Bioethics Practice Exam

Virtue in Aristotle is about character formed through habit and guided by reason. The idea that you consciously work to develop a virtuous character through practice captures this well: virtue comes from repeatedly doing the right things and training your desires to align with rational judgment, so virtuous actions become automatic parts of who you are. External rewards don’t define virtue, because virtue is about internal state and motive, not payoffs. He also rejects the notion that the right action is the same for everyone at all times; for Aristotle, what counts as the virtuous mean depends on the person and the situation, found through practical wisdom and informed judgment. Finally, knowing what’s bad isn’t enough by itself; virtue requires accustomed good action and the right character, not just knowledge of wrongdoing.