Moral Theory Of Virtue Analysis

The moral theory of Virtue Ethics is interesting in the way it places more emphasis on character and less on the actions of the person who may perform those actions. I will focus on the issue of voluntary and active euthanasia in relation to the application of virtue ethics. To talk of someone voluntarily taking their own life is still abominable in many societies today. Historically, it was unthinkable and unethical to even consider asking a physician to help one take their own life. It is evident that, with all the advancements in medical technology in our society today, our capabilities to extend the lives of patients suffering from different medical conditions has greatly increased. Because of this, a virtuous person would opt to
He talked about the happiness of the community and not just of the individual since, in addition to viewing people as rational beings, he also saw them as social beings. Thus, the wellbeing of a community, according to Aristotle, overrode the wellbeing of just one individual. This idea of happiness within a society ties in with the issue of euthanasia particularly in places where resources are limited. In these societies, euthanasia could make significant differences for the wellbeing of the community. Since prolonging the lives of the terminally injured or ill would bring with it financial as well as emotional strains for the family members, under these circumstances, it can be viewed as a very courageous act for someone to decide to end their own life for the sake of the wellbeing of their relatives. This suggests that society might have better financial benefits and fare better as a whole if those who are unproductive are euthanized. But then again, this is not an argument consistent with Aristotle’s virtues of patience and temperance. In conclusion, Virtue Ethics as presented by Aristotle appears too vague and difficult to apply to sensitive issues such as euthanasia. Since a virtuous agent possesses a range of virtues which can in some cases conflict with each other, there is no guideline of the virtues that determine what the virtuous agent would do. It is difficult to identify exactly