Virtue And Virtue Ethics

863 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character development broad point

Virtue is the moral excellence that an engineer has to abide by in order to achieve a sense of achievement and virtuous gratification towards his actions. Specifically, virtue ethics emphasizes the individual’s character of the action. Virtue relates to engineering by allowing engineers to practice their intellectual virtues which stems from learning and their ethical virtues which stems from habit. Virtue ethics emphasizes that it is who you are that counts and one should value character, a person’s moral habits. Aristotle believed that one can achieve a virtuous state when his/her potential is actualized. He believed that “the essential nature of things lay not at their cause (or beginning) but at their end (telos)”. This means that one
Virtue or excellence is a “mean between two extremes of defect and excess”. Virtue is the “just right” mean between the two extremes and these means are: courage, temperance, prudence, and justice.
Aristotle also specified two distinct area of virtue; virtues of character and virtues of thought. Virtues of character are means “between two extremes of defect and excess”, also known as the cardinal virtues. An example of this character is courage, it is the mean between cowardice and brashness. Virtues of thought specializes on one’s wisdom and intelligence. An example of this virtue is techne, or skill, it is one’s ability to write poetry and essays in a skillful manner.
I have acquired some virtues throughout my time spent here at Texas A&M University. Throughout my time spent at this university, I have attained two of the main virtues of character. I have developed the virtue of temperance by not being self-indulgent nor insensitive. Throughout my life, I have realized the importance of maintaining a perfect mean for pleasure. One should not self-indulge on things such as video games, food, and sleep. I have found that one should maintain a good steady diet and a good sleep schedule in order to achieve this virtue. Furthermore, I have realized that one should be just and giving to the people that surrounds them. Justice is the idea of giving and one should give to those who are in need. In my time here at A&M, I have volunteered and given my time for those who are in need and I gave them my straight to help improve their current

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

  • Difference Between Aristotle And Hobbes

    1190 Words  | 3 Pages

    He stated, “So virtue is a provisional disposition… virtue is a mean; but in respect of what is right and what is right and best, it is an extreme (Aristotle, 42).” Here Aristotle explains that moral virtue is determined by reason and that it avoids the states of too much, excess, or too little, deficiency. He believes that our soul is the principle of living because it is inside of us. Therefore, for Aristotle the soul was morally which is where we are given the right reason. He believes that, “there are two parts of the soul, one rational and one irrational (Aristotle, 145).” The rational part, which is how he believe we should do our actions upon, consists of possessing reason, part that can think and command, and intellectual virtues, which are virtues that come from time and experience. Courage is a moral virtue. When having courage, you either have too much fear, which makes you a coward, or you have too little fear, where you’d be considered rash or fool hardy. Generosity is also a moral virtue. When you are generous, you are either giving too much, which makes you profligate, or you are giving too little which would consider you as a stingy person. Moral virtues lead you to happiness because of their intermediate state that is by

    Read More

  • Seneca's Seneca Cause And Effect (Revision)

    1230 Words  | 3 Pages

    The effects of virtue are illustrated through the characteristics of, kindness, love for the common man, and inner strength. Seneca throughout his letter does a brilliant job illustrating the causes of the lack of virtue in overall studies, and how it has affected the people of the world. Students are losing morality and the education system, they way its going, isn’t

    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

  • Rhetoric Analysis

    1860 Words  | 4 Pages

    Its primary aim is to praise and blame and it deals with excellence, goodness, shame, nobility, honor and matters of vice and virtue. According to Aristotle, virtue comprises courage, justice, magnificence, liberality, self-control, magnanimity, gentleness and wisdom that is speculative.

    Read More

  • Is Aristotelian Virtue Ethics a Successful Moral Theory?

    1806 Words  | 4 Pages

    Aristotle develops his virtue ethics by first considering ends and goods. He claims that “every action and decision, seems to seek some good” (Shafer-Landau 2013, 615). Aristotle states that we pursue certain things because of the benefits it brings itself and other consequences it may bring. Aristotle suggests that this is the same for goodness. We must pursue what is good for good itself and for any other benefits it may bring. Furthermore, Aristotle suggests that through pursuing the good, we are able to determine the best way of life (Shafer-Landau 2013, 615).

    Read More

  • Virtue Epistemology Essay

    1101 Words  | 3 Pages

    Is virtue all we need? Virtue epistemology is the theory that all of the things we believe are done so through an ethical process. They play an important role, in that our own personal experiences and intellectual facets are what drive this process. The fundamental idea of virtue epistemology is that knowledge is a form of a more general phenomenon, namely success through abilities. Which is turn means: knowledge is a cognitive achievement through cognitive abilities (perception, memory, experience, etc.). Knowledge doesn’t need to be anything beyond a justified true belief.

    Read More

  • Utilitarianism In John Mill: A Form Of Hedonism

    1154 Words  | 3 Pages

    He contends that while a general outline can be provided for ethical behavior, real life is much more situational and particular occurances require quicker thinking. In his vitue ethics, to remain virtuous in a world such as this means we must be conditioned to be vitruous. Aristotle claims that virtue is not inherent in a human, but rather nature predesposes us to be virtuous and we must hone this as we would hone any other art or skill. He asserts that "we become just by doing just acts" (124) in order to illustrate that ethics are not simply an idea but rather that we learn ethics through learning how to live. In striving to be fullfilled in life, we naturally aquire abilities pertinent to an ethical life. Aristotle belives that the best way to act justly is by acting as a just person would act. Basically this means learning by observation as well as basing moral decisions on factors that are outside our own self interest. He shows that while we are not good by nature, in striving to be good, we naturally aquire the state of character of a good person. Aristotle also places heavy emphasis on the concept of living in the mean. He believes that living in between two extremes of a character trait is almost always to best choice, as there are excess to any state of character. We remedy this by finding a balance between the two extremes and acting towards that

    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

  • Aristotle: Ethics and the Virtues

    2252 Words  | 5 Pages

    Aristotle begins his ethical account by saying that “every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and every choice, is thought to aim for some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim” (line 1094a1). Though some things might produce higher good than others, Aristotle looks for the highest good, which he says we must “desire for its own sake” and our actions are not decided on some other goal beyond this good itself (line 1094a20-25).[1] This highest good is then realized to be happiness (line 1095a16-20).

    Read More

  • Virtue Ethics Approach

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    Emphasis on pleasure and emotion – it is good that we should enjoy acting virtuously

    Read More

  • Aristotle's Philosophy on Purpose

    893 Words  | 2 Pages

    Interest is sparked in this area that Aristotle writes of because there is a natural need for Ethics in human life. John K. Roth states, “Aristotle assumes that all things, human beings included, have a good, a purpose or end, which it is their nature to fulfill”. This helps one understand Aristotle’s way of thinking, and provides insight to the basis of his theories. A common theory explored by Aristotle is the Ethics of Virtues, and how to practice them. A theory included in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics is the unity of all the virtues, and in order to be virtuous, one must exhibit all the virtues. One of these virtues being practical wisdom, or Phronesis.

    Read More

  • Virtue Ethics

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    times. Then the sand was sunk. Aristotle was a great believer in virtues and the meaning of virtue to him meant being able to fulfil one's functions. Virtue ethics is not so much interested in the question, "What should I do?" but rather the question 'what sort of person should I become?'

    Read More

  • Virtue Ethics And Immanuel Kant's Virtue Ethics

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    Aristotle states in his writings that it is infact ethically justified to lie but only when it is the mean between the two extremes, meaning that every virtue has two opposites. The first being excess and the second deficiency. For example, in a situation that involves fear the person who falls under the excess category would be rash, the person under deficiency would be a coward, and the mean would be courageous. Aristotle stressed that it is important to be a person that is the mean between deficiency and excess. A person in the mean would be someone who is virtuous and someone who has the best character traits. The traits, good or bad, are created by one 's natural tendencies. Aristotle says, “Virtue lies in our power, and similarly so does vice; because where it is in our power to act, it is also in our power not to act...” He believes that everyone has the power of their own actions. The actions that they make will eventually become their natural tendencies whether they are good or bad. This means that in Aristotle 's eyes everyone has the opportunity to be a virtuous person if they make the right

    Read More

  • Virtue

    810 Words  | 2 Pages

    Virtues contribute to people’s actions in today’s society. Society as a whole has a common set of virtues that many people agree on. In today’s society, these are known as laws. Virtues also mold the individual outlook on life, and give them the moral’s to do what is right. In The Republic, Plato divides the city into three classes: gold, silver, as well as bronze and iron souls. Each class is designated to posses a specific virtue. He believes that wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice combine together to form The Republic. However, Plato’s four virtues individually do not necessarily produce a utopian society. A combination of the four in each citizen is imperative in producing the ideal society. In Plato’s search for the perfect "republic", he decides that the basis of the city will be on four virtues. The first of them is wisdom. Plato defines wisdom, in Greek terms "Sophia", as knowledge of the city as a whole. Of the three classes, the gold souls posses the virtue of wisdom. The gold souls are the only class whose knowledge goes beyond the mere facts to the level of true wisdom. "…This class, which properly has a share in that knowledge which alone among the various kinds of knowledge ought to be called wisdom, has, as it seems, the fewest members by nature" (429a). The second virtue that Plato defines is courage, which in Greek terms is "Andreia". Courage is the preservation of the opinion produced by law, through education about what things are terrible, and what things are good. Courage can be found in the silver souls. Plato uses the example that when dyers want to dye wool, they start with the background. They need the right kind of white material, and they have to prepare it carefully; and if they go to...

    Read More

More about Virtue And Virtue Ethics

Open Document