School of thought
Virtue Ethics Revival
Movement
Classification
- Period
- c. 1958 CE onward
- Regions
- europe
- Domains
- Ethics
Overview
The Virtue Ethics Revival, sparked by Anscombe's 1958 critique of modern moral philosophy, returned to Aristotelian and Stoic ideals of character, practical wisdom, and human flourishing. Rather than asking 'What should I do?' (as in deontology and consequentialism), virtue ethics asks 'What kind of person should I be?' — centering ethics on the cultivation of excellent character traits.
Key ideas
- Character Over Rules: Ethics is fundamentally about developing virtuous character — courage, temperance, justice, generosity — not about following rules or maximizing outcomes.
- Practical Wisdom (Phronesis): The master virtue: the ability to perceive what the situation requires and respond appropriately. Virtue cannot be reduced to a formula; it requires judgment.
- MacIntyre's Narrative: Human life is a narrative quest for the good. Virtues are qualities that sustain us in that quest, and they can only be understood within specific practices and traditions.
Key figures
Elizabeth Anscombe · Alasdair MacIntyre · Philippa Foot · Rosalind Hursthouse · Martha Nussbaum
Positions held
- Virtue Ethics
Question scope: The Basis of Right Action
Influenced by
Reacts to
- Kantian Critical Philosophy
- Classical Utilitarianism
Anscombe's 1958 'Modern Moral Philosophy' argued that a morality fixated on rules and consequences is bankrupt without a prior account of human flourishing and character.
Renews after a break
References
- G. E. M. Anscombe, 'Modern Moral Philosophy', Philosophy 33 (1958)
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Virtue Ethics
- Julia Annas, The Morality of Happiness (Oxford University Press, 1993)
- After Virtue — Alasdair MacIntyre
- Natural Goodness — Philippa Foot
- On Virtue Ethics — Rosalind Hursthouse