Ethical virtues determine the way the society lives, and how individuals from close and diverse backgrounds interact. In essence, ethical virtues are closely related to the “goodness” in human beings, which includes the possession and practice of attributes that promote the happiness of all people (Curzer, 2015). Ethical virtues have various outcomes on the well-being of human societies. For example, they can lead to the existence of justice within communities. Some of the phenomenal philosophers to recognize the essence of ethical virtues were Plato and Aristotle, who signified that ethical virtues must exist for justice to flourish. Indeed, justice is a desirable personal quality that seeks to promote equity in treatment and fairness in the actions taken by a person (Curzer, 2015). However, it cannot exist without virtues, which aid in the decisions made. According to Aristotle, human beings are internally governed by their reasoning patterns and capabilities (Curzer, 2015). The incidence of justice requires a rational approach to reasoning, which is made practicable by intrinsic virtues. In this regard, this paper addresses the various facets of ethical virtues and the key contributors to the use of ethical virtues in the society.
Aristotle speculated that ethical virtues have a fundamental role in helping society to achieve characteristics that were ideal for living. Human attributes like happiness, goodness, and justice stem from the practice of ethical virtues in their daily lives. Therefore, it is good to understand the specific ethical virtues to gain insight into the benefits that can be realized. Virtues denote the intrinsic traits in a character that an individual continually projects to the society (Curzer, 2015). The inherent nature of the virtuous character means that each action in an individual’s life is a product of careful consideration of values. A person with a noble character is naturally good because it is not the outcome of an activity that governs how the person behaves (Curzer, 2015). Thus, virtues are continually nurtured to provide the ideal state of an ethically virtuous individual.
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Importantly, ethical virtues lead to the development of “the good” in people, which is a result of living a life that is solely governed by rational reasoning, which in turn leads to the nurturing of virtues (Curzer, 2015). In a nutshell, there is a close relationship between the possession of ethical virtues and the incidence of happiness in human lives. According to Aristotle, happiness is the centerpiece of human satisfaction in life, and individuals constantly seek for livelihoods that create maxims in happiness (Curzer, 2015). However, one cannot achieve happiness without the possession of ethical virtues that create rational, just, and proper interactions with other members of society. In this regard, there is a direct relationship between the possession of virtues and happiness.
Happiness is dependent on how an individual cultivates their intrinsic virtues and morals that allow for desirable interactions. Virtues contribute to happiness through the maintenance of sound mental health, which is maintained by the possession of good reasoning faculties that enhance happiness. Moreover, physical welfare is also maintained by the possession of virtues, which can avert unnecessary conflicts and confrontations that jeopardize the well-being of the human physical condition (Curzer, 2015).
In conclusion, we should be virtuous to promote justice and goodness among human societies, hence encouraging happiness. Besides, ethical virtues enhance the correctness of actions that people take in their daily lives, and in the long run, these leads to happiness. The development of stable and reliable virtuous values also improves the outcome of interactions in society. Virtues teach people the best ways to live and attain characters that are guided by morals.
Reference
Curzer, H. J. (2015). Aristotle and the virtues . Oxford: Oxford University Press
