Rosalind Hursthouse: Virtue Theory and Abortion Phil 240, Introduction to Ethical Theory, W9L3 Benjamin Visscher Hole IV.

Rosalind Hursthouse: Virtue Theory and AbortionPhil 240, Introduction to Ethical Theory, W9L3Benjamin Visscher Hole IV

Clicker Quiz

According to Hursthouse:

A. eudaimonia is a difficult concept, but not substantially more so than rationality or happiness.

B. virtue ethics involves rules or principles.

C. virtue ethics is not committed to an implausible reductionism.

D. virtue ethics is not trivially circular.

E. all of the above.F. none of the above.

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virtue eth

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all of t

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none of the ab

ove.

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18%

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73%

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Hursthouse claims that in coming to verdicts about particular cases, virtue ethicists must rely on controversial judgments about:A. which actions

are honest, just, or charitable…

B. which activities are worthwhile.

C. both a and b.D. neither a nor

b. which acti

ons are

honest,...

which acti

vities are

wor..

.

both a and b.

neither a

nor b.

9%0%

82%

9%

According to Hursthouse, virtue ethics provides an answer to the question:

A. What should I do?

B. What sort of person should I be?

C. both a and b.D. neither a nor

b.W

hat should I d

o?

What s

ort of p

erson sh

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both a and b.

neither a

nor b.

0% 0%

91%

9%

Objections & Responses

Some initial clarifications

1. Eudaimonia is a difficult concept, but not substantially more so than rationality or happiness.

2. Virtue ethics is not trivially circular.

3. Virtue ethics answers the questions “What should I do?” as well as “What kind of person should I be?”

4. Virtue ethics does involve rules or principles.

5. Virtue is not committed to reductionism.

Eudaimonia is a difficult concept, but not substantially more so than rationality or happiness.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

Disagree Strongly

Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

18%

45%

18%

0%0%

9%9%

Virtue ethics is not trivially circular.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

Disagree Strongly

Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

18%

36%

9%

0%0%0%

36%

Virtue ethics answers the questions “What should I do?” as well as “What kind of person should I be?”

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

Disagree Strongly

Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

0%

64%

18%

0%

9%

0%

9%

Virtue ethics does involve rules or principles.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

Disagree Strongly

Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

9% 9%

64%

0%0%0%

18%

Virtue theory is not committed to reductionism.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

Disagree Strongly

Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

0%

9%

18%

0%0%

18%

55%

Hursthouse’s initial clarifications successfully respond to standard objections

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat

AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

DisagreeStro

ngly Agre

eAgre

e

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

9%

0%

45%

0%

9%9%

27%

Two more objections to virtue ethics

1. Which character traits are virtues is disputed, and subject to the threat of moral skepticism or relativism.

2. Virtue ethics has unresolvable conflict built into it (as virtues often conflict).

Hursthouse: These are equally problems for rival ethical theories, such as deontology and consequentialism.

Objections & Responses

Hursthouse: These objections are equally problems for rival ethical theories, such as deontology and consequentialism.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat

AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

DisagreeStro

ngly Agre

eAgre

e

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

0%

9%

45%

9%

0%

9%

27%

The major criticism of virtue

Objection: Virtue can’t “get us anywhere” because it relies on: Understanding of virtues and vices. Evaluative concepts such as the worthwhile.

Hursthouse’s Response The major criticism places unreasonable

constraints on an adequate moral theory. A discussion of abortion makes clear the

ways in which virtue theory can shed light on moral issues.

Hursthouse: The major criticism places unreasonable constraints on an adequate moral theory.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat

AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

Disagree

Strongly

Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

0% 0% 0% 0%0%0%0%

Virtue and Abortion

Does not focus on• Rights of the woman• Moral status of the

fetus

Does focus on• Biological facts

surrounding abortion• The thoughts and

feelings that ought to accompany the circumstances

• Hursthouse claims that we should begin by asking how the familiar biological facts of abortion figure in the practical reasoning of a virtuous agent.

• Reflection on these facts prompts the realization that pregnancy is not just one among many physical conditions, but a state that is typically attended by strong emotions and attachments.

Virtue and Abortion

Does not focus on• Rights of the woman• Moral status of the

fetus

Does focus on• Biological facts

surrounding abortion• The thoughts and

feelings that ought to accompany the circumstances

Hursthouse's Conclusion Depending on the circumstances, abortion can be right in some cases but not in others. Even in cases where it is right, guilt and remorse are sometimes called for.

Hursthouse: Depending on the circumstances, abortion can be right in some cases but not in others.

A. Strongly AgreeB. AgreeC. Somewhat

AgreeD. NeutralE. Somewhat

DisagreeF. DisagreeG. Strongly

Disagree

Strongly

Agree

Agree

Somewhat Agre

e

Neutral

Somewhat Disa

gree

Disagre

e

Strongly

Disagree

9%

36%

18%

0%

9%9%

18%

Timmons

Theory

“The theoretical aim of moral theory is to discover those underlying features of actions, persons, and other items of moral evaluation that make them right or wrong, good or bad and thus explain why such items have the moral properties they have. Features of this sort serve as moral criteria of the right and the good” (3-4).

Practice

“The practical aim of a moral theory is to offer practical guidance for how we might arrive at correct or justified moral verdicts about matters of moral concern – verdicts which we can then use to help guide choice” (4).

Main concerns for assessing ethical theoryHow to respond to the immoralist

challenge?Problems for Modern Moral Philosophy

Integrity Indirection Psychologically impoverished

Practical Guidance and Explanatory Power (Timmons)

Moral DilemmasUniversality versus Context-SensitivityWatson’s Dilemma

Moral Indeterminancy Circularity

Demandingness Problems

In light of these concerns, which ethical theory is the best?

A. Social contractarianism (Glaucon and Hobbes)

B. Kantian deontologyC. Bentham’s hedonistic

utilitarianismD. Mill’s hedonistic

utilitarianismE. Aristotle’s virtue

ethical theoryF. Nussbaum’s virtue

ethical theory Social c

ontracta

rianism

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Kantian deontology

Bentham’s

hedonistic u

til...

Mill’

s hedonisti

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ri...

Aristo

tle’s

virtu

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Nussbaum’s

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9%

18%

27%

36%

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INTRODUCTION TO ETHICAL THEORYSUM2013, M-F, 10:50-11:50, SAV136INSTRUCTOR: BENJAMIN HOLE

Self-AssessmentWhat philosophical skills and understanding of ethical theory do you have now that you lacked before this course?