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Full Idea
An ethics of virtue moves from an initial interest in what we ought to do to an interest in the kinds of people we are and hope to be, because the latter is taken to be the best way of understanding the former.
Gist of Idea
Virtue theory tries to explain our duties in terms of our character
Source
Julia Annas (The Morality of Happiness [1993], 2.5)
Book Ref
Annas,Julia: 'The Morality of Happiness' [OUP 1995], p.113
| 3541 | Ancient ethics uses attractive notions, not imperatives [Annas] |
| 3542 | We should do good when necessary, not maximise it [Annas] |
| 3543 | Cyrenaics pursue pleasure, but don't equate it with happiness [Annas] |
| 3546 | 'Phronesis' should translate as 'practical intelligence', not as prudence [Annas] |
| 3547 | Epicureans achieve pleasure through character development [Annas] |
| 3550 | Principles cover life as a whole, where rules just cover actions [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] |