What is Virtue Ethics?

Virtue ethics is a major approach in normative ethics that emphasizes a person's character or traits in moral thinking, unlike consequentialism which focuses on outcomes or deontology which emphasizes rules. It does not provide specific rules but guides individuals in becoming virtuous, drawing inspiration from Aristotelian ethics and the concept of practical wisdom.

Virtue ethics addresses broader questions such as 'what kind of life should I live?' and 'how can I be consistent in my moral actions?', instead of 'what ought I do?' or 'will my actions produce greater happiness?' It's less concerned with the rightness or wrongness of specific actions, and more with aiding the moral agent in seeking the good through practical wisdom.

One major form of virtue ethics is the ethics of care, which centers moral action on social and environmental relationships where kindness and care are primary virtues. Michael Slote suggests that caring is the fundamental virtue, and a morality based on care's motive can explain right and wrong actions. This approach focuses on reforming practices to nurture care as a virtue.

Agent-based theories are unitary normative theories where the moral status of actions depends entirely on the moral status of an agent's motives and character. An act is morally acceptable if it stems from good or virtuous motivation, such as benevolence or caring for others' well-being, and not from malice or indifference. Thus, a virtuous motive defines a right action.

Eudaimonist virtue ethics, derived from the Greek 'eudaimonia' (happiness, well-being, or the good life), posits that happiness is man's highest goal, achievable by actively exercising moral virtues (arete) throughout a lifetime. Practical wisdom (phronesis) is essential to enhance moral virtue and resolve ethical problems. This approach emphasizes the holistic development of a moral person to achieve ultimate goodness and a well-lived life, independent of emotional states.