Centre Of Bioethical Research & Analysis (COBRA)

VIRTUE THEORY

(I) An action is right, if and only if, it is what a virtuous agent would do in the circumstances.

(II) A virtuous agent is one who acts virtuously; that is, one who has and exercises the virtues.

(III) A virtue is a character trait that a human being needs to flourish, or to live a worthwhile life.

With consequentialism and deontology, the good or virtuous character is the person who is disposed to act rightly. That is to say, the idea of good character is derived from the idea of right action. However, with virtue theory the right action is the one which a person of good character, that is, a virtuous agent, would perform. That is, the idea of right action is derived from the idea of what a good character is. If our character is good, then it follows that what we do will be right.

Vices and Virtues

Virtue theory specifies certain character traits, that is, dispositions to feel, act and react, in certain ways (in ways that are morally praiseworthy). They are the virtues and right actions are specified in terms of those virtues. Virtues generate imperatives to act in certain ways – kindly, courageously and honestly, for example. Likewise, vices generate prohibitions, to not act in certain ways – cruelly, cowardly and dishonestly, for example. When we want to know what to do; when we want to know which acts are right, we should consider what would amount to acting courageously, honestly or kindly in a given situation. The right act, on this account, is the one that the virtuous agent would do in the circumstances.

Eudaimonia - An Evaluative Concept

’Eudaimonia’ is a difficult concept. It originates in Greek moral thought and is central to the work of Aristotle. It means something like doing well, flourishing, or leading a worthwhile life. It is sometimes translated as happiness, but happiness is too close to ’a pleasant state of mind’ to be an accurate translation. ’Living a satisfying and worthwhile life’ is probably the nearest we can get.

Claim: We will not flourish as human beings unless we have a proper concern for other people.

Practical Wisdom

“A doctor’s response is his or her most sensitive instrument.”

The way that health care professionals respond to patients is of critical importance. Virtue theory recognises the importance of developing good character, through teaching and practice, so to enable us to exercise delicate and sensitive judgement.

Further Reading

Beachamp, T., & Childress, J., Principles of Biomedical Ethics, OUP, 1994, pp.62-69.

Hursthouse, R., ’Virtue theory and abortion’, in Crisp & Slote (eds), Virtue Ethics, OUP.

Pence, G., ’Virtue theory’, in Singer, P., (ed), A Companion to Ethics, Blackwell, 1991.

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