Class #16: Brian Treanor, “Virtue Ethics and Environmental Virtue Ethics,” in Emplotting Virtue


Brian Treanor begins his account with citing Aristotle recognizing that he communicates a universal message about ethics and morality. Aristotle questions what is the goal of a good human life. He is concerned with the “highest” or “final” good for humans, the goal at which human life taken as a whole aims. Aristotle claims that that this ultimate good is eudaimonia, better described as “well being” or “flourishing”. A being is flourishing when it is thriving in all the ways it should. Aristotle believes there is a distinct path in regards to determining how to achieve eudaimonia. However our diverse passions and views, is a significant problem for virtue ethics. Human flourishing must revolve around some distinct human activity. Also it is a process that takes place over one’s entire life. Major components Aristotle includes are having a reword functioning body and some measure of material wealth. Aristotle develops “virtue ethics” because he believes virtue is the key determinant of flourishing. Aristotle is narrowing down on the essential characteristics and dispositions of a good person. Cultivating these virtues are a major part of the pat to this well being. Moral virtues are developed by a process of habituation. Aristotle makes an important notion that we are not born courageous or temperate. We become courageous by practicing courage and we become temperate by practicing temperance. He believes people must have the right “breeding” first. Aristotle believes virtue s the disposition to choose the mean. Being virtuous means to choose the middle pat between two vicious extremes. Treanor states that the issue with environmental ethics is that environmentalism is seen as a sacrifice to us humans, which holds us back from having an enthusiastic outlook on it. We must shift the focus of environmental thinking away from the discourse of prohibition and sacrifice, toward a discourse of flourishing. A virtue-oriented approach allows us to view the environmental problems we face in terms of flourishing and living well, instead of sacrifice. This approach is important is we want widespread development of environmental virtues, before it’s too late.
 I agree with Treanor’s point that we need to shift away from viewing environmentalism as this sacrifice and burden that is left for us to deal with. Treanor realistically and practically takes into account that as humans we don’t adjust to sacrifice easily.  To change the dynamic of our relationship towards environmentalism, I agree that we must change our perspective. I like the approach that by changing our habits, and actively working for the overall betterment of our environment, leads us to believe and feel like we are also contributing to our own self-growth. If we connect human flourishing, and advancement to possessing characteristics that encourage us to care for the environment, we would have a better turn out.

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