Virtue Ethics and Ambiguity

Virtue Ethics and Ambiguity

Writing Assignment–on pp 170-171 is the problem of Benjamin Franklin’s Virtues. Your writing assignment is to consider Question #3–

“Is it a problem for virtue ethics if it is not easy to decide whether a particular trait is a virus? Why or why not?

750 words in narrative form–this means writing you response as if you are trying to explain the issue to a friend.

Hint: Pay attention to section G–Conflict and Contradictions pp 164-165.

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Virtue Ethics and Ambiguity

Imagine you’re sitting with a friend, discussing whether it’s always easy to decide if a particular trait is a virtue. You dive into the topic of virtue ethics, a theory often associated with Aristotle, and how it revolves around developing good character traits—or virtues—that lead to moral excellence. However, when you start thinking about it, you realize that deciding whether a specific trait is a virtue isn’t as simple as it might seem, and this can pose a challenge for virtue ethics.

Let’s take Benjamin Franklin’s virtues as an example. Franklin famously listed 13 virtues, such as temperance, humility, and frugality, which he aimed to cultivate in himself. On the surface, these all seem like good qualities, but when you think deeper, it becomes clear that context matters. For instance, humility is often seen as a virtue, but can being too humble make you appear weak or prevent you from standing up for yourself? Similarly, frugality is virtuous when it helps you avoid waste, but taken to an extreme, it could lead to stinginess or a refusal to help others in need.

This brings us to the question: Is it a problem for virtue ethics if it’s not easy to determine whether a trait is a virtue? The short answer is yes and no, and…