TOPIC 2:

DEVELOPING
VIRTUE AS HABIT
Subtopic 2.1. How is Moral Character Developed:
The Circular Relation of Acts that Build Character
and Acts that Emanate from Character
 Moral Character and Virtues
• Definition of A distinct mark by
Greek “character”
the word – a mark impressed
which one thing
“character” was distinguished
upon a coin.
from others.

Assemblage of
Character is
qualities that
“personality” (in
distinguish from one
modern usage)
person to another.
 “Character” in Ethics
• The Greek word “ethos”
(ethikos – verb) means
character.
• Aristotle – there are two
distinct human excellences:
• Excellence of thought
• Excellence of character (ethikai
aetai) – moral virtue or moral
excellence
So, in Ethics, virtue or
excellence of moral
character means...
NOT highlighting on
distinctiveness or
individuality…
BUT, on the blend of
qualities that make a
person ethically admirable.
Developing Virtue as Habit THUS, a person
has a “good
moral character”

Moral He/she is a
Character good person

He/she is a
good citizen

Existence Lack of
of virtues virtues He/she has a
sound moral
compass
• MORAL CHARACTER – therefore means
“having or lacking moral virtue”
• MORAL CHARACTER – is a trait which
the agent is morally responsible (for
having the moral character trait or for
the outcome of that trait)
• The character traits that constitute a
person’s moral character are
characteristically understood as
behavioral and affective dispositions.
• Thus, a virtue is a moral character Moral
disposition which the person deserves
a positive reactive attitude character as
(praise/gratitude). dispositions
• A vice is a moral character disposition
which a person is deserving of a
negative reactive attitude
(blame/resentment).
• In moral development, a person’s Circular
actions determine his/her moral
character, but moral character
relation of
itself generates acts that help in acts and
developing either virtue or vice. Character