Understanding Moral Action

Virtue ethics and moral character

Virtue ethics is at risk of being too concerned about the circumstances of individuals and relativism. Virtue ethics, by definition, is the emphasis on character and a personal interest in an individual’s life. Virtue ethics is a way of living that aims to be a model for virtue. This is in addition to the belief that moral decisions should not concern consequences or obligations. Because virtue ethics is determined by each individual, there is no clear definition of “the virtues.” A person’s virtues could be derived from naturalism or utilitarianism. But the virtue theorist focuses on the individual’s character and life, opening the door to relativism, a less complicated moral belief. The roots of virtue ethics are the basis of relativist’s judgment of the moral quality of a decision. If they are too concerned about their personal circumstances, a relativist can become an egoist. The egoist’s foundation is based on self-interest. If virtue ethics is guided by self-interest, it can lead to negative consequences for virtue ethics.

The probability that a virtue-theorist will misuse relativism depends on how they were raised. Relativism’s sole principle is the denial that there is an absolute moral truth. The relativist claims that moral or ethical decisions can be based on personal, social, and historical circumstances. This is when virtue theorists place their own circumstances above all aspects of relativism. The virtue theorist turned relativist believes that a person’s character should be maintained and that their interests must be taken into consideration in order to become a virtuous person. This is an ambiguous belief. Virtue theorists are often abusive to relativism because they neglect the importance of personal circumstances. The ideal person who is virtuous is defined by “what an ideal person should be”, which leads to “what an individual ought to do”. This is dangerous because the ideal virtue person assumes that they should be the person they want to become. The desire for virtue is a parallel to the egoism of self-interest. This principle appeals to virtue theorists-turned relativists because it takes moral character into account. It also considers personal circumstances. The argument is that morality is judged on an individual’s virtues, and not the society’s. The individual’s moral decision-making is thus a matter of their own judgment. This describes how virtue ethics can become too dependent on the individual’s circumstances. Egoism. It is important to keep a balance between the moral quality and the individual’s circumstances. While an individual’s actions can only be applied to the particular situation, their character is what will determine the outcome of every action that they take in any situation. Morality is the foundation of all actions. It must be considered the entire situation. A gymnast cannot make precise movements if they don’t have strong form and well-developed skills. A person can only take a morally correct decision if they have a strong, well-developed, and positive character. Morally wrong decisions are also subject to this rule.

If you are faced with a moral dilemma, you might instinctively talk to your mom. Your mom was the first person you saw when you walked. You might choose to do your English homework first, even though your math homework is more difficult because you love english. This is a moral decision that puts self-interest before the consequences for attempting to push off a more difficult task. It’s difficult to view the moral character of this individual, as it is in the example of the mom and father. This is because instinct alone does not allow for an analysis of value. Regardless of the determining element, morality is still in question due to the negative effect that it had on the dad. The result was emotional and differing values. (The dad doesn’t think the individual values them). This is a clear moral decision, as the individual used egoism to justify their actions. All actions, including those taken in the previous examples, are determined by the individual’s moral character. The mom’s decision to talk to her first shows that she is unable to assess the feelings of others. The instinctive control of an individual’s thoughts and actions is evident in the way that the mother talks to her first. These traits directly affected the individual’s actions. These characteristics directly influence the moral quality of an individual’s actions.