Normative Virtue Ethics by Rosalind Hursthouse, Essay Example

Thesis

Rosalind Hursthouse presents the normative ethics theory as a framework that guides human behavior and actions based on moral values. Her main argument of morality is described by virtues that identify people concerning character and relationships with others. In this context, the normative ethics theory is considered part of two other frameworks: deontology and consequentialism. Some individuals comply or abide by duties and rules to guide individual actions and behavior. Deontology is another ethical theory that develops individual satisfaction as people perceive and think of others as they would expect from them. On the other hand, consequentialism is a theory that judges people’s actions and behavior by evaluating the outcomes or consequences. An action with potential positive benefits as outcomes is preferred to that with negative results (Hursthouse, 2018). Most importantly, Rosalind Hursthouse presents a normative ethics theory as a suitable model of ensuring and upholding morals and critical virtues which comply or abide by social and cultural expectations at personal, family, and community levels. The approach enhances personality traits through integration of progressive virtues and moral values required for enhanced interaction.

Hypothetical Application Scenario of Rosalind’s Theory

From a practical perspective, the normative ethics theory can be applied in instances requiring compassion, empathy, solidarity, and humility. For example, a homeless person begging for food along busy streets is an individual in need of assistance at emotional, physical, and psychological levels (Frey, 2020). The person needs assistance, which is offered by passers-by, well-wishers, and empathetic organizations. In this case, offering assistance in form of food, shelter or clothing is an action whose outcome is positive and morally acceptable. A person depicting values of the normative ethics theory would offer assistance since helping people in tough conditions is encouraged in their community (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). In this situation, an individual with community or religious roles would appreciate the act and commend it to others for peaceful coexistence. Therefore, Rosalind Hursthouse considers the ethical theory useful in ensuring consistency and sustainability of important community virtues. The theory focuses on the morals and virtues associated with human actions within a social, community or cultural context.

Relevant Components of the Author’s Main Argument

Theories of Normative Ethics

Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a relatable ethics model that enforces of Rosalind’s argument of the normative ethical theory. This model provides an alternative to the ethics theory for understanding Rosalind’s argument from a different perspective. In this case, the utilitarian model states that an action or behavior is considered ethically and morally accurate based on its consequences (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). For example, the practical application of this theory in the practical application context would find the act of helping the homeless person morally just. In other words, any help to the needy person in the form of food, shelter, or water is considered ethical as the consequences include relief and survival (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Fellow community members would find the assistance crucial to preventing unwarranted death from hunger. Utilitarianism is a relevant concept of normative ethics theory as it facilitates a deeper understanding of morality (Frey, 2020). For example, helping the needy person would be putting oneself at risk of arrest for supporting homelessness in some towns and cities.

Kantianism

Additionally, Kantianism offers useful knowledge for understanding and applying normative ethical theory. Established scholars and practitioners use this theory to distinguish actions and behaviors from intentions. In this case, Kantianism is a philosophical model that judges an action’s morality based on motives (Frey, 2020). According to this conceptual framework, the motivation behind an action or specific behavior offers a key determinant of moral intentions (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Consequently, Kantianism is perceived ethically valuable if the activities are intended for positive outcomes. On the one hand, helping a homeless person is an action that is justified morally by the utilitarian approach. On the other hand, the action can be immoral in some communities, which discourage homelessness through minor empathetic acts to overcome the severity of the problem (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Most importantly, scholars of the Kantianism theory perceive the helping idea and positive thoughts as morally just despite failing to offer assistance.

Ethical Intuition

Another useful model that explains the normative ethics theory includes the ethical intuition framework. Essentially, Rosalind Hursthouse identifies intuition as a crucial determinant of an action’s moral status. In simpler terms, ethical intuition enables individuals to make decisions based on unexplainable or intrinsic psychological forces (Hursthouse, 2018). In a hypothetical situation, an individual hesitating to help a homeless person for fear of being mugged or robbed acts under ethical intuition. This framework explains that not all actions and behaviors can be controlled using rules or outlined morals. It implies that people with ethical intuition fulfill their satisfaction in moral actions based on previous encounters or experiences (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). For instance, a stabbed after getting near homeless people abusing drugs would use ethical intuition to judge or get involved in a similar act. Most importantly, when evaluating using instincts, ethical intuition is a relevant component of Rosalind’s normative ethics theory.

Varying Forms of Virtue Ethics

The normative ethics theory by Rosalind contains different forms of the model when applied in diverse contexts. Virtue ethics is instrumental in developing behavioral traits that facilitate personal and professional growth at different levels (Timmons, 2012). Most significantly, forms of virtue ethics theory are related to Rosalind’s model as they enhance the basic structure and application essence of normative theories.

Eudaemonic Virtue Ethics

This normative ethics theory form determines morals and virtues concerning eudemonism. A eudaemonist develops virtues and values that contribute to their happiness or well-being as humans. In this context, helping a homeless person is an ethical act supported by most community values in multicultural contexts (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). The moral element of the action under eudaemonist would argue that the needy person would be encouraged despite toughening conditions. when offered assistance. For instance, presenting food to the person develops happiness and intrinsic satisfaction by offering help and the recipient. When keenly perceived, the eudaemonist form of normative ethics is crucial in forming sustainable and stable social relationships (Hursthouse, 2018). It implies that the homeless person would be sympathetic and helpful if he/she found the person who assisted her in a street robbery. The relationship of well-being enhanced by the helping act would be critical in overcoming future challenges by either of the involved individuals (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Most importantly, eudaemonist is instrumental in advancing personal, professional, and community social relationships.

Agent-Based Virtue Ethics

Moreover, agent-based is a normative ethical theory that identifies the motivation for individual actions, thinking patterns, and behaviors. This approach stipulates that drivers of activities are critical in evaluating the morality of an action or explaining normativity (Frey, 2020). For example, helping a needy and homeless person is an act that requires extrinsic and intrinsic motivation sources. A person passing by, feeling the need to support the homeless person, could be motivated by a past similar experience (Timmons, 2012). A person who experienced homelessness would find it compassionate and empathetic to support the needy since the conditions are well-understood at a personal level (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Additionally, the agent-based form of normative ethics requires extrinsic motivation based on guidelines used for behavior control (Hursthouse, 2018). This approach is depicted in social forums such as religious functions were leaders use similar illustrations for spiritual teachings.

Target-Centered Virtue Ethics

Target-centered virtue ethics is another form of normative ethical theory which focuses on the benefits or outcomes of a specific person trait or value (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). An individual who develops a specific virtue and actions surrounding integrates the principles of this form of normative ethics. In this context, an individual offering help to a homeless person depicts humility, kindness, and generosity virtues. In other words, these values are integral in the personality definition of the passer-by offering help to the homeless victim (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). When keenly perceived, this normative ethics form enhances and enforces actions that define generosity. For instance, preparing food for the victimized person is an empathetic act beyond the normal value of offering something to eat. It implies that the person makes an additional effort to prepare a decent meal depicting generosity (Hursthouse, 2018). Subsequently, the target-centered form of normative theory requires focus and concentration on deeds that demonstrate the morality or ethicality of an action.

Platonistic Virtue Ethics

Furthermore, the Platonist description of virtue ethics is envisaged like an individual action or behavior. In simpler words, this normative ethics theory uses Plato Socrates’ argument of explaining the nature of a good deed (Frey, 2020). For example, this approach would integrate several factors influencing the moral status of helping a homeless person in need of food. In this case, offering assistance is a positive and recommendable act from any individual who offers assistance (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). However, in this case, Plato’s argument would include defining goodness in helping the needy person. On the one hand, assisting the homeless requires long-term strategies to overcome the menace in urban communities. It includes taking them to a shelter home and advising them on education and employment matters (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). On the other hand, the Platonist form of normative virtue ethics would argue that food is a short-term remedy before taking sustainable measures for ending homelessness. Both acts of goodness are considered moral, but the definition of goodness cannot be established immediately.

Evaluation of the Argument’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Argument’s Strengths

Understanding the Nature of Moral Agency

Normative ethics theory is a valuable framework for enhancing the nature of moral agency. From a descriptive perspective, moral agency is an individual with the psychological capacity to discern right from wrong (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). The person has a sufficient professional qualifications and practical training to ensure transparency and accountability of their actions and decisions. In this context, helping a homeless person is the role of statutory agents responsible for the welfare and well-being of all people (Timmons, 2012). An official from the mandated agency has an understanding of moral agency that their assistance should be structured and communicated to the executive once a decision is made to assist the homeless person. Normative ethics theory is also beneficial in understanding the nature of moral agency from an accountability aspect (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). In other words, an individual understands the consequences of undertaking specific actions under their official capacity in an organization.

Identification of Morally Right Actions

Rosalind’s normative ethics theory is beneficial in the identification of morally right actions. Individuals who display moral values in their actions and behaviors benefit from making wise and sound decisions in different contexts (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). For example, assisting a homeless person is a morally right only when performed in different circumstances (Hursthouse, 2018). In this case, assisting the person would be ethically justified if the person is satisfied and depicts gratitude. The assistance would also be morally accurate if the motive is intrinsically motivated (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Subsequently, the normative ethics theory helps advance actions with morals and virtues. This includes supporting empathetic acts from others and rewarding good deeds from young ones. Most importantly, Rosalind Hursthouse helps enhance the application of ethics among individuals reforming from rogue or aggressive behavior (Frey, 2020). This approach is useful in improving virtues that identify an individual concerning their community or cultural practices.

Justification of Moral Beliefs

Additionally, the normative ethics theory is valuable in justifying the source and practice of moral beliefs. Individuals with virtues pride their wisdom in community values that identify with their originality (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). For instance, virtuous people acquire progressive attributes after following important teachings at cultural, religious, and community levels. These social settings allow important persons to share stories of individuals with empathetic values for others to follow (Timmons, 2012). Sources of obtained virtues are distinct as people depict diversity in origin, race, and, cultural beliefs.  It includes persons with similar life experiences identifying with certain values under the same context. In this aspect, moral beliefs are justified if their outcomes attract prosperity and spiritual or cultural blessings (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Most importantly, the normative ethics theory is instrumental in ensuring the continuity and sustainability of progressive virtues. Communities or families associated with progressive virtues ensure accountability by ensuring ultimate behavior control.

Enhancing Social Relationships

Improving interpersonal relationships is another benefit of the normative ethics theory by Rosalind Hursthouse. Through individual interaction at personal and professional levels, they learn how to engage with others (Frey, 2020). For example, an individual with managerial roles would assist the homeless person by identifying a sustainable solution. This approach includes facilitating important goods and items crucial to the victim’s survival. In this case, the normative ethics theory is critical in advancing the social relationship between the manager and the homeless person, as evidenced through communication (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Most importantly, the ethics framework enables the individual to develop progressive values that strengthen the stability of friends and relatives. The normative ethical theory is useful in advancing one’s relationship at a professional level. It includes engagement with colleagues during the implementation of organizational projects or in informal contexts (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Advancing professional networks requires the development of virtues that include empathy, humility, and generosity.

Encourage Integration of Ethical Practices in Multicultural Communities

Most significantly, the normative ethics theory is beneficial in encouraging the integration of progressive community values. Rosalind Hursthouse recognizes the multicultural attribute of modern societies due to globalization. Individuals with diverse cultural and ancestral origins move across regions and continents for better lives. In this case, meeting local people with a distinct language and cultural practices requires patience and tolerance to enhance understanding. In this case, the normative ethics assessment is valuable in allowing individuals to learn and engage consciously on ethical issues with cultural significance. Subsequently, the integration of ethical practices with virtues allows people to co-exist peacefully with harmony despite differences in cultural origins. Individuals with integrated virtues interact with caution to optimize the outcomes of relationships at social and professional levels (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). Most importantly, ethical practices that thrive in multicultural communities enhance the sustainability of critical values among younger generations. Individuals learn to co-exist with harmony, having learned different values from culturally diverse persons.

Weaknesses of Normative Ethics Theory

Application Challenge in Contemporary Societies

Unfortunately, the normative ethics theory depicts significant weaknesses as a philosophical model. The framework enables individuals to advance their traits and character that advances their social relationships (Frey, 2020). However, the theory depicts weaknesses when applying the normative ethical theory. For example, the ongoing pandemic has caused financial problems for many families. Consequently, helping a homeless person would be difficult for a jobless individual. Rosalind Hursthouse presents a hypothetical model explaining people’s behavior and thinking patterns. However, it is difficult for individuals to apply the challenge in contemporary societies which fail to award good behavior and acts. Many people have become judgmental and misinterpret activities and actions entailing morals and virtues (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). In this case, assisting a homeless person can easily be translated to imply the exploitation of needy people for monetary gains. Identifying and recognizing possible outcomes under the normative ethical theory is vital.

Inadequacy in Upholding Integrated Moral Values

Another weakness of the normative ethics theory is its inadequacy in upholding integrated moral values. In essence, an ethical person with progressive virtues as their trait requires the incorporation of several values (Frey, 2020). For example, helping a homeless person requires collaboration and integration of key values, including empathy, generosity, kindness, and humility. Executing an intrinsically motivated act would only be possible if the individual depicts all the traits holistically (Campodonico & Navarini, 2020). On the one hand, a humble person willing to share a meal with a homeless person should also be generous and not expect anything in return. The integration of these virtues is critical in attaining the best behavior and progressive thinking patterns (Hursthouse, 2018). On the other hand, a humble person without kindness and empathy cannot achieve the morality level related to the act. In this case, the normative ethics theory has weaknesses in its inadequacy to uphold integrated moral values.

Presents Barriers to Resolving Situational Problems

Furthermore, the normative ethics assessment presents challenges in resolving situational problems. These are challenges encountered when addressing a problem arising from an immediate situation. It is common for individuals to remember recommended behavior in a conflict situation which evokes anger and aggression (Frey, 2020). People engage physically in this context by forgetting values and virtues which guide their behavior and actions. Most fundamentally, resolving problems is an important practice that requires the integration of morals and virtues. Parties conflicting on a specific topic need tolerance and patience to understand the viewpoints of each other. Failure to comprehend points of difference contributes to inadequacy and potential barriers to resolving situation problems (Hursthouse, 2018). Rosalind Hursthouse offers an impractical framework that rarely works during aggression or conflict. Individuals forget the values and principles of a virtuous person and act under anger and aggression.

References

Campodonico, A., & Navarini, C. (2020). Virtue Ethics and Moral Psychology. Editorial Note. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, 23(2), 273-276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10677-020-10096-x

Frey, J. A. (2020). Revisiting Modern Moral Philosophy. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplements, 87, 61-83. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1358246119000262

Hursthouse, R. (2018). The grammar of goodness in foot’s ethical naturalism. In Philippa Foot on Goodness and Virtue (pp. 25-46). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-91256-1_2

Timmons, M. (2012). Moral theory: An introduction. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.