Virtue Ethics

Thesis

The modern moral theories have placed far too much stress on, variously, rules, duties and consequences, and accordingly have overlooked the true primary locus of ethics: the character of the agent (Nussbaum, 66-225).

Introduction

The ancient sources drawn upon by virtue ethicists in the Anglo-American tradition, on the one hand, and Foucault, on the other, are somewhat different. Most virtue ethicists draw mainly from Aristotle, in particular the Nichomachean Ethics, whereas Nussbaum is more concerned with later, Hellenistic and Roman, developments of the Platonic and Aristotelian traditions. However, this difference should not be over-emphasized. From the issue of view of the mainstream of modern ethical considered, with its emphasis upon codification, the differences between these schools are somewhat insignificant (McCloskey, 89-203).

Summary

Virtue Ethics encompasses our entire lives, and sees every moment as a possibility for acquiring or developing a virtue, including sexual relationships. A virtue based approach to sexual ethics does not give a choice of action from alternatives, nor does it tell us how to respond in a particular situation, such a when a person seems to go against a particular sexual moral norm. However, Virtue Ethics asks how a person acts virtuously over an extended period of time with regard to their sexual relationships. Virtue Ethics is not about decisions, but about the person making those decisions, and the skills and habits that enable the person to act rightly under pressure. As far a sexual ethics is concerned, Virtue Ethics aims to shape what we desire as well as what we do, and so presumes there is a right and wrong in sexual conduct - it is not just private choice.

Discussion

Virtue Ethics would consider what kind of sexual practices would make a person more virtuous, and would consider that sex expresses human union - a sharing, giving and commitment. It would, therefore see that the sexual practices that use others for one's own end, or that harm others as not being virtuous.

Virtue Ethics implies that an action is right if it is what a virtuous person, who exercises the virtues, would characteristically do in a situation. Aristotle talks about practicing virtues, and a mature person continually growing in virtues.

One approach to sexual ethics from the point of view of Virtue Ethics might consider the application of certain virtues, such as justice and fairness in sexual ethics which treats each person with dignity. This could be used to discuss the commercialisation of sex, from prostitution to internet pornography, and the question of the equality of women.

Alternatively, virtue ethicists such as Michael Slote, emphasise the ethics of care in relationships and as far as sexual ethics are concerned this requires a sort of three-way balance: care for those who are near to us (intimate care); care for other people in general (humanitarian care); and care for our own well-being (self care). This enables us to balance justice which asks us to treat all people with impartiality, with fidelity which asks us to consider our specific interpersonal relationships. Finally self-care allows the person to be accountable for oneself, and not let oneself be taken advantage of in sexual relationships - responsible for ourselves as well as others.

This view implies tolerance towards others' approaches to sexual ethics, while accepting that we are responsible for our character and the choices we ...