • Socrates Vs Meno

    400 Words  | 1 Pages

    Per Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, virtue is defined as, “conformity to a standard of right; a particular moral excellence; right action and thinking.” In the modern era, one would assume that virtue can be defined as easily as one finds a definition on the internet. It is important to note, however, that Socrates’ life was based on finding a concrete definition for this term, but — from the lack of previous philosophies — this construct was yet to be defined properly. Nonetheless, in Plato’s Meno, Socrates seeks to answer the ubiquitous question that was unconventional for the time: can virtue be taught? This question, thousands of years later, continues to be debated in one form or another. Whether it is discussed as nature versus nurture — innate or through experience respectively — or through

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Virtue And Virtue Ethics

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    This type of theory is completely different than Kantian Ethics. The idea that one’s characteristics are what makes up their morality. This is where the right action is considered to be determined “not by consulting rules, but by asking what a truly virtuous person would do”. This type of ethical theory was seen as a different method and had even inspired philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, and Gandhi. Virtue Ethics implies that we do the right thing for the right reason and by “developing virtues” would be the way to achieve a satisfying life. This method is considered to be part of the healing arts, and is a quality that is expected in healthcare positions by displaying the virtues of compassion, honesty, and trustworthiness. Virtue Ethics is one of the theories that some individuals can relate to including myself. Through Virtue Ethics we can see a relation or almost common area in the theory of The Ethics of Care where the focus shifts to the virtues and feelings to close relationships. Ethics Care is thought of the belief that moral life is about feeling for and caring for someone who may have a special connection with. Virtue Ethics and Ethics of Care are similar to a degree on the basis that both theories are indicating that the idea of morality may be established through compassion and caring and can be seen as the most influential theory that no other theories truly took into

    Read More

  • Virtue Ethics

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    Virtue Ethics Virtue ethics is a theory used to make moral decisions. It does not rely on religion, society or culture; it only depends on the individuals themselves. The main philosopher of Virtue Ethics is Aristotle. The. His theory was originally introduced in ancient Greek.

    Read More

  • Ethics In Air Force One

    686 Words  | 2 Pages

    Three of the primary schools of ethics include virtue, teleological and deontological ethics. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, virtue ethics is primarily concerned with traits of character that are essential to human flourishing, not with the enumeration of duties. Teleological ethics is

    Read More

  • Consequences of Desire

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    I truly believe that every single person in the world has a purpose in life. God created each and every one of us for a reason. Whether we know it or not our life is planned and we follow a path throughout our life. In this path, we have the option to make good decisions or bad decisions. In order to achieve salvation and enter a virtuous after life we had to do deeds that had a positive impact on other people. In order to do this though, one must have the self-discipline and devotion to God. There are many obstacles that can get in the way of achieving this goal and the main one is our desires. Desire is a strong feeling of something we want or wish to have. Our desire negatively impacts our life because it detaches our body both physically and emotionally from our mind which then influences us to make morally wrong decisions.

    Read More

More about Comparing Socrates And Meno's Definition Of Virtue Ethics

Open Document