The Basics Of Virtue Ethics

Virtue Ethics, otherwise known as Aretaic Ethics, is a person based moral theory first suggested by Aristotle in ‘Nichomachaen Ethics’ approximately 350 BCE. He claimed that the practice of his intellectual and moral virtues was the true path to eudemonia: the ultimate sense of happiness and contentment for a human being, born of the realisation of our potential for reasoning and purpose (or ‘telos’). According to Aristotle, virtues were to be found in compromise. What he referred to as the ‘golden mean’ (virtue,) was located in the balance between vices, for example, the golden mean of courage being found between rashness and cowardice.

Despite being a respected philosopher, in the centuries following Aristotle’s death, his moral virtues have come under scrutiny for several reasons, the first being the problem of relativity. According to A. Maclntyre, virtues are relative in that they evolve and change with society because virtues are qualities which have beneficial effects for the community. By the same logic, therefore, virtue is defined not only by the time period, but also by culture and circumstance. For example, three thousand years ago, physical strength and bravery were perhaps the most admirable qualities in a man. Today, however, society has less need for physical strength because our methods of warfare have developed, and international law has developed to dissuade expansion. Therefore, intelligence and ambition better serve society in contributing to the economy and is therefore considered more of a virtue.

However, it could also be argued that certain virtues such as compassion, patience and courage are timeless, and are as important in modern life as they were in the time of Aristotle. Additionally, that while core virtues remain set in stone, society’s perceptions and value of these virtues changes over time. For example, there are certain virtues that we value more highly today than in the ancient world, but even then they were virtues, just not as well recognised as such.

Another fundamental criticism of Aristotle’s moral virtues is religious. According to Christianity, mankind may rely only upon God’s grace for our development as individuals, and that our personal evolution is the result of his work, rather than our own efforts. St. Thomas Aquinas believed that Aristotle’s position on the subject did not show the proper respect for God’s laws, and that the dogmatic instruction of the church, such as the Decalogue (or the ten commandments,) was more able to provide guidance to the masses because of its straightforward, simplistic nature.