week three discussion forum

Queation: Compare and contrast the ethics of virtue and the ethics of conduct: Critically discuss at least two different cultures or philosophical traditions that value having a good character over doing the right thing. Why do these cultures or traditions emphasize the importance of being a good person over doing good things? Which tradition is closer to your own ethical standard? Must one choose between these two approaches, or can they be blended into a kind of hybrid "character + conduct" ethics? Can you find any examples of such a hybrid view? Explain and defend your point of view on this issue using whatever evidence you believe to be relevant.

Kathryn Dinis’s response:

Ethics of conduct is defined in our text book The Moral of the Story as the study of moral rules pertaining to decisions about what course of action of take or “what to do”. Theories that consider what proper human conduct is are often referred to as ethics of conduct. It is how to respond in a difficult situation. Ethics of virtue is defined in the text as the study of moral rules pertaining to the building of character or how to be. The approach to the question of “how to be” a virtuous person or someone people can trust. A virtuous person is good at everything he or she does because of the good habits, good choices made and because they have such good character. Ethics of conduct is the study of how to respond where ethics of virtue is how to act at all times.

The Akan people from West Africa have a natural law approach to morality. “If something makes sense morally, then that is its reason for being a moral law” (Rosenstand P.385). The Akan people’s ethics focused on character and virtue. They believe that people can work towards having good character through having good habits. They can do so through storytelling. Stories and proverbs instill moral values in children. The Akan people believe that one makes their own choices and should be held accountable for their actions. If they act badly, it’s because they have not work hard enough to build up their character correctly. The Akan people favor faithfulness, kindness, hospitality and compassion. They believe that promoting social well-being is a good thing.

The North American Indian tribes have values that stand for ecological virtue. They live in harmony with nature and do not abuse their resources. Native Americans include the animals, trees, and spirits of the rocks, waters and winds in to their community. Legends of Native Americans say that people could not only understand the animals but also could change themselves into animals and animals into people. They also believe that “humans can be physically and mentally fit only if they are in harmony with their surroundings, and nature has to be in similar harmony for humans to stay healthy.

I agree with the Akan people in that people can work towards being good. I personally always try to make an effort to do the right thing and treat people the way that I would like to be treated. The more I work on this the easier it is to know what the right thing to do is. I also agree that people should be held accountable for their actions and have a choice to make when it comes to making the right decisions. I agree with the American Indians to a certain extent too. I believe that people should respect and appreciate nature more. California is currently in a drought and they are currently building 80,000 new homes in the area that I live in. An area that is over populated as it is. They are building 80,000 new homes that will be plumbed for water not to mention all of the water that is being used during the construction of those homes. Developers see an open piece of land and see dollar signs not the beauty of nature. Every time they build on open land, it disturbs the animal’s habitats. People complain that wild animals are roaming their streets but never think that they don’t have anywhere to go because their house replaced their home.