1. Virtue Ethics LO: To introduce Virtue Ethics and examine Aristotle’s influence. C – I can explain how culture characterises virtue. B – I can compare Aristotle’s two types of virtue. A – I can analyse the role of the Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics.

2. Key Words Eudaimonia Arete Virtue Vices Moral Virtues Intellectual Virtue LO: To introduce Virtue Ethics and examine Aristotle’s influence. A – I can analyse the role of the Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics. TASK: Draw a picture to represent and define on mini-whiteboards NEW Golden Mean Phronesis Sophron Enkrates Akrates

3. The Golden Mean The doctrine of the mean LO: To examine the principles of Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics. For Aristotle, virtue is to be found in the Golden Mean, which involves finding the balance between two means. We can become ‘good’ by finding the middle point between two extremes: excess and deficiency. TASK: Stick the Moral Virtue Cards on the white board. Work together to decide the vice of excess and deficiency for each virtue. Vice of ExcessVirtuous meanVice of Deficiency RashnessCourageCowardice NEXT STEP: Copy the final decisions into your revision booklet. A – I can analyse the role of the Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics. What are Cardinal virtues and Capital vices?

4. The mean is not the same for everyone. It depends on circumstance. You must apply PHRONESIS to decide on the right course of action. The Golden Mean The doctrine of the mean LO: To introduce Virtue Ethics and examine Aristotle’s influence. A – I can analyse the role of the Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics. Phronesis is necessary as we grow up and move away from rules and the demands of authority figures. We become more autonomous and require a person- centred, virtue-centred morality. Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean produces three types of person: 1.The sophron – naturally lives in the mean without effort. 2.The enkrates – tempted but has strong enough will power to live in the mean. 3.The akrates – (a person without will or weak-willed person) Cannot live in the mean by overcoming temptation. What type of person are you?

5. Can I be a virtuous person? A – I can analyse the role of the Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics. LO: To introduce Virtue Ethics and examine Aristotle’s influence. YES! We are all capable of being virtuous and need to get into the habit of acting virtuously from childhood so that we enjoy being virtuous. HOWEVER, only a few will achieve this and these are the gentleman philosophers. Today we could say this depends on social factors: where we’re raised, our environment and our education. How can we relativise this to today’s society?

6. Consider this... You can use eighty soldiers as a decoy in war, and thereby attack an enemy force and kill several hundred enemy soldiers. Is this virtuous act? Explain your point of view. What might a utilitarian argue? LO1:To introduce Virtue Ethics and examine Aristotle’s influence. A – I can analyse the role of the Golden Mean in Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics.

7. Discuss How useful do you think Virtue Ethics would be in making decisions? How would you apply it in life? LO1:To introduce Virtue Ethics and examine Aristotle’s influence.