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Single Idea 4334
[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / d. Virtue theory critique
]
Full Idea
One criticism of virtue ethics is that it lamentably fails to come up with a priority ranking of the virtues.
Gist of Idea
Virtue ethics is open to the objection that it fails to show priority among the virtues
Source
Rosalind Hursthouse (On Virtue Ethics [1999], Ch.2)
Book Ref
Hursthouse,Rosalind: 'On Virtue Ethics' [OUP 2001], p.56
A Reaction
However, one might refer to man's essential function, or characteristic function, and one might derive the virtues of a good citizen from the nature of a good society.
The
30 ideas
from 'On Virtue Ethics'
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4325
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Must all actions be caused in part by a desire, or can a belief on its own be sufficient?
[Hursthouse]
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4324
|
Animals and plants can 'flourish', but only rational beings can have eudaimonia
[Hursthouse]
|
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4327
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Deontologists do consider consequences, because they reveal when a rule might apply
[Hursthouse]
|
|
4328
|
Preference utilitarianism aims to be completely value-free, or empirical
[Hursthouse]
|
|
4335
|
'Codifiable' morality give rules for decisions which don't require wisdom
[Hursthouse]
|
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4329
|
After a moral dilemma is resolved there is still a 'remainder', requiring (say) regret
[Hursthouse]
|
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4330
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Deontologists resolve moral dilemmas by saying the rule conflict is merely apparent
[Hursthouse]
|
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4336
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Any strict ranking of virtues or rules gets abandoned when faced with particular cases
[Hursthouse]
|
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4334
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Virtue ethics is open to the objection that it fails to show priority among the virtues
[Hursthouse]
|
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4337
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Teenagers are often quite wise about ideals, but rather stupid about consequences
[Hursthouse]
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4339
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According to virtue ethics, two agents may respond differently, and yet both be right
[Hursthouse]
|
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4343
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We are torn between utilitarian and deontological views of lying, depending on the examples
[Hursthouse]
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4341
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Involuntary actions performed in tragic dilemmas are bad because they mar a good life
[Hursthouse]
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4338
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Deontologists usually accuse utilitarians of oversimplifying hard cases
[Hursthouse]
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4340
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You are not a dishonest person if a tragic dilemma forces you to do something dishonest
[Hursthouse]
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4346
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The emotions of sympathy, compassion and love are no guarantee of right action or acting well
[Hursthouse]
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4351
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It is a fantasy that only through the study of philosophy can one become virtuous
[Hursthouse]
|
|
4349
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Virtuous people may not be fully clear about their reasons for action
[Hursthouse]
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4350
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If people are virtuous in obedience to God, would they become wicked if they lost their faith?
[Hursthouse]
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|
4354
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Maybe in a deeply poisoned character none of their milder character traits could ever be a virtue
[Hursthouse]
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4356
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We are puzzled by a person who can show an exceptional virtue and also behave very badly
[Hursthouse]
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4352
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Performing an act simply because it is virtuous is sufficient to be 'morally motivated' or 'dutiful'
[Hursthouse]
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4353
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If moral motivation is an all-or-nothing sense of duty, how can children act morally?
[Hursthouse]
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4355
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There may be inverse akrasia, where the agent's action is better than their judgement recommends
[Hursthouse]
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4358
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Virtue may be neither sufficient nor necessary for eudaimonia
[Hursthouse]
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4359
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When it comes to bringing up children, most of us think that the virtues are the best bet
[Hursthouse]
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4361
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Good animals can survive, breed, feel characteristic pleasure and pain, and contribute to the group
[Hursthouse]
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4364
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Being unusually virtuous in some areas may entail being less virtuous in others
[Hursthouse]
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4363
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The word 'person' is useless in ethics, because what counts as a good or bad self-conscious being?
[Hursthouse]
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4365
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We are distinct from other animals in behaving rationally - pursuing something as good, for reasons
[Hursthouse]
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