A Virtuous Solution to the Problem of Violence: How Virtue Ethics Can Help Address a Persistent Social Problem
Part One: "Beyond Right and Wrong: A Primer on Virtue Ethics and Its Distinctive Approach to Ethics."
Imagine the person you most admire in the world. This person is typically someone with astonishing traits, whether it is their unwavering courage in the face of fear, intense compassion for those in need, or their unquenchable thirst for knowledge that places them on an intellectual pedestal. Certainly, these admirable traits are not innate, but instead cultivated through habitual action over time. What was once a fearful young human being may now be a courageous human being who has faced their worst fears, and learned that each confrontation is not as fearful as the last, making it more manageable. This is the essence of virtue ethics. By considering what virtuous traits we should adopt to become flourishing human beings, we can all aspire to become someone worthy of admiration.
As we begin our journey into the world of virtue ethics, we’re faced with some important questions. What are the different types of virtues that lead to human well-being? How does one define flourishing or eudaimonia, as Aristotle calls it? Eudaimonia can be roughly translated as ‘human flourishing’: it’s the ultimate goal of virtue ethics. By living virtuously, we can lead fulfilling lives that contribute to the flourishing of society. But to reach our destination of eudaimonia, we need a means of transportation- and that’s where intellectual and moral virtues come in. Aristotle, the renowned author of the Nicomachean Ethics, identifies these two types of virtues as the vessels that can lead us towards a flourishing life. Intellectual virtues are acquired through education and include practical wisdom, scientific knowledge, and intuitive understanding, while moral virtues are habits or disposition that arise from the application of reason to choose the morally right action in any given situation. By cultivating these virtues, we can become the best versions of ourselves and reach our ultimate goal of eudaimonia.
Intellectual virtue is related to acquired knowledge through education or training. It includes practical wisdom, scientific knowledge, and intuitive understanding. It is worth noting that practical wisdom is a crucial virtue, as it involves the experiential knowledge gained through life that helps guide a person to “do the right thing” in any given situation, and Aristotle believes that these virtues are necessary for eudaimonia.
Moral virtue on the other hand is the habit or disposition that arises out of the application of reason to choose the morally right action in any given situation. Aristotle argued that moral virtue is a mean between two extremes, which he labeled excess and deficiency. For example, the virtue of courage is a mean between the excess of rashness and the deficiency of cowardice. Similarly, the virtue of generosity is a mean between the excess of wastefulness and the deficiency of stinginess.
Now imagine being faced with difficult decisions that have significant consequences- whether it’s about climate change, social justice, or political polarization. In today’s complex and ever-changing world, it’s hard to know where to start. But the teachings of Aristotle and virtue ethics can provide valuable guidance. By cultivating virtues like sustainability, responsibility, compassion, empathy, and open-mindedness, we can approach these challenges with a sense of purpose and clarity.
Moreover, individual character development is important in virtue ethics, but community building is equally vital. We need to come together with others who share our values to amplify impact and create positive change on a larger scale. Through actions like organizing a community garden, volunteering at a local shelter, or advocating for social justice, we contribute to building a more virtuous and just society while strengthening the bonds between us.
Therefore, I challenge you to reflect on your own values and virtues and take action in your community to create positive change. It could be something as small as practicing kindness towards others or as big as starting a community project. Each action you take contributes to building a better world.
As Margaret Thatcher said in her famous line in “The Iron Lady,” “Watch your thoughts for they become words, watch your words for they become actions, watch your actions for they become habits, watch your habits for they become character, watch your character for it becomes your destiny. What we think we become." Let’s join together in this journey and share our thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
Sources
Hurka, Thomas. "Virtue Ethics." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Edward N.
Zalta, Fall 2020 ed., https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-virtue/.
