NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

City of Koronadal, Province of South Cotabato

The Meaning of Ethical Framework

Aristotle's Virtue Ethics
St. Thomas Natural Law Ethics

A Written Report
Submitted to:
Mr. Charles Dominic F. Ortigosa, RPm

GROUP 1

Submitted by:

Dianne Barsal
Rhea Cordova
Kyla Louise Mantawel
Denver Peñas
Stephanie Somogod
Al-Hafez “Johnlord” Chio Sula
Danicazel Villaruel

November 24, 2023

OBJECTIVE OF THE REPORT

 Explain the meaning of ethical framework

 Define Aristotle’s virtue ethics

 Define St. Thomas ethical law ethics

INTRODUCTION
In this written report, we will dive into the profound and nuanced realm of Ethical
frameworks, with a particular focus on Aristotle's Virtue Ethics and St. Thomas' Natural
Law Ethics. Ethical frameworks serve as guiding principles that shape our
understanding of morality and guide decision-making processes. These frameworks
provide a lens through which individuals and societies can assess the rightness or
wrongness of actions, ultimately contributing to the development of a cohesive moral
fabric.

Aristotle's Virtue Ethics, rooted in ancient Greek philosophy, centers on the

cultivation of virtues as the key to leading a morally virtuous life. According to Aristotle,
virtues are character traits that lie at the mean between excess and deficiency,
emphasizing the importance of balance and moderation. Virtue Ethics encourages
individuals to develop qualities such as courage, wisdom, and justice, not merely as
acts but as ingrained aspects of one's character. The pursuit of eudaimonia, or human
flourishing, stands as the ultimate goal within this ethical framework, transcending mere
adherence to rules and regulations.

Lastly, St. Thomas Aquinas, a medieval philosopher and theologian, proposed

Natural Law Ethics, drawing upon a synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and Christian
theology. Natural Law posits that there exists an inherent moral order in the natural
world, discernible through reason, which serves as a guide for human conduct. St.
Thomas identified primary precepts, such as the preservation of life, procreation, and
the pursuit of knowledge, that align with the fundamental inclinations of human nature.
The application of reason to these precepts forms the basis for ethical decision-making
within the Natural Law framework.
 As we embark on a journey through these ethical perspectives, it becomes
apparent that both Aristotle's Virtue Ethics and St. Thomas' Natural Law Ethics
contribute significantly to the understanding of morality. While Virtue Ethics underscores
the importance of character development and the cultivation of virtues, Natural Law
Ethics anchors morality in the rational discernment of inherent principles within the
natural order. Exploring these frameworks not only enriches our understanding of ethics
but also prompts reflections on the timeless quest for leading a morally virtuous.
It is good to understand what an
ethical framework is before
studying the 5
most common ethical
frameworks in details. These
ethical frameworks were cited
in passing Lesson 2, Chapter 1
and are again introduced in this
Lesson.
The ethical framework is a set
of codes that an individual uses
to guide
his or her behavior. It is just
another term for <moral
standards= as discussed in the
early part of this text. It is what
people use to distinguish right
from wrong in the
way they interact with the
world. It is used to determine
the object of an action. An
ethical framework guides an
individual in answering these
questions: <What do I
ought to do?= and <Why do
I ought to do so=? So
ethical frameworks serve as
guideposts in moral life.
The various dominant mental
frames may be classified as
follows: 1) virtue
or character ethics of
Aristotle, 2) natural law or
commandment ethics of St.
Thomas and others, 3)
deontological and duty
framework of Immanuel Kant,
4)
utilitarianist, teleological and
consequentialist approach and
5) Love and justice
framework. They will be
introduced here but will be
discussed more in detail in the
succeeding lessons.
Virtue or Character Ethics of
Aristotle
Virtue ethics asks, who is
the ethical person? For
Aristotle, the ethical
person is virtuous, one who
has developed good character
or has developed
virtues. One attains virtues
when he/she actualizes his/her
potentials or
possibilities, the highest of
which is happiness. Happiness
is the joy of self-
realization, self-fulfillment, the
experience of having actualized
one’s potentials.
Natural Law or Commandment
Ethics of St. Thomas
 For St. Thomas, what is right
is what follows the natural law,
the rule which
says, <do good and avoid evil.=
In knowing the good as
distinguished from evil, one
is guided by the Ten
Commandments which is
summed up as loving God
and
one’s fellowmen.
Deontological and duty
Framework of Immanuel Kant
 Kant’s framework is
deon or duty or deontological
framework. Deontology
centers on <the rights of
individuals and the intentions
associated with particular
behavior… equal respect…
given to all persons.= The
<deontological approach is
based on universal principles
such as honesty, fairness,
justice, and respect for
The Meaning of Ethical Framework
The ethical framework is a set of codes that an individual uses to guide his or her
behavior. It is just another term for "moral standards". It is the foundation of any ethical
decision-making process, providing a shared set of standards by which to evaluate
potential choices. An ethical framework guides an individual in answering these
questions: "What do I ought to do?" and "Why do I ought to do so"? So ethical
frameworks serve as guideposts in moral life.

The various dominant mental frames may be classified as follows:

Virtue or Character Ethics of Aristotle

 Virtue ethics is a philosophy developed by Aristotle and other ancient

Greeks. It is the quest to understand and live a life of moral character.
This character-based approach to morality assumes that we acquire virtue
through practice. By practicing being honest, brave, just, generous, and so
on, a person develops an honorable and moral character. According to
Aristotle, by honing virtuous habits, people will likely make the right choice
when faced with ethical challenges.
Natural Law or Commandment Ethics of St. Thomas

 Natural law was espoused by Saint Thomas Aquinas, who viewed the
world as being created by God and understood that humans are rational
beings capable of using their intellect to comprehend the world. By
extension, God enabled humans to reason in a natural way to make
ethical choices.
Deontological and Duty Framework of Immanuel Kant

 To Kant, all humans must be seen as inherently worthy of respect and

dignity. He argued that all morality must stem from such duties: a duty
 based on a deontological ethic. Consequences such as pain or pleasure
are irrelevant.
Utilitarianist, Teleological and Consequentialist Approach

 Utilitarian ethics is a normative ethical system that is primarily concerned

with the consequences of ethical decisions; therefore, it can be described
as a teleological theory or consequentialist theory, which are essentially
the same thing, both having a notion that the consequence of the act is
the most important determinant of the act being moral or not. Teleological
reasoning takes into consideration that the ethical decision is dependent
upon the consequences (“ends”) of the actions. In teleological reasoning,
a person will do the right thing if the consequences of his or her actions
are good. Additionally, if an action by a person was an act that was “not
good,” but the consequences turned out to be “good,” under some
theories of teleological reasoning, the act may be deemed a good ethical
act. This is also referred to as “consequentialist moral reasoning,” where
we locate morality in the consequences of our actions.
Love and Justice Framework

 Ethics, at its core, involves being just and loving. Justice means giving
everyone what they rightfully deserve, ensuring fairness and equality.
However, an ethical approach doesn't stop there—it goes beyond,
embracing love. Love in ethics isn't just affection; it's about extending
care, empathy, and support beyond what is strictly required. So, being
ethical isn't just about meeting minimum standards of fairness (justice), but
also about enhancing others' well-being by going above and beyond,
infusing our actions with compassion and kindness.
Aristotle's Virtue Ethics

What is an Ethical Act?

It is the action that a virtuous person would do in the same circumstances. An act
or decision that is morally right and aligned with the principles of honesty, fairness, and
integrity. Ethical act is characterized by honesty, fairness and equity in interpersonal,
professional and academic relationships and in research and scholarly activities. Ethical
act respects the dignity, diversity and rights of individuals and groups of people.

Virtue or Character Ethics

Does not only deal with what is right and wrong within an individual’s actions. It
also provides guidance to the characters and behaviors a good person will seek to
achieve.

Virtue ethics is personal-based rather than action-based. It looks at the virtue or

moral character of the person carrying out an action, rather than at ethical duties and
rules or the consequences of particular actions.

Virtue ethics does not only deal with the rightness or wrongness of individual
actions. It provides guidance as to the sort of characteristics and behaviors a good
person will seek to achieve. In that way, virtue ethics is concerned with the whole of a
person's life, rather than particular episodes or actions. A good person is someone who
lives virtuously-who possesses and lives the virtues.

Virtue ethics is "the ethics of behavior" which "focuses on the character of the
person involved in the decision or action. If the person in question has a good character,
and genuine motivation and intentions, he or she is behaving ethically." The rightness or
wrongness of one's action, or the goodness or badness of one's personality depends on
his character, motivations, and intentions. In addition, it is an ethics whose goal is to
determine what is essential to being a well-functioning or flourishing human person.
Virtue ethics stresses an ideal for humans or persons. As an ethics of ideals or
excellences, it is an optimistic and positive type of ethics.

Basic Types of Virtue (Excellence)

Aristotle gave two types of virtue.
 Intellectual Virtues- Intellectual virtues are traits that aim at
things like truth, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. The
intellectually virtuous person desires these things, is motivated
to achieve them, and has the qualities that enable her to do so
reliably. Exercising each virtue will require certain skills, and
the good judgment to know when exercising those skills is
appropriate.
 Moral Virtues- Aristotle defines moral virtue as a disposition to behave in the
right manner and as a mean between extremes of deficiency and excess, which
are vices. We learn moral virtue primarily through habit and practice rather than
through reasoning and instruction.

In the context of Aristotle, virtue is an attained, actualized or self-realized potential or

possibility. It can serve as a moral framework. When one has the potential or possibility
of becoming a musician, he tries to train and study to become a musician following a
musician's virtue as a framework.

In short, virtue means excellence and virtue ethics is excellence ethics.

Eudaimonia
A life of Eudaimonia is a life of striving. It is a life of pushing yourself to your
limits, and finding success. A Eudemonistic life will be full of the happiness that comes
from achieving something really difficult, rather than just having it handed to you. For
Aristotle, eudaimonia is the highest human good, the only human good that is desirable
for its own sake (as an end in itself) rather than for the sake of something else (as a
means toward some other end). Oct 27, 2023

Virtue as a Mean
For Aristotle, virtue is the Golden Mean between two extremes. The virtue of
courage is a mean between two extremes of deficiency and extreme, namely,
cowardice and foolhardiness, respectively. Too little courage is cowardice and too much
courage is foolhardiness (Mackinnon, et al 2015).

Golden Mean
The golden mean focuses on the middle ground between two extremes, but as
Aristotle suggests, the middle ground is usually closer to one extreme than the other.
For example, in the case of courage, the extremes might be recklessness and
cowardice.

Virtue Ethics in Other Traditions

Confucius emphasized two virtues, jen (or ren) and Jen means humaneness,
human-heartedness and compassion. Li means propriety, manners or culture.
Hinduism emphasizes five basic moral virtues: non-violence, truthfulness, honesty,
chastity, freedom from greed. It also emphasizes mental virtues: calmness, self-control,
self-settled Ness, forbearance, faith, and complete concentration, hunger for spiritual
liberation. (George, V, 2008)
 Buddhism also has its intellectual and moral virtues. From the eight-fold path are
the intellectual virtues of right understanding and right mindfulness and the moral virtues
of right speech, right action and right livelihood.

Jesus Christ preached the virtues of love, mercy and compassion, hunger for
justice, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. St. Thomas Aquinas taught the
theological virtues- faith, hope and love. Christian tradition teaches four cardinal moral
virtues, namely: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude.

St. Thomas Aquinas

He is an eclectic philosopher, integrated into his own philosophy anything that is
good conceived by his predecessors like Aristotle. But he enriched their thoughts with
his own insights or learning. The attainment of the highest good, which is happiness,
includes its diffusion. "Bonum difusivum est." Goodness as goodness necessarily
diffuses itself. A person's virtue diffuses itself in a right action. Goodness shares itself,
like a light that shines before all men.

Christians Traditions:
Teaches four Cardinal Moral Virtues:
 Prudence
 Justice
 Temperance
 fortitude

St. Thomas' Natural Law Ethics

 Also known as Thomistic Ethics, which is a philosophical and theological ethical
framework based on the teachings of Thomas Aquinas. It is rooted in Aristotelian
philosophy and emphasizes the concept of "natural law," which posits that human
beings have a natural inclination towards good and that certain actions are inherently
right or wrong based on their alignment with human nature and the will of God.

Law Defined
St. Thomas explained that the natural law is promulgated through the light of
reason.
 Natural Law- Natural law is a theory in ethics and philosophy that says that
human beings possess intrinsic values that govern their reasoning and behavior.
Natural law maintains that these rules of right and wrong are inherent in people
and are not created by society or court judges.
 Eternal Law- Eternal Law is the Divine Wisdom of God which oversees the
common good and governs everything. Eternal law is God's plan to lead all
creation towards God's eternal salvific plan to be holy and blameless before Him
through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4–5) [1].
 Natural Law as Universal Formula- A universal formula which contains in brief
an expression of the whole natural law is this: “keep the moral order,” or “observe
right order in your actions.

Do Good. Avoid Evil

The basic principle of morality:
 Is present in every man’s consciousness. SYNDERESIS is the inherent
capacity of every individual lettered or unlettered to distinguish good from
 bad. The moral law is the dictate of the voice of conscience or right reason
so that we know that we act wrongly if we act against the dictates of our
conscience. The experiences of guilt, remorse and self-reproach are
indications of our acting not in accordance to the law. How is the good
understood by St. Thomas? The good is that which is suitable to human
nature. The good is built into the human nature and man is directed
towards it by human inclination.

What Are Man’s Natural Inclinations

Self-preservation, just dealing with other people, Perpetuation of one’s species.

Conclusion
An exploration of ethical frameworks reveals profound insights into moral
philosophies that guide human behavior. Ethical frameworks serve as conceptual
structures that outline principles, values, and guidelines shaping our decisions and
actions. Two prominent ethical theories, Aristotle's virtue ethics and St. Thomas
Aquinas's natural law ethics, offer distinctive perspectives on morality and human
conduct.

Aristotle's virtue ethics is rooted in the cultivation of moral character. According to

Aristotle, virtuous behavior arises from developing habits that lead to the realization of
one's potential as a rational being. Central to this theory is the concept of virtues—
qualities like courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom—which are attained through
practice and habituation. For Aristotle, ethical conduct is not merely a set of rules but a
way of life aimed at achieving eudaimonia, often translated as "flourishing" or "well-
being." The ethical framework of virtue ethics emphasizes the importance of character
development and the pursuit of excellence in all facets of life.
On the other hand, St. Thomas Aquinas's natural law ethics stems from the belief in an
inherent order in the world governed by divine reason. According to Aquinas, humans
have an innate inclination towards goodness, and moral principles are derived from
observing this natural order. Natural law, as conceived by Aquinas, consists of objective
moral laws that are universally applicable and can be deduced through human reason.
These laws guide individuals toward fulfilling their inherent purpose and achieving moral
goodness. Aquinas's ethical framework intertwines theology with reason, emphasizing
the harmony between natural inclinations and divine laws as the basis for ethical
conduct.

Both ethical frameworks, while distinct in their approaches, share commonalities in their
pursuit of ethical living. They underscore the importance of virtues and moral principles
in guiding human actions toward a good life. While Aristotle focuses on the development
of virtuous character, Aquinas grounds ethics in a natural order guided by divine reason.
Despite their differences, both frameworks emphasize the significance of cultivating
virtues, fostering moral excellence, and aligning human actions with overarching moral
principles.

In conclusion, ethical frameworks, such as Aristotle's virtue ethics and St. Thomas
Aquinas's natural law ethics, offer valuable insights into understanding and navigating
moral dilemmas. They provide guidance on how individuals can lead morally fulfilling
lives by emphasizing the cultivation of virtues, understanding the natural order, and
adhering to universal moral principles. Ultimately, these frameworks serve as
compasses, directing individuals toward ethical behavior and the pursuit of a flourishing
and morally sound existence.
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