Ethics is all about flourishing as a human being. Aristotle calls such a life "happy," and he concludes that happiness, or eudaimonia, is the end, or goal, of human life. On his account, our flourishing requires the cultivation of a range of virtues, both moral and intellectual. Our focus has been primarily on the moral virtues, to which we often refer as a person's moral character (e.g., whether a person is honest, generous, brave, just, etc.). Virtue theory is an attempt to work from this idea of moral character to a framework that explains what the virtues are, how we acquire them, and how they contribute to our living and doing well (flourishing) as human beings who are rational, social and embodied creatures. Write an essay in which you respond the article by Robert Coles ("The Disparity between Intellect and Character") in the Marino textbook by defending a thesis using the framework of virtue ethics. You have some latitude in terms of how you want to frame your essay, and you can certainly consult with me. As part of the essay, you'll need to display your understanding of the virtue framework, particularly in light of what we've read together and the secondary materials I've provided. This is a relatively short paper, so you'll need to be economical in your summary and analysis. Write for a general audience (e.g., write your essay as if you were going to have your parents read it) with the aim of making your points as clear and convincing as possible while avoiding misrepresenting your sources or exaggerating your conclusions. Use the essay to display your mastery of a virtue and character approach to ethics by showing how it can be used to illuminate our thinking about the moral life. As with the other assignment options, direct engagement with sources is essential for success! Use quotes to provide examples and to support your summary and analysis. It's important that your essay displays a good understanding of this ethical framework, supported by textual evidence.
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