Part
1 600 words
Aristotle
says that the virtues are necessary for humans to attain happiness,
but he means this in terms of something we might call “flourishing”
or “living well”, which he considers quite different than simply
feeling good. Thus, according to Aristotle some people might
feel that they are happy, but because they lack the virtues they are
not truly flourishing. However, imagine someone that is
deceitful, selfish, greedy, self-indulgent, and yet enjoys great
pleasure and appears to be quite happy. Is someone like this
“flourishing” or not? Explain your answer this by referring
to this week’s readings and media, and if possible provide examples
from real life and/or from literature, film, TV, etc.
Part
2 600 words
Find
examples from literature or media sources, or from current or past
history, that demonstrate both success and failure at demonstrating a
virtue. In each case, what is the virtue that was demonstrated
/ lacking? How did their actions display or fail to display
that virtue, and in the case of the failure, what would the virtuous
person have done instead? Be sure to share the links with your
classmates so they can read the full articles or watch the videos.
Don’t use examples that others have used before you. First
come, first served.
Recommended
Resources on Aristotle and Virtue EthicsArticles
Annas,
J. (2006). Virtue
ethics.
In D. Copp (Ed.), The
Oxford Handbook of Ethical Theory (pp.
515–36). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from
https://www.sesync.org/sites/default/files/resources/case_studies/10-kenyaecotourism-handbook.pdf
An
excellent overview of virtue ethics, including how the
disagreements among the ancient philosophers about virtue can help
us make sense of it today
Hursthouse,
R. (2012). Virtue
ethics.
In E. Zalta (Ed.), The
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/
An
excellent overview of virtue ethics, including some of the major
criticisms and how virtue ethicists have responded to them
MacIntyre,
A. (1984). After
virtue.
Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.
This
text can be found in the Chapter 6 readings of the textbook. This
work was largely responsible for reviving interest in Aristotelian
or virtue conceptions of ethics, and includes a powerful critique
of modern moral philosophy and contemporary culture. Chapters 14
and 15 discuss the importance of the virtues for attaining certain
goods internal to “practices,” and which are a core feature of
a flourishing life, the importance of virtue for a “narrative
unity” to one’s life, and the place that tradition has in our
understanding of how to live well.
Sandel,
M. (2004, April 1). The
case against perfection. The
Atlantic.
Retrieved from
https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/2004/04/sandel.htm
In
this article, Michael Sandel tackles a major contemporary moral
problem, the use of enhancements in various areas of life. Although
he doesn’t explicitly call his approach “virtue ethics,” it
is a clear and accessible example of Aristotelian reasoning applied
to a concrete issue. This is a condensed version of a book that
treats the subject in more detail, while remaining a clear and
accessible work intended to bring philosophical ideas to popular
audiences.
Sandel,
M. (2012, February 27). What
isn’t for sale. The
Atlantic.
Retrieved from
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/04/what-isnt-for-sale/308902/
In
this article, Michael Sandel tackles a major contemporary moral
problem, the moral limits of markets. Although he doesn’t
explicitly call his approach “virtue ethics,” it is a clear and
accessible example of Aristotelian reasoning applied to a concrete
issue. This is a condensed version of a book that treats the
subject in more detail, while remaining a clear and accessible work
intended to bring philosophical ideas to popular audiences.
Multimedia
Albert,
T. (Producer), & Ramis, H. (Director). (1993). Groundhog
day [Motion
picture]. United States: Columbia Pictures.
This
classic comedy follows the life of a man who has to relive the same
day over and over again. In this situation, he realizes that
neither the "rules" nor the consequences of his actions
matter anymore. Initially he finds this liberating, and enjoys
himself, but that soon gives way to depression and despair.
Eventually, though, he seems to find new reasons to be generous,
helpful, caring, and so forth, as he develops what we might
consider to be a virtuous character. Information on where to stream
the film can be found here:
http://www.canistream.it/search/movie/groundhog day.
Annas,
J. and Teichman, M. (2014, March 26). Episode
57: Julia Annas discusses virtue ethics [Podcast].
Elucidations. Retrieved from
https://lucian.uchicago.edu/blogs/elucidations/2014/03/26/episode-57-julia-annas-discusses-virtue-ethics/
A
leading classical philosophy scholar and virtue ethicist discusses
virtue ethics in an informative and interesting
interview. Transcript
Sadler,
G. B. (2012, November 12). Philosophy
core concepts: Aristotle, activities, arts, and purposes
(Nichomachean Ethics bk. 1) [Video
file]. Retrieved from
http://youtu.be/_aFJPv5POcc?list=PL4gvlOxpKKIjwnfPgqLkLJ7cHXAqDHfBA
The
first in a series of several lectures on Aristotle’s ethics.
ForaTv.
(2008). Michael
Sandel on justice: A journey in moral reasoning [Video
File]. Retrieved from
http://fora.tv/2008/07/04/Michael_Sandel_Justice-Journey_in_Moral_Reasoninga#xhfQ37UcTmyzlPvm.99
Michael
Sandel discusses the Aristotelian conception of justice and its
relevance to contemporary moral, political, and social problems.
Recommended
Resources on Environmental EthicsArticles
Hursthouse,
R. (2007). Environmental virtue ethics. In R. L. Walker & P. J.
Ivanhoe (Eds.), Working
Virtue: Virtue Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems.
Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from the ebrary database.
An
explanation and defense of a virtue ethics approach to
environmental concerns, including a critique of Thomas Hill’s
alternative approach
Leopold,
A. (1948). The
land ethic.
In A
Sand County Almanac.
Retrieved from http://home.btconnect.com/tipiglen/landethic.html
A
classic of modern environmentalism, Leopold proposes that just as
human societies have expanded the notion of the “moral community”
over time to include other races and cultures, women and children,
etc., we are at a point where we must recognize the land and
environment as more than just raw material for our own use
Multimedia
Mercola.
(2012, August 1). Dr.
Mercola and Joel Alatin discuss water and manure at polyface
farm [Video
file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gBwCQspdwo
In
this video, Joel Salatin and Dr. Joseph Mercola examine the
relationship between irrigation and fertilization on a farm and the
virtues of the farmer as he or she tries to create a healthy
farm. Transcript
Mercola.
(2012, August 1). Dr.
Mercola discusses pigs with Joel Salatin at polyface farm [Video
file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjBtZxlkEDw
Joel
Salatin discusses ethical treatment of pigs and the relationship
that exists between pigs, land, soil, and biodiversity in an
ecosystem. He also examines the responsibility of the virtuous
farmer in relation to allowing these relationships to exist in
harmony with one another. Transcript
Moyer,
B. (Interviewer), & Berry, W. (Interviewee). (2013). Wendell
Berry on his hopes for humanity [Video
file]. Retrieved from
http://billmoyers.com/segment/wendell-berry-on-his-hopes-for-humanity/
In
this interview, Bill Moyer interviews the great agrarian writer and
poet Wendell Berry. Berry’s expresses ideas that relate to the
virtues of a life lived well, one in which the human regains its
place in nature and finds peace and hope.
USDA
NRCS ENT SC. (2012, September 20). Under
cover farmers – feature length [Video
file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWXCLVCJWTU
This
short film follows farmers as they begin using cover crops in their
planting. Cover crops are offseason crops that farmers plant that
they then later plant through when they plant their cash crops.
This video demonstrates new methods of farming that enhance
production through diversification and conservation of the soil. As
it relates to virtue, farmers appear to be learning how to work
their lands to enhance the health of the soil and this in turn
leads to higher levels of flourishing in relation to production as
well as overall farm health.
Websites
Center
for Environmental Philosophy (http://www.cep.unt.edu/)
Erratic
Impact. (2000). Ecofeminism.
Retrieved from http://www.erraticimpact.com/~ecofeminism/
International
Association for Environmental
Philosophy (http://environmentalphilosophy.org/)
The
University of North Texas. (2014). The
philosophy of food project.
Retrieved from http://www.food.unt.edu/
Recommended
Resources on Virtues and the MilitaryArticles
(2007). Journal
of Military Ethics, 6(4).
Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database.
This
issue of the Journal
of Military Ethics is
devoted to the role of virtues within the military, and contains
numerous penetrating and important discussions.
Robinson,
P. (2009). Integrity and selective conscientious objection. Journal
of Military Ethics, 8(1),
34-47. Retrieved from the EBSCOhost database.
Robinson
considers the question of whether soldiers should be permitted to
conscientiously object to their orders, and argues that there are
circumstances in which this should be the case. Expands on some of
the ideas mentioned in “Magnanimity and Integrity as Military
Virtues.”
Sherman,
N. (2007). Virtue and a warrior’s anger. In R. L. Walker & P.
J. Ivanhoe (Eds.), Working
Virtue: Virtue Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems,
262-277. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from the ebrary
database.
Sherman
conducts a deep analysis of the proper place of anger within the
military context, looking at various discussions of this from
Ancient philosophers for insight.
