What Do We Mean By Virtue As Dispositions?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Aristotelian definition of virtue:

A moral virtue

is a disposition to act as the morally reasonable person would act (=according to reason) and to feel emotions and desires appropriately. … One who has a disposition is not necessarily using it at any given moment but is able to put it to use immediately.

Is virtue a disposition?

A virtue is an excellent trait of character. It is

a disposition

, well entrenched in its possessor—something that, as we say, goes all the way down, unlike a habit such as being a tea-drinker—to notice, expect, value, feel, desire, choose, act, and react in certain characteristic ways.

What is a virtuous disposition?

At what I will call a global level it applies these

concepts to persons or to stable character traits or dispositions

. … Thus we may say that a person is brave or has a standing trait of generosity or malice.

Why is virtue a disposition?

The Virtue Theory claims that an action is good if performed by a person based on virtue and bad if performed based on vice. This enforces the thesis that virtue is a disposition

because a virtuous person will theoretically make the right choice in any situation

.

What does Aristotle mean when he says that virtue is a purposive disposition?

In calling virtue a “purposive” disposition, Aristotle means that

virtue is not just a disposition we sit on and do nothing about, but is rather the impetus that leads us to virtuous activity.

Who is a virtuous person?

Virtuous is “good” with a halo. If you call someone virtuous, you are saying that person is living according to high moral standards. Someone virtuous is

who you want leading your Girl Scout troop

. … In past centuries, virtuous was synonymous with virginal.

How do we learn virtue?

How does a person develop virtues? Virtues are

developed through learning and through practice

. As the ancient philosopher Aristotle suggested, a person can improve his or her character by practicing self-discipline, while a good character can be corrupted by repeated self-indulgence.

What are the two types of virtue?

There are two kinds of virtue:

intellectual and moral

. We learn intellectual virtues by instruction, and we learn moral virtues by habit and constant practice. We are all born with the potential to be morally virtuous, but it is only by behaving in the right way that we train ourselves to be virtuous.

What is Aristotle’s definition of virtue?

Aristotle explains what virtues are in some detail. They are

dispositions to choose good actions and passions

, informed by moral knowledge of several sorts, and motivated both by a desire for characteristic goods and by a desire to perform virtuous acts for their own sake.

What is the ultimate virtue?

In conclusion, according to Aristotle, what is

happiness

? Happiness is the ultimate end and purpose of human existence. Happiness is not pleasure, nor is it virtue. It is the exercise of virtue. Happiness cannot be achieved until the end of one’s life.

What is the mean and how is it related to virtue?

Aristotle describes a virtue as a

“mean” or “intermediate” between two extremes

: one of excess and one of deficiency. 2. Example: bravery (e.g. on a battlefield) Involves how much we let fear restrict or modify our actions. Bravery is the mean or intermediate between cowardliness and rashness.

Why are virtue ethics important in life?

According to Aristotle, by honing virtuous habits, people will likely make the right choice when faced with ethical challenges. … So, virtue ethics

helps us understand what it means to be a virtuous human being

. And, it gives us a guide for living life without giving us specific rules for resolving ethical dilemmas.

Is fear a virtue?


Fear

, says Aristotle, is the expectation of evil, and evil is properly to be feared. Some fears are noble, for instance the fear of disgrace, and to be “fearless” in a situation where disgrace is to be feared is a vice (“shamelessness”), not a virtue.

What is the definition of virtue as given in Chapter 6?


Aristotle wants to break virtue down further for us

. What type of characteristic is it, especially with regard to human beings? It’s the characteristic that makes human beings good and causes his actions to be done well.

What is the difference between performing virtuous actions and having a virtuous character?

An action is only right if it is an action that a virtuous person would carry out in the same circumstances. A virtuous person is a person who acts virtuously. A person acts virtuously if they “

possess and live the virtues

What are the two main virtues cultivated by code of ethics?

Virtue Ethics

For example,

honesty and patience

are often considered virtuous (i.e., “right” or “good”) behaviors regardless of the context and what may happen as a result of being honest and patient.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.