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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

GNED02 – ETHICS

Intended Learning Objectives:

After the completion of the chapter, students will be able to:
1. Understand what Virtue Theory is;
2. Know the Golden Mean;
3. Recognize its implication in Ethics.

“The marvellous truth is that the One who knows us best is the One who loves us most. As Don Carson
succinctly put it, “what matters most in God’s universe is what God thinks of us.” Mark Dever in Preaching the
Cross.

ARISTOTLE’S VIRTUE THEORY

Virtue ethics is a philosophy developed by Aristotle and other ancient Greeks. ... This character-based approach
to morality assumes that we acquire virtue through practice. By practicing being honest, brave, just, generous, and so
on, a person develops an honorable and moral character (philosophy-question.com)
Virtue theory proclaims that people ought to incorporate certain virtues, defined as excellent traits, as part of
their characters by habituating themselves to the practice of such traits as honesty and courage, etc. The opposite of
virtues are vices. (decafquest.com)
Aristotle’s virtue ethics is an inquiry into how humans should live in order to achieve the highest good,
eudaimonia in Greek. This term is often translated as ‘happiness’ but can also mean ‘flourishing’. Humans seek this
highest good, this flourishing in accordance with human nature, which, for Aristotle, is set apart by rationality.
If we use reason well, we live as human beings; or, to be more precise, using reason well over the course of a full
life is what happiness (flourishing) consists in. Doing anything well requires virtue or excellence, and therefore living
well consists in activities caused by the rational soul in accordance with virtue. (society-for-philosophy-in-practice.org)

VIRTUE and VICE

“Aristotle describes virtue as a habit, a tendency of character to act in accordance with the practical reason toward
worthy ends.” - society-for-philosophy-in-practice.org
 “Vices, on the other hand, are irrational habits or practices because they often stem from passion which often goes
beyond reason.” – Francisco Zulueta
Virtues lie in the middle between two extremes: excesses and deficiencies. Living in accordance with reason means
adopting a balanced approach. It’s the continuous pursuit of the mean between these two extremes.

The ethic of the Golden Mean is an ethic of moderation. The mean is not merely the middle, but a mean that is
relative to a person’s circumstances.
Moral Virtue is a learned feeling and capacity for discernment about what is good (Moral choices, pg. 54).
Acquiring moral virtue requires rigorous training and proper habit patterns.
Virtue is a skill, a way of living and that’s something that can only really be learned through experience.
Moral Exemplars – people who already possess virtue. And according to Virtue Theory, we are built with the
ability to recognize them and the desire to emulate them. So you will learn virtue by watching it, and then doing
it.

SUMMARY:
- Goodness (happiness) is defined in terms of what is unique or fitting for human beings.
- We have learned what is Virtue in contrast to Vice.
- REASON (rationality, logical) must be at the driver’s seat and the one holding or manoeuvring the wheel. His
ethics entirely focuses on guiding the action and feeling through reason.
- There are Moral exemplars that we can emulate.

REFERENCES:
Rasmi, M. (2021, February 9). Aristotle’s Virtue Theory: A Brief Introduction. Aristotle's Virtue Theory: A Brief Introduction
- DecafQuest
What is Aristotle's virtue theory? https://philosophy-question.com/library/lecture/read/288266-what-is-aristotles-virtue-
theory
Scott, R. (2009). Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. Zondervan Academic, Year: 2009.
Zulueta, F. (2012). Introduction to Philosophy. National Bookstore, Year: 2012.