Rosalinda hursthouse virtue theory and abortion critical assessment. For utilitarianism, there is a link between right action and consequences, and then between. Rosalind hursthouse, who has made notable contributions to this development, here presents a full exposition and defense of her neoaristotelian version of virtue ethics. Rosalind hursthouses justly famous virtue theory and abortion is a touchstone in this field, to which along with her book beginning lives we will need to return at some length in what follows. Virtue theory and abortion essay example topics and.
Hursthouse, rosalind 1991 the sort of ethical theory derived from aristotle, variously described as virtue ethics, virtue based ethics, or neoaristotelianism, is becoming better known, and is now quite widely recognized as at least a possible rival. Virtue theory and abortion by rosalind hursthouse robyn waller phl 292 fall 2014 previous discussion of abortion the morality of. Rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion the sort of ethical theory derived from aristotle, variously described as virtue ethics, virtue based ethics, or neoaristotelianism, is becoming better known, and is now quite widely recognized as at least a possible rival to deontological and utilitarian theories. Jo kornegay, hursthouses virtue ethics and abortion. After recognizing the many contributions her analysis offers, i. Rosalind hursthouse, in her essay virtue theory and abortion, puts forth her theory of virtue by first introducing the mechanics of the theory and then applying it to the particular moral controversy of abortion. Assessment in the excerpt virtue theory and abortion, rosalind hursthouse presents the following argument for the moral acceptance of abortion. Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion, part 1 christina hendricks. Virtue theory and abortion essay medicine and health. An ethical theory should be able to guide action, to tell us what we ought to do given our particular circumstances. This essay explicates and evaluates the roles that fetal metaphysics and moral status play in rosalind hursthouse s abortion ethics.
View notes hursthouse from phl 292 at university of alabama. I then consider what some important virtue ethicists have said about abortion, especially the work of rosalind hursthouse. So the primary question for her in any issue is to quote from her book virtue theory and abortion. Virtue ethics in action introduction my plan is to begin by explaining virtue ethics in rather general terms, showing how its different from the two other main traditions in ethics. The sort of ethical theory derived from aristotle, variously described as virtue ethics, virtuebased ethics. Rosalind hursthouse s justly famous virtue theory and abortion is a touchstone in this field, to which along with her book beginning lives we will need to return at some length in what follows. In this paper i aim to go some way towards developing a version of virtue theory that satisfies four constraints that applied ethics places upon moral theory, namely that it should. Virtue ethics does not tell us what we should do from 1. My goal here is to consider what contemporary virtue ethics can say about the problem of abortion. Rosalind hursthouse general defense of virtue theory ethics application of virtue to the issue of abortion slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. I am illustrating how virtue theory directs one to think about it.
The essay clarifies the roles that fetal ontology and moral status do in fact play in her abortion ethics. Critical assessment in the excerpt virtue theory and abortion, rosalind hursthouse presents the following argument for the moral acceptance of abortion. I dont have access to her full paper right now, but i can give you the gist of the argument from my. Virtue theory and abortion by rosalind hursthouse bartleby. On the moral and legal status of abortion, mary anne warren. Shatz 051716 virtue theory and abortion by rosalind hursthouse rosalind hursthouse is known for her theories on virtue. In the west, virtue ethics founding fathers are plato and aristotle, and in the. Hursthouse writes, an action is right iff it is what a virtuous agent would. The introduction to the theory involves an explanation of and then contrast with deontological and utilitarian theories. I a virtue is a trait which allows one to ful ll ones function well. Arational actions in the journal of philosophy, vol. Some critical reflections on abortion and virtue theory.
She, with the use of virtue theory, simply says that an action is right only if a virtuous agent would do it. For utilitarianism, there is a link between right action and. Hursthouse s virtue ethics takes as central the conception of a human being who possesses all ethical virtues of character and no vices or defects of characterhumanbeingratherthanpersonbecausetherelevantcharactertraitsarenaturaltothespecies. May 01, 20 critical assessment in the excerpt virtue theory and abortion, rosalind hursthouse presents the following argument for the moral acceptance of abortion. I personally recommend the former approach, though thats more time consuming. Foot sometimes calls this virtue benevolence, while at other time she refers to it as charity. Oxford university press usa publishes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, childrens books, business books, dictionaries, reference books, journals, text books and more. She wants to explore how virtue ethics might direct one to think about abortion in. What is the major criticism of virtue ethics that hursthouse identifies. Virtue ethics, kantian ethics and consequentialism university of. In the first half i aim particularly to secure an understanding that will reveal that many of these criticisms are simply misplaced, and to articulate what i take to be the major criticism of virtue theory.
Rosalinda hursthouse virtue theory and abortion critical. What can contemporary virtue ethics say about the problem of abortion. Rosalind hursthouse, 17 at the time, knew immediately that she wanted to study philosophy, too, and enrolled the next year. Pdf virtue ethics in the development of a framework for public. Does moral virtue constitute a benefit to the agent. Applying virtue ethics in virtues and reasons, festschrift for philippa foot, eds. Its important i think that you either read her book in full before moving on to other books, or somehow get the main content of the book from good secondary sources. Hursthouse, rosalind 1991, virtue theory and abortion. Virtue theory and abortion essay example topics and well. For kantian ethics deontological theory, there is a link between right action and moral rules, and then between moral rules and rationality. Nov 18, 2014 a screencast for phil 230 at the university of british columbia. Hursthouses application of virtue theory to abortion illustrates this. Rosalind hursthouse applying virtue ethics to our treatment of the other animals applying virtue ethics to moral issues should be straightforward.
It was mentioned earlier that the theory of utilitarianism considers an action to be right if the chosen action can provide a person the best consequences that can make the person happy hursthouse 225. This chapter will expound and critique rosalind hursthouse s famous article abortion and virtue theory. I used hursthouse s paper virtue theory and abortion as a part of my thesis. In her 1991 article, virtue theory and abortion, rosalind hursthouse provided a. Virtue ethics and professional roles 16 see philippa foot, euthanasia, p. Rosalind hursthouse is a proponent of virtue ethics. Drawing on hursthouses essay, virtue theory and abortion, i will attempt to.
Applying virtue ethics to our treatment of the other animals. Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion part 2 youtube. Apr, 2009 rosalind hursthouse is a proponent of virtue ethics. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Besides that, intellectual and philosophical sophistication is not a necessary condition of moral wisdom, and a person can act virtuosly without possessing this knowledge. It is motivated by hursthouses puzzling claim in her widely anthologized paper virtue ethics and abortion that fetal moral status and by implication its underlying metaphysics are in a way, fundamentally irrelevant to her position.
Abortion the discourse on abortion generally is focused on two considerations. Rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion dead. Hursthouses virtue ethics takes as central the conception of a human be ing who possesses all ethical virtues of character and no vices or defects of characterhumanbeingratherthanpersonbecausetherelevantchar. Virtue ethics is perhaps the most important development within late twentiethcentury moral philosophy. Hursthouse herself wrote on abortion see virtue theory and abortion 1991, and though she may be against talking about the more general cases i. In the article, virtue theory and abortion, by rosalind hursthouse, she explains her view on abortion without trying to solve the issue of if it is right or wrong.
When we combine this result with the earlier conclusion concerning. Virtue theory and abortion rosalind hursthouse free essays. Start studying rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion. Opinion i agree with hursthouse that since pregnancy is unlike any other condition, that viewing it in callous terms is not the way to go about discussing abortion. Rosalind hursthouse general defense of virtue theoryethics application of virtue to the issue of abortion slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion, part 1 youtube. According to her, in order to attain a certain virtue, it is not enough to commit virtuous acts. Hursthouse claims that, according to virtue theory, the two considerations commonly thought to be. Virtue ethics guidance and practical guidance expectations. Hence, the motivations that we have picked to combine with consequentialism on the.
From rosalind hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion. The first centres on the significant renaissance of virtue ethics. Moral dilemmas in contemporary virtue ethics lsu digital commons. This essay explicates and evaluates the roles that fetal metaphysics and moral status play in rosalind hursthouses abortion ethics.
These are my notes from the reading, rather than a summary. Nov 18, 2014 hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion, part 1 christina hendricks. Rather, one must commit the virtuous act for the sake of the virtue itself. Hursthouse thinks that this framing of the issues can be limited and myopic. According to hursthouse, the major criticism of virtue ethics is that. Also, reflection on how professionals make social commitments upon joining a profession to have a certain. Virtue theory says there is no answer to abortion rather there is a variety of popular answers main focuses debated on abortion. After all, it basically just amounts to thinking about what to do using the virtue and vice terms.
In what follows i attempt to answer that question by considering both what has been said and what we may further argue from a virtue focused perspective. Rosalind hursthouse, on virtue ethics princeton university. Relatively brief discussions of this paper which are integrated into analyses of other virtue theorists views of abortion and related issues are found in john hackerwright, 2007, pp. Jason berke the morality of abortion through the lens of kantian ethics and utilitarianism duration. I should point out that, like hursthouse, i am not trying to solve the problem of abortion. According to rosalind hursthouse in her book entitled on virtue ethics, virtue ethics is both an old and new approach to ethics, old in so far as it dates back to the writings. Hursthouses aim in this essay is to defend virtue ethics against the following objection phrased as an argument. She shows how virtue ethics can provide guidance for action, illuminate moral dilemmas, and bring out the moral significance of the emotions. Hursthouse s view, however, is the most fully developed account of this kind. Hursthouse s most hursthouze contribution to modern virtue ethics is her book on virtue ethicswhich explores its structure as a distinctive actionguiding theory, the relationship between virtue, the emotions and moral motivation, and the place of the virtues within an overall account of human flourishing. Hursthouse, who was mentored by elizabeth anscombe and philippa footis best known as a virtue ethicist.
I begin by outlining virtue ethics in comparison to the two other dominant approaches in normative ethics. I reject this criticism, but do not claim that it is necessarily misplaced. In i i will describe how hursthouse sets out what she calls virtue theory vt and her response to some objections made against it. However, let us begin with judith jarvis thomsons seminal paper. On virtue ethics expands and develops hursthouses earlier work e. It is motivated by hursthouses puzzling claim in her. Then i want to briefly outline the theory of one very prominent contemporary virtue ethicist. Virtue theory and abortion in philosophy and public affairs, vol.
As explained by hursthouse 225, the theory of utilitarianism considers an action to be right if it can provide the best consequence to the. Hursthouse herself wrote on abortion see virtue theory and abortion 1991, and though she may be against talking about the more general cases i so think its important to consider particular cases. It is motivated by hursthouse s puzzling claim in her widely anthologized paper virtue ethics and abortion that fetal moral status and by implication its underlying metaphysics are in a way, fundamentally irrelevant to her position. This chapter will expound and critique rosalind hursthouses famous article abortion and virtue theory. Download file to see previous pages i strongly support the idea that abortion is the best option for rebecca. Rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion flashcards. In having an abortion in these circumstances, would the agent acting virtuously or viciously or neither. To hursthouse, virtue is complex and multifactored. I what is required to be an excellent teacher is di erent than what is required to be an excellent soldier, because teachers and soldiers have di erent functions i thus, there are di erent virtues for teachers, for soldiers. Despite being widely anthologized, virtue theory and abortion has received little scrutiny in print. Hursthouse on virtue ethics and abortion brendan shea, ph. The cambridge companion to virtue ethics edited by daniel c. Virtue theory and abortion medicine and health articles. Virtue, practical guidance, and practices open scholarship.
Rosalind hursthouse, gavin lawrence, warren quinn, oup, 1995. I feel if we could have a discussion of abortion on a mainstream scale it would improve things. Virtue ethics and bioethics chapter 9 the cambridge companion. Hursthouse, virtue theory and abortion 1991 ubc blogs. Mar 01, 2015 rosalind hursthouse virtue theory and abortion march 1, 2015 august 30, 2015 posted in aristotle, hursthouse these are my notes from the reading, rather than a summary. Virtue ethics i the other major concept of virtue ethics is that of virtue.
1463 476 166 7 934 573 829 1203 491 318 24 1226 420 850 1278 794 1468 582 92 1221 522 1474 1162 1091 1496 660 960 711 1136 1449 851 479 421 540 1649 29 943 1378 130 172 1484 1414 490 1223 1097 732 623 1402