Van Norden on Virtue Ethics

Virtue ethics essentially involves undertaking an analytical approach when assessing texts. It seeks to ensure that there is the development of a perspective concerning the merits of the texts in such a way that advances the need to avoid those aspects that are considered to be either partisan or biased. A text that is neither partisan nor biased is one that qualifies as having observed virtue ethics because it seeks to promote the interests of all individuals rather than only one particular group. Van Norden makes use of virtue ethics as a means of interpreting Confucianism. His interpretation of Confucianism states that it is a means through which an account of flourishing human life is brought about. In addition, he attributes Confucian writing as a means through which an understanding of the virtues that contribute to leading an ideal life can be made. It is also an essential means of giving an account of how these virtues can be acquired. Finally, he believes that Confucianism allows individuals to gain an understanding of what humans are like so that they can be helped towards the acquiring of virtues that can enable them to flourish in their lives.[1]

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[1] Bryan Van Norden, Virtue Ethics and Consequentialism in Early Chinese Philosophy (Cambridge University Press, 2007), 105.