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Full Idea
Since having a virtue does not reduce to performing certain kinds of acts, the Epicurean will achieve pleasure only by aiming at being a certain kind of person.
Gist of Idea
Epicureans achieve pleasure through character development
Source
Julia Annas (The Morality of Happiness [1993], 2.4)
Book Ref
Annas,Julia: 'The Morality of Happiness' [OUP 1995], p.86
A Reaction
No Epicurean would want to merely possess virtues, without enacting them. I assume that virtues are sought as guides to finding the finest pleasures (such as friendship).
| 12036 | Xenophanes began the concern with knowledge [Annas] |
| 12037 | Euripides's Medea is a key case of reason versus the passions [Annas] |
| 12040 | Virtue is a kind of understanding of moral value [Annas] |
| 12046 | Plato was the first philosopher who was concerned to systematize his ideas [Annas] |
| 3541 | Ancient ethics uses attractive notions, not imperatives [Annas] |
| 3543 | Cyrenaics pursue pleasure, but don't equate it with happiness [Annas] |
| 3542 | We should do good when necessary, not maximise it [Annas] |
| 3546 | 'Phronesis' should translate as 'practical intelligence', not as prudence [Annas] |
| 3550 | Principles cover life as a whole, where rules just cover actions [Annas] |
| 3547 | Epicureans achieve pleasure through character development [Annas] |
| 3551 | Virtue theory tries to explain our duties in terms of our character [Annas] |
| 3552 | If excessively good actions are admirable but not required, then duty isn't basic [Annas] |