Virtue ethics vs umm...that other type of ethics

[Friar Puck]

But I guess I'm not really seeing a practical difference between Virtue Ethics and the others. Its motivation is to achieve eudaimonia; the others' motivation is to avoid some kind of catastrophe. But in both cases you have a list, either of rules or "virtues," and you measure your actions against that list. Beyond that the only differences I see are only semantics.

Short and sweet distinctions:
deontology = motives hold ethical primacy [Kant]
utilitarianism = outcomes hold ethical primacy [Mill, Bentham]
virtue ethics = character traits hold ethical primacy [Aristotle]

The first two deal with action [how and why], the third deals with possession of sorts [what], as such, can be used as a super or sub category in either of the first two.

If you're thinking about declaring a superior ethical system you're thinking about short-circuiting the process of interpersonal relationships, since when two people know each other the question of ethical systems becomes background noise.

For the 'declarer' sure, but we all have a superior ethical system, their's is on their sleeve, making it far easier to know them as a person; just keep them from gaining any real power through distraction/self-hate.

My head's still a bit fuzzy, but if virtue ethics is based around someone's character, then do we run into the same arguments about moral relativism?

That is, one behaves morally because it's their nature, and conversley the amoral cannot be blamed for amoral actions.


That's a crappy way of explaining it, but I hope I got some point across.

Yes, virtue ethics does suffer from moral relativism unless a standard is agreed upon. Since we have no such standard, Ratatosk's comment is quite insightful. This perhaps is the hub of the idea of Aristotle's seeing society as a basis for morality [right/wrong], although not necessarily ethics[what constitutes a good life].

[LMNO]

Can we have "aesthetic ethics"?

That is, what is ethical is what makes the best artistic statement?

[Friar Puck]

You can have whatever you want, as we are quite passive this century. You are saying artistic endeavors are a feasible way of attaining a fulfilling life? Seems good to me. Of course for it to be an ethical system it has to be the way of proper living, if it isn't it will be better defined as some subset of relativism. Do you have any interesting arguments?

[tyrannosaurus vex]

"If you can't create, then face your fate!" -- Johnicles Cochraine, greek philosopher.

[LMNO]

You can have whatever you want, as we are quite passive this century. You are saying artistic endeavors are a feasible way of attaining a fulfilling life? Seems good to me. Of course for it to be an ethical system it has to be the way of proper living, if it isn't it will be better defined as some subset of relativism. Do you have any interesting arguments?

I mean it in the sense of, when faced with a moral decision, choose the action that would work the best if it were to be in a movie script, book, song, or painting.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

You can have whatever you want, as we are quite passive this century. You are saying artistic endeavors are a feasible way of attaining a fulfilling life? Seems good to me. Of course for it to be an ethical system it has to be the way of proper living, if it isn't it will be better defined as some subset of relativism. Do you have any interesting arguments?

I mean it in the sense of, when faced with a moral decision, choose the action that would work the best if it were to be in a movie script, book, song, or painting.

The solution that best drives the plot...

or

The solution that best drives ticket sales...

?

[LMNO]

That depends on what kind of novel you're living in...




LMNO
-going kind of over-the-top with RAW references today...

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

That depends on what kind of novel you're living in...




LMNO
-going kind of over-the-top with RAW references today...

Oh Goddess, in a RAW novel, the ethical thing to do, would require the suspension of several laws of physics and involving using a stick of dynamite on the Fourth Wall... or just taking copious amounts of LSD maybe.

[LMNO]

heh.


I was actually referencing the end of the Leviathan section of Illuminatus, as well as the main sub-plot of Schodinger's Cat.


The ethical thing to do in a RAW novel is to badly impersonate James Joyce while getting a blowjob.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

heh.


I was actually referencing the end of the Leviathan section of Illuminatus, as well as the main sub-plot of Schodinger's Cat.


The ethical thing to do in a RAW novel is to badly impersonate James Joyce while getting a blowjob.

Yeah, I caught the reference

Well, lets not smack the old man too hard... there are surely some Joycean bits, but a RAW novel seems to have some uniquely RAW stuff

I think the ethical thing to do is blow up the Universe next door.

[LMNO]

Would it still be ethical to get a blowjob while doing it?

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Would it still be ethical to get a blowjob while doing it?

Its always ethical to get a blowjob. Bonus ethics for Road Head.

[Reginald Ret]

Yes, virtue ethics does suffer from moral relativism unless a standard is agreed upon. Since we have no such standard, Ratatosk's comment is quite insightful. This perhaps is the hub of the idea of Aristotle's seeing society as a basis for morality [right/wrong], although not necessarily ethics[what constitutes a good life].

just a tiny addition: it is good that we have no such standard, those nasty things lead to power-centralisation and we all know where that leads kids! men in silly hats telling you you can't have nasty buttsecks.

[LMNO]

You realize that The Aneristic is an Illusion, right?

[Requia ☣]

You realize that The Aneristic is an Illusion, right?

So is the internet, people still beleive in it.

I propose we ad an absolute moral rule of 'Do not create new rules.'