Virtue Ethics
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum explains what appeals to her about virtue ethics, as opposed to other ways of looking at moral choice. She mentions that it looks at human life as a whole, rather in terms of narrow moral parts. Professor Nussbaum also ap...
Utilitarianism (Part Two)
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum offers a critical analysis of classical utilitarian theory. On the positive side, she states that classical utilitarianism valued everyone equally, regardless of social class. However, in the opinion of Professor Nussbaum...
Utilitarianism (Part One)
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum distinguishes between classical utilitarian theory, with its emphasis on doing what's best for all humanity, and the economic version of utilitarianism, which says that people make choices on the basis of what's best for ...
Is Ethics Based on Character?: Virtue Ethics and Modern Psychology
Virtue ethics parallels many features of modern psychology. One such characteristic is a high regard for emotion, considered to be in close alliance with reason. Virtue ethics recognizes how we become who we are through relationships with others. Th...
Feminist Ethics
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum discusses links between feminism and virtue ethics. She focuses on the idea espoused by some that feminist ethics should turn to virtue ethics in order to develop an ethics based on care and affiliation, and get away from...
Feminist Theories and the Meaning of Life
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum argues that, in a sense, all feminist theory is concerned with the meaning of life. Professor Nussbaum talks about feminist author Betty Friedan who, like many feminists, began by questioning the value of her own life, th...
Global Justice
Focusing on the nation-state as the prism through which major theories of justice are generally considered, Philosopher Martha Nussbaum discusses what she calls the "...accident of birth into one nation rather than another..." and how that introduce...
Greed
Philosopher Martha Nussbaum talks about the theory of rational self-interest. She observes that one good thing about greed is that it "sometimes tends to distract people from even worse things, like militant ethnocentric nationalism, racism..."
Can Rules Define Morality?: Kantian Ethics
"Can Rules Define Morality?" addresses Immanuel Kant's rights-based theories of ethics, the categorical imperative. What was new about Kant's moral philosophy is that a superhuman authority is not necessary to determine morality. Our own reason, he ...
Is Ethics Based on Character?: Criticisms and Concerns about Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics is criticized for failing to provide clear rules for action that would help people facing crises. It is not a theory about what people ought to do, but an inquiry into the kind of person we ought to be. Another criticism is that virtue...