LEARNING OUTLINE
SUBJECT: PHILO 101 (ETHICS)
TOPIC: VIRTUE ETHICS (ARISTOTLE & ST. THOMAS AQUINAS)
I. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Explain virtue ethics by oral recitation after the discussion;
Apply virtue ethics in real situations by discussing in a group the cases provided by the
teacher using Aristotelian and Thomistic perspectives; and
Appreciate the importance of the formation of good character by gaining insights from the
interview of parents, relatives or church leaders about their views on controversial issues
like same sex marriage, divorce, and homosexuality.
II. LEARNING COURSE OUTLINE
The students will be doing a class discussion that talks about the Virtue Ethics in
Aristotelian and Thomistic perspective.
While discussing, the reporters will be asking questions pertaining to the topic.
After the discussion, the professor will add something that might not be able to be tackled
by the reporters.
III. LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Assessing students' understanding of the virtue ethics involves evaluating their grasp of various
perspectives, insights, and internalizing the importance of the formation of good character.
IV. LECTURE
What is Virtue Ethics?
Virtue is a behavior showing high moral standards and excellence.
Ethics is a study of morality of human acts; means the character or moral nature.
Therefore, virtue ethics is an ethical framework that is concerned with understanding the good as
a matter of developing virtuous character of a person.
Aristotle - a Greek philosopher who made contribution in developing the study of virtue ethics.
As a matter of fact, his book Nicomachean Ethics is the first comprehensive and programmatic study of
virtue ethics. According to him, virtue is a reason, an excellence and a habit.
Virtue as Excellence
According to Aristotle, virtue means the excellence of a thing to perform its proper function
(ergon) paired with wisdom which is the excellence in knowing the right conduct in carrying out a
particular act.
Virtue as Habit
To him, moral virtue is attained by means of habit. A morally virtuous person is someone
who habitually determines the good and does the right actions.
Virtue as Reason
According to Aristotle, virtue is reason and reason is virtue. Virtuous person is a person who
lives in reason and a person who lives in reason is in a state of eudaimonia because he/she is in active
exercise of virtue.
Aristotle’s Concept of the Golden Mean
DEFICIENCY (-) BALANCE EXCESS (+)
Cowardice Courage Rashness
Miserliness Generosity Extravagance
Secrecy Honesty Loquacity
Indecisiveness Self-Control Impulsiveness
Self-indulgence Temperance Insensibility
In Aristotelian perspective, virtue ethics define as the goodness and how it relates to our function
as human beings, promote the correct use of reason and the development of good behavior.
St. Thomas Aquinas - an Italian Dominican friar, a prominent theologian and philosopher of the
Medieval Period. He’s the one who developed the Natural Law Ethics. He connects virtue ethics with
faith, asserting that true happiness comes from a relationship with God
St. Thomas’ natural law ethics - is based on the Aristotelian principle that everything in the world,is
organized in a teleological fashion, i.e., everything has a goal or purpose. And that the basic moral
norms are as fixed and unchangeable.
THE QUINQUAE VIAE
According to Aquinas, human beings are incapable of knowing the nature of God. However, it is
the natural function of the human mind to link effects which encounters in nature to their causes. Based
upon these principles, St. Thomas offered the five proofs of God existence, which is known in the
Summa Theologiea as Quinquae Viae.
Unmoved Mover
Uncaused Cause
Necessary Beings
Perfect Being
Supreme Designer/Orderer
7 BASIC GOODS
Thomas Aquinas’s version of this theory says that we all seek out what’s known as the basic
goods and argued that instinct and reason come together to point us to the natural law. He argued that
God created the world according to natural laws - predictable, goal-driven systems whereby life is
sustained, and everything functions smoothly. God has given us the instinctual desires for what is the
best for us, hence, the Basic Goods.
Self- Preservation
Make more life (reproduce)
Education
The desire of God
Conscience
Shame
Shun Ignorance
THE THREE DETERMINATE OF MORAL ACTION
On Thomas’ ethical principle, there are three factors that can help a human person determine
whether his actions is to be considered morally acceptable or not.
1) Finis Operas (The Object or The End of An Action) - refers to that which the act naturally ends
before all else.
2) Finis Operantis (The Intention of the Agent) - refers to the reason why the agent acts.
3) Circumstantie (The Circumstances) - a condition which, when super added to the nature of the
moral act will certainly affect its morality.
Agere sequitur esse (action follows being) - the human person must act according to his/her nature or
being. An idea that took by Aquinas from the ethical principle of Aristotle in accordance with its nature.
In Thomistic perspective, virtue ethics connects with faith, asserting that true happiness comes
from a relationship with God. He believed that as rational beings as people who are reasonable we
should know that happiness is our own good and it is a natural direction for human beings. Happiness
arises from virtuous actions, emphasizing that genuine fulfillment is rooted in moral character rather
than wealth or pleasure.
