VIRTUE ETHICS

AND DEONTOLOGY
WHAT IS VIRTUE ETHICS?
Virtue ethics is a broad term for
theories that emphasize the role of 
character and virtue in moral philosophy
 rather than either doing one’s duty or
acting in order to bring about good
consequences.
VIRTUE ETHICS THEORIES
1. Eudaimonism – ( Aristotle, Rosalind Hursthouse, Philippa Foot, Thomas
Hurka)
The good life is the life of virtue and the life of virtue is an activity in
accordance with reason, mans highest function.
2. Agent Based – (Michael Slote )
An account of virtue on our most common – sense about which
character traits are admirable.
Human traits such as benevolence, kindness, and compassion Are
admirable and we identify them with people who are moral exemplars.
3. The Ethics Of Care – (Neil Noddings, Virginia Held, Annette Baier)
Mainly Developed by feminist thinker.
Calls for a change in how morality is viewed from a masculine –
based morality which emphasizes justice and autonomy, to feminine
virtues such as caring for others, patience, the ability to nurture and self
– sacrifice.
ARISTOTLE: ON VIRTUE AND THE GOOD
LIFE
According to Aristotle men seek happiness in either pleasure,
honor, and contemplation.
“ To judge by their lives, the masses and the most
vulgar seem – not necessary to believe that the good or
happiness is pleasure. Accordingly they ask for nothing
better than the life of enjoyment”
This is why most give their lives over bodily pleasures,
but that should not be the case.
SPECULATIVE VIRTUES
 Understanding – knowledge of first principles and
self evident truths.
Science – the virtue that allows man to draw
conclusions based on and derived from the first
principle.
Wisdom – knowledge of things in their ultimate
explanations whereby all principles truth and
conclusions are synthesized into a coherent whole.
PRACTICAL VIRTUES

 Art – knowledge on how to produce and

make things.
 Prudence – knowledge of how to perform
actions in the right way, and how to make
good choices and decisions.
DEONTOLOGY
Deontology is a theory that suggest actions
are good or bad according to a clear set of
rules. Its name is derived from the Greek word
“Deon” which means duty. Actions that obey
these rules are ethical, while those that are not,
are not ethical.
ABOUT DUTY BASED ETHICS
 Deontological ( duty based ethics) – Is primarily
concerned with what people do, instead of what are the
consequences.
 It is doing the right thing
 Do it because it’s the right things to do
 Don’t do wrong things
 Avoid them because they are wrong
 IMMANUEL KANT: CATEGORICAL
IMPERATIVES

 Kant’s version of duty based ethics is called the categorical

imperative which he intended to be the bases of all other rules.
 Categorical Imperatives has two versions
A. The first formulation lays out the objective conditions, and that it can
be universal in form and thus capable of becoming a law of nature.
B. The second formulation lays out the subjective conditions, that there
be certain ends in themselves, as a rational person.
 GROUP 1
Leader:
Costelo, Marie Chrise Z.
Members:
Arco, Kurt James
Ciudad, Aira Mae A.
Valmera, Cena Marie
THANK
YOU!