Full Idea
Virtue theory leaves out something essential, namely, the existence of a standard of behaviour which is prior to and independent of human character, in terms of which we evaluate the behaviour and character of ourselves and others.
Gist of Idea
Virtue theory needs an external standard to judge behaviour and character
Source
report of Peter van Inwagen (Response to Slote [1990]) by Daniel Statman - Introduction to Virtue Ethics §5
Book Reference
'Virtue Ethics', ed/tr. Statman,Daniel [Edinburgh 1997], p.21
A Reaction
This sounds very like Moore's Naturalistic Fallacy. Personally I prefer Aristotle's naturalistic reliance on human nature and function to Moore's totally unjustified intuitionist Platonism. How can anything be good if it isn't supposed to do anything?