Virtue ethics

How do I know what I should do? In this paper, I will argue that ethics require one to view one’s own life as a whole. Ethics concerns how we should act. Actions are deliberate, and deliberation requires ends. Since ends can conflict, a final end is needed to look at life as a whole. An action is a goal directed activity that does not transpire by accident. To Aristotle, actions comprise of two types of values of both living things and inanimate objects: instrumental and intrinsic. Instrumental…

Questions on Three Narratives 1. What is the difference between naysaying ethics and yeasaying ethics? Explain. What does this have to do with the story of the people of LeChambon? Naysaying ethics “forbids our doing certain harmful things”, even if that means to close the eyes to the reality and don’t do what people know it’s a right decision. Yeasaying ethics instead, “urges us to help those whose lives are diminished or threatened” even when helping others could put the own life in risk…

Virtue according to the dictionary means someone with a behavior showing high moral standards. Virtue is like having the ability to do well, it’s something that most people would want to have, virtue is a part of our body and mind, and it’s like that part of us that wants to treat everyone equal without minding their social status. Virtue sometimes has to do with religion, for example, a catholic, they have to go and confess their sins anytime they do something wrong in order to be pure and in…

Aristotle’s virtue ethics over Kantian deontology. In Kantian deontology, to be ethical is to follow one’s duty by acting on only the rules which one can at the same time rationally will that those actions become universal laws, while in Aristotelian virtue ethics, to be ethical is to develop and internalize virtuous habits until one fully becomes virtuous themselves. In turn, the ethical question of ‘What should I do?’ that deontology asks becomes ‘What should I be?’ with virtue ethics, placing…

his book the Nicomachean Ethics. In this book, Aristotle explains the origin, nature, and development of virtues, which are essential for achieving the best and highest good that human beings are capable of, which is happiness. According to Aristotle, happiness is defined as to live well and do well, where virtue is key, but alone it is not enough. In order to be happy, you need full virtue across a complete life, which means that you need to regularly perform all the virtues. Happiness is a…

Virtues as described by Aristotle in book II falls between two extremes or Vices. One side represents the deficits where a cowardice decision is taking place the other side represents the excess of passion where recklessness is. There’s also a middle, the perfect midpoint between the two extremes otherwise known as the golden mean. The golden mean is when a person has access to the right action and achieves equilibrium. Aristotle divides the human brain into parts one part governs and reasons…

Aristotle (384BC-322BC) was a Greek philosopher who is considered to be one of the greatest thinkers in the history of western philosophy and science. One of his most influential works is the Nicomachean Ethics, where he puts forward a theory of happiness that is still pertinent today. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was a British philosopher who has had a considerable influence on contemporary moral and political philosophy. Both Aristotle and John Stuart Mill develop their ethical theories around…

In life, society’s common goal is to be a successful person. But, to what extent will a person go to fulfill this need of success. Does success justify a person intentionally going against his/her morals/ beliefs or doing what deems necessary to be successful? Some may say this would be selfish, others would say this is what it takes to fulfill their dreams. This essay will focus on an upcoming lawyer who is faced with a big responsibility that could possibly hinder the start of his success. It…

people. He dedicated his life to trying to possess all the virtues and cultural practices, and trying to convince others to follow his lead. He hoped that his attempts would save humanity and put them back on the path to the Way. According to Confucius, one could achieve the Way through devotion to traditional cultural forms. One who has eventually mastered all these forms is said to be a gentleman and they now possess the virtue of ren. Ren is described as goodness, or caring for others,…

An ethical situation that I was part of was when I was working as a CNA. It was a normal busy afternoon; I was assisting with feeding, visiting with residents, bringing residents to the restroom; when one resident came up to me and asked if he could have his Tylenol because he had pain; I told the resident that I would inform his nurse. When I notified his nurse of the resident’s request, the nurse responded by complaining about this individual. The nurse claimed this resident always wanted…