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Definition:
The term virtue is normally defined as some sort of moral excellence or beneficial
quality. In traditional ethics, virtues are those characteristics which differentiate
good people from bad people. Thus, the virtue of honesty is something possessed by
those who do not lie, resulting in their being "good." Identification of
human virtues and the explanation of why they lead to "good" as opposed to
"bad" behavior comprises an important part of ethical philosophy.
Such a focus on virtues depends upon assigning them intrinsic worth. Some modern ethical systems, however, assign virtues only extrinsic worth at best. Deontologists and utilitarians, for example, will argue that particular virtues have no value in and of themselves, but instead only insofar as they might encourage one to adhere to duty or enhance the general happiness. So, if honesty prevented one from doing her duty or making people happy, then it would be something to avoid.
Because of this, identifying whether or not you think that certain virtues have intrinsic or extrinsic value can help you see what sort of ethical system you actually follow.
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Related Resources:
What are Ethics and Morality?
Ethics is the formal study of moral standards and conduct. For this reason, the study of ethics is also often called "moral philosophy." What is good? What is evil? How should I behave - and why? How should I balance my needs against the needs of others?What is Philosophy?
What is philosophy? Is there any point in studying philosophy, or is it a useless subject? What are the different branches of philosophy - what's the difference between aestheitcs and ethics? What's the difference between metaphysics and epistemology?
