Humes Wide Construal of the Virtues Essay - 3865 Words

Humes Wide Construal of the Virtues ABSTRACT: The term virtue has traditionally been used to designate morally good character traits such as benevolence, charity, honesty, wisdom, and honor. Although ethicists do not commonly offer a definitive list of virtues, the number of virtues discussed is often short and their moral significance is clear. Humes analysis of the virtues departs from this tradition both in terms of the quantity of virtues discussed and their obvious moral significance. A conservative estimate of the various virtues Hume refers to in his moral writings would put the number at around seventy, with the more untraditional ones including wit, good manners, and dialog. Unsurprisingly, Humes critics have attacked†¦show more content†¦Humes analysis of the virtues departs from this tradition both in terms of the quantity of virtues he discusses and their obvious moral significance. A conservative estimate of the various virtues Hume refers to in his moral writings would put the number at around se venty, with the more untraditional ones including wit, good manners, and dialog. Not surprisingly, Humes critics, past and present, have attacked him for making nonsense of the concept of virtue by construing it so widely. For example, Philippa Foot argues that, ... one does not find in Hume an account of the difference between skills or talents and virtues and he even says that there is no reason to consider virtue as something distinct. I suppose it is partly due to Humes influence that this important topic, which was splendidly treated by Aristotle and Aquinas, is hardly discussed by modern moral philosophers. (1) Hume was aware that his broad understanding of virtue was controversial and he offered several defenses for his position. After presenting the neglected attacks of his contemporaries, and Humes response, I will argue that a problem remains: by failing to distinguish between degrees of virtue, Hume also fails to distinguish between degrees of vice. But, some vices such as malevolence clearly deserve punishment whereas other alleged vices such as uncleanliness clearly do not. Thus, for adequate retribution, a distinction is needed between important and less