Short Essay on Virtue Ethics

Based upon your reading of Dr. Christina Sommers' article on Virtue Ethics & the video lecture by Tamar Gendler on the same, write a 2 to 3 page essay (double-spaced) on what virtue ethics is and how each of these philosophers explains it.  

Due Friday by 8:15AM

You will need to answer the following questions: According to Sommers, what is the main problem today and what is her basic answer both in terms of content and scope?  And then, from the lecture by Dr. Gendler, explain how we can turn normative commitments into descriptive laws and what does it mean to do that, according to her explanation of Aristotle’s virtue ethics (video link)?  Do you think it is fair to say that virtue ethics, as Tamar Gendler explains this moral theory, is a type of human programming and, if so, does this view challenge or undercut the idea of good human behavior as a matter of choice rather than response without thought?   Explain.  Do you think this approach of Professor Gendler to how virtue ethics becomes part of us goes along with Professor Sommers’ thesis on what is needed in schools today or not?  Explain.  Finally, what part of Christina Sommers’ analysis and proposal you find convincing, if any, and what part of it, if any, do you find questionable?

Link to article and video below

Article:  http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0116_Teaching_the_Virtues.html

Video just the first 30 minutes:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reZA81S0zfI