1. Modern Scholars, Virtuous People and Strengths and Weaknesses
Lesson Objectives
To understand the example of virtuous people
To understand the modern developments and perspectives on virtue theory
To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of virtue theory

2. The Examples of virtuous people
Another area of virtue ethics is to model behaviour on people whom we may consider virtuous
If you are an aspiring football player you can study the skills and expertise of a good player and try to copy them
There is great diversity between virtuous people e.g.. Ghandi and Bob Geldof
Virtuous role models are not perfect e.g.. Princess Dianna but we can follow her good examples
Role models could also be fictitious e.g. Harry Potter
People with faith may follow Jesus or The prophet Muhammad
Young Christians sometimes wear wristbands withWWJD on. What would Jesus do? To encourage them to be more like him.

3. Is it possible we could be wrong about some people we consider virtuous?
Mother Teresa?
Jesus?
Homework – revision of everything done this year for mock.

4. Alasdair MacIntyre British Philosopher born 1929-
He re-examined the work of Aristotle and was really impressed with what he found and really alarmed at the fact this kind of approach to morality had been ignored and overlooked by western philosophy.
He set about developing a virtue theory for modern readers. In his influential book ‘After Virtue’ (1981) he argued that we live today in ethical confusion a type of moral vacuum where to use moral language such as good, bad, right and wrong no longer makes any sense.

5. He urges people to consider why it is that human beings seem utterly incapable of coming to enough basic agreement in matters of ethics to enable us to deal with the moral chaos that surrounds us. MacIntyre argues forcibly that society needs to reassert Aristotle’s moral and intellectual virtues in society ie in medicine, education, politics and business.

6. Activity
Create a mind map outlining the different approaches to virtue from these modern philosophers
Modern virtue theory
Anscombe
Taylor
MacIntyre
Foot
Hursthouse
Slote

7. Remember your virtue theory scholars with the following: ASTHMA
Aristotle
Slote
Taylor
Hurthouse
MacIntyre
Anscombe

8. Strengths and Weakness
Cut out the cards and put them into two columns strengths and weaknesses

9. Strengths
Weaknesses
Virtue Ethics avoids having to use a formula to work out what we ought to do and focuses on the kind of person we ought to be.
It is good to be biased in favour of friends and family – impartiality is not considered a virtue.
Virtue Ethics tells us how we learn moral principles and involves our entire life – every moment is an opportunity for developing a virtue
Virtue ethics depends on a ‘final end’ which gives shape to our lives – there may not be one and being virtuous may not affect it anyway.
It stresses the importance of character – someone who helps the poor out of compassion is morally superior to someone who helps out of moral duty.
It is difficult to decide who is virtuous, as acts which appear virtuous on the outside may not necessarily have good motives and vice-versa.
Virtue Ethics understands the need to distinguish good people from legalists. Just because someone obeys the law and follows rules does not make them a good person.
How can virtues be fully identified? Are they culturally relative?
Virtue Ethics allows us to combine many aspects of our lives, e.g. our commitment to others, our friends, social responsibilities. It looks at what makes life worthwhile rather than what is right or wrong in a particular situation.
Virtue Ethics seems to praise some virtues that may be seen as immoral (for example soldiers fighting unjust wars might still be courageous, but this does not make them morally good)
Virtue Ethics does not offer an entire solution to the question ‘how can I be good?’ Instead it encourages us to develop into a person who does not need ethical theories to tell us how to behave.
Virtue Ethics does not consider basic concepts such as rights and obligations, so it could be seen as incapable of dealing with big issues – you cannot use it to decide whether an act is right or wrong
Applying Virtue Ethics to moral dilemmas can be difficult. It does not help people facing a crisis as it does no give any clear rules for action

10. Homework
Exam Question: