Ethical Perspectives Paper

Virtue ethics is a term for theories that emphasize the role of character and virtue in moral philosophy to act out ones responsibility, rather than acting in order to bring about good consequences. It does not rely on society, culture or religion; it only depends on that individual.

Virtue ethics dates back to the ancient Greek thinkers and is the oldest type of ethical theory in western philosophy. According to Aristotle, when people have a good sense of character, they are better able to control their emotions. This helps us make morally correct decisions when we come across difficult choices over the course of our lives. Virtue ethics is not so much interested in the question ‘What should I do?’ but rather in question ‘What kind of person should I become?’ It has more to do with character and the nature of what it is to be human, than with the rights and wrongs of actions. It’s good to remember that we are being made every minute, and we cannot help it. That means that every decision we make, reflects on our character and moral principles for the rest of our lives.

Aristotle says that those who lead a virtuous life are very happy and have a sense of well-being. Everyone says that happiness is the ultimate goal in life. But happiness is only a byproduct of what we desire. Aristotle’s definition of happiness is, “happiness is the activity of the soul in accord with perfect virtue.” In other words, he means that if we want to live a happy life then we must desire to become a better person. We must turn these virtuous acts into consistent habits that we make a part of our daily lives. Aristotle said that virtues are something that we acquire and are not just born with; people are not naturally good or bad, but become good or ...

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... old they are, or how wealthy they are. Some of the poorest people tend to be some of the happiest people in the world because they can be so grateful for even the slightest act of kindness like getting offered a hot, homemade meal. It may seem like such a small favor, but it can provide more happiness then donating thousands of dollars to even a church.

Overall, I believe individual happiness is connected to altruistic concerns for others, but sometimes, there comes a point where being this altruistic person becomes an obligation. When you hit this point, people just start to use you for example, maybe your money, and show no gratitude or appreciation for you. This is when you begin to lose that happiness and your quality of life decreases. That’s why it is important not to let people take advantage of you, not everyone has the same good intentions as you may have.