Advantages & Disadvantages of Virtue Ethics

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Advantages & Disadvantages of Virtue Ethics

Advantages

  • Allows you to reach your full potential
  • Gives you guidance in the virtue
  • Makes you think about your moral decisions
  • Better than rule following systems like Divine Command Theory
  • Relative moral theory
  • Recognises induviduality
  • Promotes optimism
  • Gives you a practical guide in the Phronimos

Disadvantages

  • Aristotle said only free men can reach Eudaimonia
  • The idea of a virtue differs through cultures
  • Virtues can be used to perform bad actions
  • Aristotle didn't explain Eudaimonia, so people could think their purpose is to do something morally bad.
  • No specific meaning of the virtues
  • What if you pick the wrong Phronimos?

Evaluation

Virtue theory is a good moral theory as it allows you to decide on your moral decisions and reach your full potential. The idea of eudaimonia can make people motivated to follow the virtues. But, Aristotle didn't make the theory accessible for everyone as he completely disregarded slaves and women. He also didn't think about other cultures with different societal rules and practices.

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