4.2 Key Virtues and Character Traits

Virtue ethics focuses on developing good character traits rather than following strict rules. It emphasizes virtues like courage, justice, and wisdom as key to living a moral life. These virtues aren't just abstract concepts, but habits we can cultivate through practice and reflection.

The core virtues in ethics provide a framework for moral decision-making and personal growth. While different traditions may prioritize certain virtues, they all share the goal of shaping individuals into morally upright people who can navigate complex ethical situations with wisdom and integrity.

Core Virtues in Ethics

Cardinal Virtues

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• Virtue ethics emphasizes the cultivation of virtuous character traits rather than focusing on specific actions or rules
• The four cardinal virtues, as identified by Plato and later adopted by other philosophers, are courage, temperance, justice, and prudence (practical wisdom)
  • Courage involves the ability to act rightly in the face of danger, fear, or adversity, striking a balance between the vices of cowardice and recklessness
  • Temperance is the virtue of self-restraint and moderation in desires and actions, involving the control of one's appetites and emotions
  • Justice, in virtue ethics, refers to a character trait that disposes one to respect the rights of others, give them what they are due, and uphold fairness, impartiality, and the common good
  • Prudence, or practical wisdom, is the ability to discern the right course of action in a given situation, involving good judgment, foresight, and the capacity to weigh consequences

Other Key Virtues

• Different philosophical and religious traditions have emphasized additional virtues beyond the cardinal four
  • Aristotle highlighted the importance of intellectual virtues, such as wisdom and understanding, in addition to moral virtues
  • Confucian virtue ethics places a strong emphasis on the virtues of benevolence (ren), righteousness (yi), propriety (li), wisdom (zhi), and trustworthiness (xin)
  • Christian virtue ethicists, such as Thomas Aquinas, have focused on the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity
  • Contemporary virtue ethicists, like Alasdair MacIntyre and Rosalind Hursthouse, have sought to revive and update the virtue ethical tradition, sometimes redefining or adding to the traditional list of virtues (compassion, humility, integrity)

Defining and Prioritizing Virtues

Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean

• Aristotle conceived of each virtue as a middle point between two vices, known as the doctrine of the mean
  • Courage is the mean between the vices of cowardice and recklessness
  • Generosity is the mean between the vices of stinginess and wastefulness
  • Truthfulness is the mean between the vices of understatement and boastfulness
• The doctrine of the mean suggests that virtues are not extremes, but rather the appropriate balance or moderation between excess and deficiency

Prioritizing and Contextualizing Virtues

• Different virtue ethicists have prioritized virtues differently based on their philosophical or cultural context
  • Aristotle placed a strong emphasis on wisdom and prudence as guiding virtues
  • Confucian thinkers prioritized benevolence (ren) and filial piety as central to moral character
  • Christian virtue ethicists have typically placed faith, hope, and charity above the cardinal virtues
• The prioritization and exact definition of virtues can vary across time periods, societies, and individual thinkers
  • MacIntyre has argued that virtues are intimately tied to cultural practices and narratives
  • Feminist philosophers have critiqued traditional virtue lists for overlooking "feminine" virtues like care, empathy, and nurturance
• Virtues may also take on different meanings or applications depending on an individual's specific social roles and responsibilities (parent, teacher, citizen, friend)

Virtues, Character, and Habits

Virtues as Stable Character Traits

• Virtues are seen as deeply ingrained character traits that shape an individual's thoughts, feelings, and actions
  • Honesty is not just a single instance of truth-telling, but a stable and reliable disposition to be truthful
  • Compassion involves a consistent pattern of empathy, concern, and willingness to help others in need
• Virtuous character traits are considered intrinsically valuable, not just instrumentally valuable for producing good consequences
  • Possessing a virtuous character is seen as an essential component of human flourishing (eudaimonia)
  • Virtues are admirable and praiseworthy in themselves, even if they do not always lead to positive outcomes

Developing Virtues Through Habit and Practice

• Virtues are developed and strengthened through habituation and practice
  • Consistently choosing to act in accordance with a virtue (e.g., courage) reinforces that trait of character over time
  • Virtuous habits are formed through repeated good actions, often guided by moral exemplars and role models
• Moral education and character development are central concerns in virtue ethics
  • Aristotle emphasized the importance of moral upbringing and learning to take pleasure in virtuous actions
  • Confucian ethics stresses the role of rituals, traditions, and relationships in shaping virtuous character
• Virtues are interconnected and mutually reinforcing; practicing one virtue often requires and supports the development of others
  • Acting with honesty and integrity often demands courage in the face of pressure or adversity
  • Compassion and generosity are closely linked to the virtue of justice and a concern for others' wellbeing

Cultivating Virtuous Character

Practical Challenges and Conflicts

• Cultivating and maintaining virtuous character requires ongoing effort, practice, and self-reflection
  • Virtues are not static traits, but must be continuously reinforced through good habits and choices
  • Honest assessment of one's own character strengths and weaknesses is necessary for moral growth
• Virtues can sometimes conflict with each other in real-life moral dilemmas
  • Honesty and kindness may clash in situations where the truth could cause significant harm or distress
  • Loyalty and integrity may be in tension when faced with the unethical actions of a friend or colleague
• Discerning the right course of action in such cases requires practical wisdom (prudence) to weigh competing values and priorities

Contextual Influences and Obstacles

• Social and cultural context can significantly influence the cultivation and expression of virtuous character
  • Cultural norms and expectations may make it more challenging to practice certain virtues (dissent, non-conformity)
  • Systemic injustices and inequalities can limit opportunities for character development and moral growth
• Virtuous character can be undermined or eroded by negative influences, temptations, and moral compromises
  • Peer pressure, self-interest, or difficult circumstances can lead individuals to act against their better judgment
  • Sustaining virtue requires moral resilience, self-discipline, and a supportive community of fellow practitioners
• Critics argue that virtue ethics provides insufficient action guidance compared to rule- or consequence-based theories
  • Virtue ethicists contend that virtues, combined with practical wisdom, can navigate the complexities of moral life
  • The virtue approach may be more realistic and flexible in acknowledging the contextual nature of ethical decision-making