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Aristotelian Virtue Ethics

The Highest Good: Eudaimonia

Aristotle posits that every action aims at some good, and ultimately, humans pursue a ‘final end’ or telos—the highest good, called Eudaimonia.

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Telos

The final end or highest good.
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Eudaimonia

Flourishing, well-being, or living well. This term is often translated as ‘happiness,’ but more accurately signifies flourishing, well-being, or living well.
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The Good Life

Eudaimonia is not mere pleasure; it is an activity of the soul according to virtue sustained over a complete life.

The Function Argument (Ergon)

To determine the good for humans, Aristotle asks: what is the human function (ergon)? He reasons:

1

Function Existence

Like a flute-player or sculptor has a function related to their skills, humans have a unique function.
2

Distinctive Feature

The function must involve the distinctive feature of humans: rational activity.
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Good & Virtue

The human good consists in performing this function well, which means rational activity in accordance with virtue (aretē). Thus, virtues are qualities that enable a person to perform their function excellently and achieve Eudaimonia.

Virtues and Vices Explained

Character Traits

Virtues are character traits or dispositions that guide feelings, desires, and actions towards the mean between excess and deficiency. For example, courage is a virtue lying between rashness and cowardice.

Virtues relate to moral and intellectual excellence. Moral virtues concern emotions and actions, while intellectual virtues govern reasoning.

Feelings matter; virtuous people take pleasure in virtuous acts while avoiding excess or deficiency.

Developing Virtue

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Virtue by Practice: Virtue arises through education and habituation—we become virtuous by practicing virtuous acts until they become ingrained. Aristotle compares virtue to a skill or craft; just as mastery requires training, so moral virtue requires repeated practice and cultivation.

Doctrine of the Mean Examples

Virtue is finding the moderate position between extremes of excess and deficiency. This guideline helps explain moral virtues as balanced dispositions developed through experience and reason.

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Courage

A mean between recklessness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency).
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Generosity

A mean between wastefulness (excess) and stinginess (deficiency).

Moral Responsibility: Action Types

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Voluntary ActionsDone with knowledge and without external compulsion, bearing moral responsibility.
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Involuntary ActionsDone under compulsion or ignorance, diminishing responsibility.
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Non-Voluntary ActionsPerformed ignorantly but later reproachable when the agent recognizes the ignorance.

Practical Wisdom (Phronesis)

Virtues guide rational choice + Good deliberation = Phronesis
Practical wisdom (phronesis) is the intellectual virtue enabling one to deliberate well about particular situations, making good decisions about how to live virtuously. Moral virtue requires not just knowing what is right but desiring and choosing rightly, with practical wisdom coordinating reason and emotion.

Issues in Virtue Ethics (Criticisms)

Critics highlight several challenges concerning implementation and definition:

1

Sufficient Guidance for Action

Virtue ethics emphasizes character and practical wisdom but less so on concrete rules. Critics ask whether it offers clear guidance on specific moral dilemmas or conflicts.
2

Clashing/Competing Virtues

Sometimes virtues might conflict (e.g., honesty vs kindness). Aristotle provides no systematic way to resolve conflicts, creating potential moral ambiguity.
3

Potential Circularity

Defining “virtuous act” by the disposition of the virtuous person and “virtuous person” by practice of virtuous acts risks circular definitions. Understanding virtue requires overcoming this philosophical challenge.
4

Contribution to Eudaimonia

Must a Trait Contribute to Eudaimonia to be a Virtue? This raises questions about whether virtues should be individually beneficial or also socially/morally good. The link between personal flourishing and morality may not always align.

Core Summary of the Ethics

Conclusion

Aristotelian virtue ethics centers on Eudaimonia as the final human good achieved through virtuous activity, balanced feelings, and practical wisdom. Virtues are character traits developed by habituation, enabling people to fulfill their function as rational beings. Despite its focus on character and flourishing, challenges remain concerning moral guidance and conflicting virtues.
Aristotle's Ethics Deck
Term
The Good

What does Aristotle mean by ‘the good’?

Answer
Explanation

Every action aims at some good, which ultimately leads to the highest good, Eudaimonia.

Term
Eudaimonia

How is Eudaimonia best understood?

Answer
Explanation

As flourishing, well-being, or living well through virtuous activity, not just pleasure.

Term
Human Function (ergon)

What is the human function (ergon) according to Aristotle?

Answer
Explanation

Rational activity, the distinctive feature of humans.

Term
Virtues (aretē)

What enables humans to perform their function well?

Answer
Explanation

Virtues (aretē), which are qualities for excellent rational activity.

Term
Doctrine of the Mean

What is the Doctrine of the Mean?

Answer
Explanation

Virtue lies in the balanced position between excess and deficiency.

Term
Example of Virtue: Courage

Give an example of a virtue and its extremes.

Answer
Explanation

Courage lies between rashness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency).

Term
Acquisition of Virtues

How are virtues acquired?

Answer
Explanation

Through education, habituation, and repeated practice.

Term
Moral Actions

What types of actions does Aristotle distinguish morally?

Answer
Explanation

Voluntary, involuntary, and non-voluntary actions.

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Practical Wisdom (phronesis)

What is practical wisdom (phronesis)?

Answer
Explanation

The intellectual virtue enabling good deliberation and virtuous decision-making.

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Challenge of Virtue Ethics

Name one challenge of virtue ethics.

Answer
Explanation

Difficulty providing clear guidance on specific moral dilemmas.

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🌸 Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics Quiz

1. Multiple Choice: What is Eudaimonia best described as?

Aristotle says Eudaimonia is flourishing achieved by living virtuously, not just pleasure or external goods.

2. Multiple Choice: According to Aristotle, the human function (ergon) is:

The distinctive feature of humans is rational activity; performing it well leads to the good life.

3. True or False: Virtues lie at an absolute, fixed midpoint between excess and deficiency.

The mean depends on context and individual circumstances; it is not a strict mathematical mean.

4. Multiple Choice: What kind of moral action bears full responsibility?

Only voluntary actions, done knowingly and without external compulsion, bear full moral responsibility.

5. Short Answer: What role does practical wisdom (phronesis) play in virtue ethics?

It is the intellectual virtue that enables good deliberation and decision-making about virtuous actions.

📊 Results

  • Notes and Quiz
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  • A Level
  • Ethics
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