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]

---

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

Aristotle: Friendship and Virtue

 

Friendship is an essential aspect of life which individuals cannot live without. A result is that it is considered to be a feeling that is not only related to virtues, but is a virtue in itself. This is important because it allows individuals to ensure that they achieve a level of prosperity in their societies without any fear of losing what they have acquired. Friendship makes it possible for these individuals to live comfortably because they have friends around them who will ensure that they protect them against any harm. Therefore, friendship ensures that the creation of a society where individuals depend on each other’s good will for their security as well as the advancement and protection of their prosperity. It is a virtue because it helps young people when it comes to preventing them from making mistakes that they might end up regretting. In addition, as individuals become older and have physical limitations, it is friendship which allows them to have the ability to complete tasks that would otherwise have been too heavy for them. A consequence of friendship, therefore, involves the development of a situation where individuals provide each other with support so that they can think and act in concert in order to achieve their mutual goals.

Aristotle: Virtue of Justice

 

According to Aristotle, justice is often considered to be a higher form of virtue than others because it involves a situation where an individual undertakes an action that is right, no matter the consequences. Justice is a higher form of virtue because it allows for the advancement of the needs of individuals in society. Individuals who love justice are committed wholly to it to such an extent that even though they have to take an action that goes against their own interests, they do so for the sake of justice. This is an extremely important step especially considering that justice is essentially blind, and it focuses mainly on the achievement of the satisfaction of all members of society. The advancement of these needs means that those who undertake just actions are individuals that have the ability to ensure that there is the creation of an environment where all other virtues are tied together to prevent individuals from committing injustices against one another. Justice is a higher form of virtue because it brings together all other virtues in such a way that injustices in society are prevented and there is instead the promotion of a level of equality in the lives of all individuals, who end up finding pleasure in life itself.