On Virtue Ethics

Nykytyne2 has made an excellent summary of virtue ethics, coupled with a few criticisms. I try to address the objections.

Video I'm responding to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzSBnlaOLN8

Nic's vid on metaethics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFfoB8qXdbY

Professoranton's response to Nic on virtue ethics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKsKnW8Aj3g

I've been ridiculously busy of late, but I hope to have a smattering of new videos up in the (relatively) near future.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Nykytyne2
• ethics
• metaethics
• virtue
• ethical
• theory
• Rosalind
• Hursthouse
• flourishing
• eudaemonia
• Aristotle

[jopustopin]

I couldn't help but notice that you constantly fall into consequentialism in order to defend virtue ethics on difficult moral decisions.

[SisyphusRedeemed]

@jopustopin That's probably due in no small part to the fact that one of the more vocal members of my dissertation committee was a died in the wool utilitarian and I spent a lot of time in both conversation and in my dis trying to rebut him.

[SweetRandal]

I realize that this is very irregular, but is there anyway I could read your dissertation (or at the very least get some bibliographical information from you somehow). I could most likely access your dissertation through the university library (I'm willing to give my personal email, if you'd be willing to share that information with me). If not, totally understandable. Interesting discussion, thank you for your input.

[SisyphusRedeemed]

@SweetRandal Send me a PM with your email address and I'd be happy to email you a copy.

[bananabread119]

So quick question since you advocate Virtue ethics. Would you call a mentally retarded person immoral?

[SisyphusRedeemed]

@bananabread119 See my video on Glenn Beck.

[kristinamlk]

ur so fucking clear andgood at explaining!!! ur right about the complexities of morality

[ThorBarstad]

What´s the point of being ethical if not to make the world around you better, and prevent it from geting worse? If yes, then shouldn´t actions be deemed good or bad only on the basis of this? I simply cannot understand why someone with good reason wouldn´t be an utilitarianist. Oh well...

[4iner2]

What are the other components of virtue ethics besides consequentialism and their metaethical justifications?

Also, your discussion of the third point was a bit confusing. How would your version of virtue ethics be superior to a system which says "maximize human flourishing"?

[Khuno2]

(Cont.) It comes to this. Can you conceive of a virtuous action which explicitly doesn't maximize the good, or even endeavors to? To raise the bar, let's idealize such a case by including that the agents have complete knowledge. It seems as if the virtue ethicist is committed to this possibility (even in a case of complete knowledge of the consequences of the actions). I just can't see how anyone could call it ethical. Perhaps you could illuminate by fleshing out just such a possibility.

[Khuno2]

I enjoyed this very much, btw. I don't agree that consequence isn't the be all and end all of virtue ethics (and all ethics, even Kantian deontology by way of Dr. Hare's curious alchemy which wed it to utilitarianism...which Kant would take great offense to, I'm confident) . I do like the open endedness of virtue ethics (they aren't meant to be rigidly defined, but are perfectionist). (Cont.)

[Khuno2]

"Virtue ethics recognizes that there are other moral values that need to be taken into consideration."

"The fact that the various virtues may derive their value from GOOD consequences"

If by 'may', you are suggesting that a virtue could derive its value from anything OTHER than good consequences or the tendency to bring them about if operational in an agent's psychological makeup, I'd like to hear it. Because as it stands, the collapse into consequentialism is guaranteed by your own words.

[P00bex]

This was pretty useful, thanks :) I've got a much better understanding of the topic now!

[samgardnermusic]

nice one, :) im intregued.

[SisyphusRedeemed]

@imseaton That's so cool! Husrthouse is one of the few thinkers who actually makes me wish I could go back in time and apply to grad school at UA to study with her. I met her once and spoke with her briefly about my dissertation, and she seemed kind and genuinely interested. So color me a little jealous!