Single Idea 5076

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / b. Basis of virtue]

Full Idea

To the Greeks it seemed obvious that the virtue of anything is the perfection of its function.

Gist of Idea

To Greeks it seemed obvious that the virtue of anything is the perfection of its function

Source

Richard Taylor (Virtue Ethics: an Introduction [2002], Ch.10)

Book Reference

Taylor,Richard: 'Virtue Ethics: an Introduction' [Prometheus 2002], p.61


A Reaction

A problem case might be a work of art, but one might reply that there is no obvious perfection there because there is no clear function. For artefacts and organisms the principle seems very good. But 'Is the Cosmos good?'