Instruction: Briefly summarize the “Standford Prison Experiment.

” Identify from the results and evidence

of the experiment what drive individuals to commit moral evil acts. In what way is Aristotle’s Virtue
Ethics applicable or not applicable on the experiment in terms of what shaped individuals to commit
moral evil acts. Please write your answers in not more than 200 words.

The Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by Philip Zimbardo in 1971, simulated a prison
environment with participants assigned as guards and prisoners. The results revealed a disturbing
transformation in participants, as guards exhibited abusive behavior, and prisoners suffered
psychological distress. The experiment showcased how situational factors can lead individuals to commit
moral evil acts, emphasizing the powerful influence of roles and environments on behavior.

Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics can be partially applicable to the experiment. While virtue ethics focuses on
developing virtuous character traits, the extreme situational manipulation in the experiment challenges
its applicability. The role-driven behavior displayed by participants may overshadow individual virtues,
suggesting that external circumstances can override personal character. However, one could argue that
virtues like courage and justice were absent in the guards’ actions, highlighting a deficiency in individual
character that allowed the moral transgressions to occur. Ultimately, the Stanford Prison Experiment
highlights the complex interplay between situational factors and individual virtues in shaping moral
behavior.