I will begin by stating three theses which I present in this paper. The first is that it is not profitable for us at present to do moral philosophy. The second is that the concepts
The invitation to speak on the theme of ‘Virtue Ethics in the Medieval Period’ was qualified with the phrase “please feel free to interpret that broad remit in any way you like”. I
As interest in virtue ethics has developed and spread, a variety of accounts of virtue, and of virtue ethics, has emerged. We are now familiar not only with neo-Aristotelian accoun
Virtue ethics is currently one of three major approaches in normative ethics. It may, initially, be identified as the one that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, in contra
Virtue ethics is an approach to normative ethical theory that builds upon the notion that virtue evaluation is primary. For this reason it is useful to distinguish virtue ethics it
Virtue ethics has its origin in the ancient world, particularly in the writings of Plato and Aristotle. It has been revived following an article by G. E. M. Anscombe critical of mo
"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of p
The splendour of truth shines forth in all the works of the Creator and, in a special way, in man, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26). Truth enlightens man's i
A full moral evaluation of a human action or activity involves assessing the character and motives of a) the agent, b) the nature of what they did, and c) the consequences of this - typically those intended, foreseen, or reasonably. The most common and favoured philosophical approach is to attach primacy to the value of either a) or b) or c) and then to explain the value of the others and of the overall action or activity in terms of that. On this basis it is possible to classify ethical theories. Consequentialism is that family of theories that begins with an evaluation of sorts of outcomes or consequences and judges a type of action or activity good (or bad) according to whether it promotes consequences of that sort, and assesses character and motive in terms of whether they are directed towards good (or bad action) so defined. Deontological or duty-based theories take b) to have priority and explain the goodness or badness of a) and c) in terms of this, e.g. suppose lying is a bad kind of action then the consequence of lying in as much as it was due to that is itself morally bad, and likewise the motive to lie is bad because of the intrinsic badness of lying. Virtue ethics in its purest form is the approach which attaches evaluative priority to character and motive, and derives the value of action and outcome by reference to this. So, for example, giving money to the poor is not morally good (though it may be consequentially beneficial) if it is done from the motive of displaying one’s affluence, or seeking praise. A more limited version of virtue ethics is one which allows that other considerations matter in themselves, e.g. type of action, and outcome, but that character is an ineliminable and non-reducible aspect of moral evaluation.