The nature of virtue

Virtue ethics continued.
Case Histories in Business ethics.

The nature of virtue.

>We can acquire virtue - we are adapted by nature to receive virtue, through practice or habit.

'Men become builders by building... so too we become just by doing just acts.'

Practice has a cognitive role.
First a childis told to do something by a person (parent) 'share your sweets'

>purely external knowledge. They do not yet see the point.
> internal knowledge can only be guided through practising just acts. learning by doing.
>example of skiing is used. Why is it good? Because my mate says it is. Only by doing it can we tell if it is good and articulate 'INTERNALLY' why.
> After time we figure out why it is a good thing and choose to do it ourselves.

Desire is key.

Virtuous action requires the right desires.
Initiatially the desire may be to please a parent (in the example of share your sweets) but then the desire changes as the child sees the benefit in itself. The practicing of the just act reinforces the DESIRE.

Conditions of a just act:
1. have knowledge
2. must choose the act
3. must proceed fro a firm and unchangeable character.

The last two are achieved through practice.

>Virtue is a state of character
This is a settled disposition of the mind helped by practice.
> Desire certain things/believe certain things - kindof fixed.

>CHOICE _ agents choose actions for their own sakes. (do not want objects - want things for reasons) learned through practice.

Where does RATIONALITY COME IN???

Rationality comes in once an agent has reached the stage of 'seeing' the point of an activity (giving sweets to friends or skiing)
> At this stage the agent does not simply desire that activity, but desires it for a reason.
> development of this RATIONALITY has two aspects;
1. what is the point of activity? reflecting on why one activity is more worthwhile than another.
2. Agents desires are guided by reason. The strength of desire matches the value of the objective.

> The ethically virtuous agent will be fully rational > therefore ethically virtuous life is part of the eudaimon life, because eudaimon life is fully rational life.

Aristotelian virtue theory and BE

Just treatment of those engaged in business requires attention to the PURPOSE of the business.

> Because specific activities have specific goals, particular virtues may be more prominent in some activity than in others.
> therefore the nature of the business will have a role in determining which virtues are likely to be prominent for those engaged in this activity. eg. goal - selling goods and services. 'friendliness, truthfulness, and justice will be prominent.

Virtue theory and the goal of business.
Aristotle argues that it would not make sense for a carpenter or shoemaker to have a goal, if human life as such had none.
>there are bigger ultimate ENDS.
> so they must contribute to some further end, the goal of human life as a whole.

What is the business contribution to eudaimonia?

Conclusion
2 views
Sternberg - goal is to maximise owner value.
Virtue theory - sell enough goods and services for people to lead a virtuous life. greater goal is eudaimonia . > everything else id subordinate. Business activity must be constrained by the ultimate end.

Limit to business
1. contrary to human flourishing > not to be engaged in.
Business should be engaged in when its internal goal is understood, with th internal goal of producing sufficient owner value for flourishing.
2. Contrast with health > no limit to how much health you can have
Health is worthwhile for is own sake. It is an end in itself, unlike wealth. Wealth has a sufficient level, unlike health.

The danger of following unlimited wealth is that there is a danger in not recognising that wealth is a means to eudaimonia, not an end in itself.
The 'value' of wealth is limited by its contribution to eudaimonia > unlimited wealth is not worth pursuing.