Feminist approaches to virtue ethics oxford handbooks. This is largely because he is interested in what is enduringly natural, but the social contract is merely a matter of changing convention. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standards. Virtue ethics is a philosophy developed by aristotle and other ancient greeks. We are leaving out some important perspectives, such as general theories of justice and rights and feminist thought about ethics and patriarchy. Here, we take a brief look at 1 utilitarianism, 2 deontology, 3 social justice and social contract theory, and 4 virtue theory. We shall concentrate on the influence and use of game theory in ethics and those parts of political theory involving norms or principles of justice, ignoring questions about political and legal institutions on the one hand and questions about issues dealing with moral virtues on the other. Contract theory proposes thinking about ethics in terms of agreements between people.
It may, initially, be identified as the one that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, in contrast to the approach that emphasizes duties or rules deontology or that emphasizes the consequences of actions consequentialism. Pdf social contract theory by hobbes, locke and rousseau. Contractarians often present a scenario in which no moral or political principles have been accepted yet. It addresses the meaning of ethical terms such as right, duty, obligation, justification, morality, responsibility. A virtue ethics approach to moral dilemmas in medicine. According to the theory of contractarianism, the moral and political principles we should follow are those we would accept in a hypothetical contract. Index termsmoral relativism, social structure, virtue theory. By practicing being honest, brave, just, generous, and so on, a person develops an honorable and moral character. Social contract theory by hobbes, locke and rousseau. It is a way of thinking about ethics that is characteristic of ancient greek and roman philosophers, particularly socrates, plato, and aristotle but it has become popular again since the later part of the 20th century due to the work of thinkers like elizabeth anscombe, philippa foot, and alasdair. This characterbased approach to morality assumes that we acquire virtue through practice. Virtue ethics is a framework that focuses on the character of the moral agent rather than the rightness of an action. Virtue theory and applied ethics article pdf available in south african journal of philosophy 212 december 2005 with 8,735 reads how we measure reads. Virtue theory states morality comes from an individuals character, not from rules or laws.
Act utilitarianism au is the moral theory that holds that the morally right action, the act. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Consequentialism, deontology, and virtue ethics are moral theories that evaluate morality on the basis of different factors. Virtue ethicists discuss the nature and definition of virtues and other related problems that focus on the consequences of action. The social contract theories in business hold that all businesses are obligated to improve the status of societies. Aristotle is not a big fan of what we might call the social contract theory of government. Pdf contractbased approaches have been a focus of attention in business ethics.
The social license to operate and social contract theory skemman. Analysis of the language, concepts and methods of resoning in ethics. Virtue ethics describes a certain philosophical approach to questions about morality. In deciding on the values of the social contract, one places oneself behind a veil of ignorance. Then i want to briefly outline the theory of one very prominent contemporary virtue ethicist. Through the ages, there have emerged multiple common moral theories and traditions. For the purposes of law enforcement, the major foundation in virtue ethics is the idea that if you are a good person, you will do good things, and to be good, you must do good pollock, 2007. Some people believe that if we live according to a social contract, we can live morally by our own choice and not because a divine being requires it. Integrative social contract theory, academy of management. Formalism is still a fresh source for business ethics.
Aristotles virtue ethics provide sof personnel flexibility in moralethical decision making in ways that deontological duty or rulebased ethical systems do not. Ethical theories consequencebased utilitarian act utilitarianism rule utilitarianism dutybased kantilianism rule deontology act deontology contractbased socialcontract theory rightbased rights characterbased characterethics virtue 3. Social contract theory and the ethics of deception in consumer research by n. The social contract jeanjacques rousseau glossary agreement. There are some situations where an act is immoral, but is required by the social contract, and situations where an act is moral, but not required by the social contract. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. So for contract theorists, ethics isnt necessarily about character, consequences, or principles. Feminist approaches to virtue ethics draw on and also criticize assumptions, concepts, methods, values, and theories of traditional virtue ethics, thus expanding the resources of feminist ethics for. Oct 19, 2014 ethical theories consequencebased utilitarian act utilitarianism rule utilitarianism dutybased kantilianism rule deontology act deontology contract based social contract theory rightbased rights characterbased character ethics virtue 3. Furthermore, the characterbuilding inherent in the practice of virtue ethics takes a proactive and preventive approach to moralethical breaches.
International journal of social science and humanity, vol. Virtue ethics, approach to ethics that takes the notion of virtue often conceived as excellence as fundamental. Virtue ethics and social psychology another feature of the common sense ps ychology of virtue is the observations that people differ in terms of the possession of virtuous character traits. This pdf version matches the latest version of this entry.
Ethics four branches 3 metaethics the study of ethical terms, statements and judgements. We are leaving out some important perspectives, such as general theories of. Virtue ethics by itself cant really answer any particular moral dilemma. What is the difference between ethics and social contract. The field of ethics or moral philosophy involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior. One persons virtue may be another persons vice and a vice in one set of circumstances may be a virtue in another. Many, if not most, virtue theorists have treated the answer to this question as selfevident, but it is anything but. Kimmel and jill gabrielle klein the authors wish to thank george brenkert, daniel goldstein, kent grayson, gita johar, john lynch, david.
So this expansion of ethics to include questions about flourishing takes moral theory away from its proper concern. Another problem with virtuebased ethical systems is the question of what the right sort of character is. A quick explanation of virtue, virtue ethics, and how it differs from deontology and consequentialism. The item that rousseau calls a convention is an event, whereas what we call conventions setting aside the irrelevant convention professional gettogether are not events but enduring states of affairs like the conventions. Decisions choosing between two or more options, based on. Social contract theory social contract theory says that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior. Social contract i am assigned a paper in exploring ethics in which i must find 2 separate shows that reflect 2 separate theories. Social contract theory on the criminal justice system and private security philosophy foundations of ethics in justice and security social contract theory on the criminal justice system and private security prior to the social contract theory, there was no government body providing laws, order, and protection. Moral relativism claims there are no necessary universal moral valuesthis theory is not rationally sustainable as a theory of ethics. Which do you consider a more preferable state of affairs. Ethics can be based on social contracts hobbes, religion euthyphro, happiness john stuart mill, personal values protagoras and countless other subjects. To view the pdf, you must log in or become a member. Ethics refers to societys idea of what is right and wrong and we do it because society says it is the right thing to do social contract is the idea that any given society has a set of conventions and tradeoffs which it demands or requires, in order for participation in it to be possible and for the society to continue to exist. Game theory is the systematic study of interdependent rational choice.
Game theory and ethics stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Tom donaldson and tom dunfee, towards a unified conception of business ethics. How to construct a just society taking into consideration lifes inequities. Virtue ethics and its potential as the leading moral theory. The necessary functions of social order and existence require certain moral virtues.
Whereas consequentialists will define virtues as traits that yield good consequences and deontologists will define them as traits possessed by those who reliably fulfil their duties, virtue ethicists will resist the attempt to define virtues in terms of some other concept that is taken to be more fundamental. Actionbased theory we should act properly by following moral rules. These include how virtues are acquired, how they are applied in various real. Feminist approaches to virtue ethics draw on and also criticize assumptions, concepts, methods, values, and theories of traditional virtue ethics, thus expanding the resources of feminist ethics for addressing problems in society and philosophy and making virtue ethics more responsive to the lived realities of most human beings. Doing the right thing means abiding by the agreements that the members of a rational society would choose. A social contract is a mutual agreement between two parties. For example, under utilitarianism the goal is to take whatever action maximizes happiness, regardless of the motivations or nature. Proposed by thomas hobbes, expanded by jeanjacques rousseau. The right of the strongest voluntarily, and the family itself is then maintained only by agreement. For the purposes of law enforcement, the major foundation in virtue ethics is the idea that if you are a good person, you will do.
Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. You can also read more about the friends of the sep society. Ethical principles that tell us what action to take do not take into account the nature of the moral agent. People who live in a society implicitly agree to a social contract, consisting of. Ethics four branches 4 applied ethics applied ethics is a part of normative ethics that focus on particular fields the philosophical examination, from a moral standpoint, of particular issues in private and public life that are matters of moral judgment brenda almond. Philosophers today usually divide ethical theories into three general subject areas. It is the quest to understand and live a life of moral character.
It should be distinguished from decision theory, the systematic study of individual practical and epistemic choice in parametric contexts i. Sep 19, 2018 another problem with virtuebased ethical systems is the question of what the right sort of character is. The social role of science analytical vs holistic science. This is largely because he is interested in what is enduringly natural, but the social contract is merely a matter of changing convention for aristotle, the social contractarian understanding of the city polis consists of two things. The right thing follow the rules rational, selfinterested would. Morality, though, is all about how we treat other people. Four design criteria for any future contractarian theory of. The two principles of justice which we shall discuss may be formulated as follows. Virtuebased theory we should acquire good character traits, not simply act according to moral rules. Jan 07, 2018 a quick explanation of virtue, virtue ethics, and how it differs from deontology and consequentialism. Virtue ethics in action introduction my plan is to begin by explaining virtue ethics in rather general terms, showing how its different from the two other main traditions in ethics. Pdf exploring the relationship between virtue ethics and moral. Social contract theory says that people live together in society in accordance with an agreement that establishes moral and political rules of behavior.
Consequentialist theories, unlike virtue and deontological theories, hold that only the consequences, or outcomes, of actions matter morally. We will cover each one briefly below with explanations and how they differ from other moral theories. Critics of virtue ethics have argued that its focus on character rather than action, as well as its rejection of universal rules of right action renders virtue ethics unable to shed much light on the question of what ought and ought not to be done in specific situations. Social contracts reflect societal expectations from businesses, especially in the social aspect. Contractarians often present a scenario in which no moral or political principles have been accepted yet, and we need to find some of those principles.
Social contract theory and the ethics of deception in. Each person should have a meaningful opportunity to attain employment, education and positions of power 2b the difference principle. Feminist ethics addresses the subordination in society of women and womens interests to men and mens interests and the devaluation or exclusion in moral philosophy of womens perspectives. In considering the relationships, emotional sensitivities, and motivations that are unique to human society it provides a fuller ethical analysis and encourages more flexible and creative solutions than principlism or. Virtue ethics is primarily concerned with traits of character that are essential to human flourishing, not with the enumeration of duties. Social contract theory thomas hobbes state of nature we implicitly accept a social contract establishment of moral rules to govern relations among citizens government capable of enforcing these rules jeanjacques rousseau in ideal society, no one above rules that prevents society from enacting bad rules 15881679. Virtue ethics other forms of ethics the ethics of immanuel kant elementary jurisprudence relation to standards and guidelines. Virtue ethics is currently one of three major approaches in normative ethics. Social contract theory ethics hobbes flashcards quizlet. Aristotle contra the social contract theory societas.
Start studying social contract theory ethics hobbes. Virtue ethics resonates with my experience of life in which the nature of our character is of fundamental importance. There should be social and economic equality, unless inequality benefits everyone, especially those in the worstoff group. Utilitarianism, kantian ethics, natural rights theories. Consequentialism the results matter, not the actions themselves. Instead of looking at good and bad as something impersonal that we need to recognize via reason or a moral sense, virtue theory sees good and bad as a quality of the person him or herself. There has been a modern revival of interest in virtue ethics as a plausible moral theory. Utilitarianism, kantian ethics, natural rights theories, and religious ethics a utilitarian argument, in the strict sense, is one what alleges that we ought to do something because it will produce more total happiness than doing anything else would. This common liberty is an upshot of the nature of man. Societies cannot function efficiently without these core virtues.
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