Do you need to know someone's motivation for acting to evaluate whether he or she has acted virtuously? Why?
A) No, because all that matters in thinking about virtue is whether the person acts as a truly virtuous person would.
B) Yes, because doing the virtuous thing isn't really acting virtuously if it's done from the wrong motivation.
C) No, because motivation matters for determining whether someone is a virtuous person, but not whether they acted virtuously.
D) Yes, because doing the virtuous thing is only virtuous if you act from a sense of moral obligation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Motivation is crucial in evaluating virtuous actions because an action done with the wrong motivation may not reflect true virtue. Virtue ethics emphasizes the importance of the agent's character and intentions.

Do You Need to Know Someone's Motivation for Acting to Evaluate