dydsetikk

Dydsetikk, or virtue ethics, is a family of ethical theories that emphasizes character and virtue over strict rules or the evaluation of outcomes. In this approach, what makes an action right is whether it expresses a virtuous character and contributes to human flourishing, rather than whether it simply follows a rule or produces good consequences.

Historically, dydsetikk traces to ancient Greek philosophy, notably Aristotle, who argued that virtue is a mean between extremes and is formed through habituation and rational choice. The aim is eudaimonia, often translated as flourishing or well-being. Central ideas include practical wisdom (phronesis) to discern the right action in context, and the view that moral life is about developing good dispositions such as honesty, courage, and temperance. In the medieval period, Thomas Aquinas integrated Aristotle’s ethics with Christian theology, tying virtue to a teleological vision of human life oriented toward the good.

In the modern era, virtue ethics experienced a revival in the 20th century with thinkers such as Elizabeth Anscombe, Alasdair MacIntyre, Rosalind Hursthouse, and Philippa Foot. Contemporary discussions often explore how virtues are cultivated, how to resolve conflicts between competing virtues, and how virtue ethics applies to professional practice in medicine, law, business, and public policy.

Compared with deontological or consequentialist theories, dydsetikk centers on the agent’s character and long-term flourishing rather than universal duties or outcomes alone. It faces criticisms about providing precise action-guidance in complex cases and about cultural variation in what counts as a virtue. Proponents respond by emphasizing moral education, situational judgment, and the social dimensions of virtue, arguing that virtuous agents cultivate reliable judgment across diverse contexts.