Question 1

Which of the following is NOT true about virtue ethicists?

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethicists do not use the hedonic calculus to measure happiness. The hedonic calculus is a tool used by utilitarians to quantify pleasure and pain. Virtue ethicists focus on developing moral character and evaluating actions in terms of whether they align with virtues such as honesty, compassion, and wisdom. They also emphasize the importance of intentions, motives, and moral wisdom in ethical assessments, as opposed to solely focusing on the consequences of actions. Duty is not a central concept in virtue ethics, but rather the cultivation of virtues and ethical excellence.

Question 2

Aristotle's notion of a moral virtue is what he calls:

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's notion of a moral virtue is the Golden Mean, which refers to finding the balance between excess and deficiency in a particular trait or behavior. For example, courage is a virtue, but an excess of courage leads to recklessness, while a deficiency of courage leads to cowardice. The Golden Mean is the virtuous middle ground between these extremes.

Question 3

Aristotle says that the moral life consists not in following moral rules that stipulate right actions,but in:

Accepted Answer

According to Aristotle, the moral life is not about following strict moral rules or performing perfect duties, but rather it is about cultivating virtuous character. Virtue is not just about performing the right actions, but about developing a habituated disposition to naturally do what is right. Therefore, striving to be a virtuous person whose actions stem naturally from virtuous character is the best choice.

Question 4

Aristotle insists that there must be room in morality for:

Accepted Answer

Aristotle emphasizes the importance of moral achievement through the development of virtues and character, which is central to his ethical philosophy.

Question 5

Virtue ethics puts primary emphasis on being a good person and living a good life.

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethics is a theory of ethics that emphasizes the development of moral character and the cultivation of virtues such as honesty, compassion, courage, and wisdom, rather than the application of rules or principles to individual actions. It puts primary emphasis on being a good person and living a good life in order to achieve eudaimonia or a flourishing life.

Question 6

Most virtue ethicists look not to moral principles for guidance but to moral exemplars such as Socrates and Gandhi.

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethicists emphasize the importance of studying and emulating moral exemplars to cultivate virtues rather than following a set of moral principles or rules.

Question 7

Caring is a vital and inescapable part of the moral life.

Accepted Answer

Caring is an essential component of morality, as empathy and compassion are necessary for considering the impact of our actions on others and making ethical decisions.

Question 8

Virtue ethics is a theory of morality that:

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethics focuses on developing and practicing virtues, such as honesty, compassion, and courage, as the basis for moral behavior rather than adhering to specific moral principles or maximizing utility. The theory places greater emphasis on character and the person's intentions rather than simply evaluating actions.

Question 9

There is general agreement among ethicists that a gap exists between the moral thinking styles of men and women.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is general agreement among ethicists that...

Question 10

Virtue theorists believe that right action is unimportant.

Accepted Answer

Virtue theory sees right action as achieving excellence in character, rather than simply following a set of rules or achieving a specific outcome. While the focus is on developing virtuous traits, right action is still important as it is a reflection of a person's character.

Question 11

Aristotle argues that the greatest good for humans is eudaimonia,which means:

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's concept of eudaimonia emphasizes not just pleasure or contentment, but rather a sense of overall flourishing and well-being. This includes a balance of virtues, relationships with others, and a sense of purpose or meaning in life. While altruism and justice may be important aspects of a virtuous life, they are not synonymous with eudaimonia itself.

Question 12

Contemporary virtue ethicists maintain that a full-blown ethics must take into account:

Accepted Answer

Contemporary virtue ethicists argue that virtue ethics must consider not only actions, but also the character traits, intentions, motivations, and moral wisdom that underlie those actions. This perspective emphasizes the importance of developing good character rather than simply following rules or principles.

Question 13

Generally,in virtue ethics,moral obligations are derived from:

Accepted Answer

In virtue ethics, moral obligations are derived from promoting and cultivating positive character traits, or virtues, such as honesty, compassion, and courage. The emphasis is not on following rules or principles, but on developing good habits and dispositions that promote virtuous behavior. Therefore, the best choice is C) virtues.

Question 14

Some argue against virtue ethics by pointing out that a person may possess all the proper virtues and still be unable to tell right from wrong actions.

Accepted Answer

This is a potential criticism of virtue ethics. Virtues may guide a person's behavior, but they do not necessarily ensure ethical decision-making in every situation.

Question 15

Virtue theorists and Kantian theorists agree that we must always act out of a sense of duty,not from such unstable motivations as compassion or loyalty.

Accepted Answer

Virtue theorists and Kantian theorists may prioritize different motivations for action, but they do not necessarily agree that duty is the only acceptable motivation. Virtue theorists, for example, may emphasize the role of compassion and other virtues in guiding moral behavior. Kantian theorists, while prioritizing the concept of duty, also recognize the importance of other motivations such as respect for humanity and the pursuit of the highest good.

Question 16

One criticism of virtue ethics is that it is built on a foundation of circular reasoning,in which the right action is both defined by,and itself defines,the virtuous person.

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethics posits that the right action is the one that a virtuous person would perform, and a virtuous person is defined as one who performs the right action. This circularity has been criticized as a weakness of virtue ethics.

Question 17

Critics of virtue ethics claim that appeals to virtues or virtuous character without reference to principles of duty cannot give us any useful guidance in deciding what to do.

Accepted Answer

Critics of virtue ethics argue that without clear principles of duty, appeals to virtues or virtuous character cannot provide concrete guidance in moral decision-making. Therefore, they contend that virtue ethics is insufficient for making practical moral choices.

Quiz 7: Virtue Ethics: Be a Good Person