ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief overview of five distinctive theories of virtue. The first three—an Aristotelian, a sentimentalist, and a pluralistic theory—are examples of virtue-ethical theories of virtue. Virtue ethicists disagree with each other about the nature and role of motivation, emotion, and intelligence. The chapter discusses the two theories of virtue given by supporters of rival normative theories: a consequentialist theory and a Kantian theory. Contemporary Aristotelian virtue ethicists like Rosalind Hursthouse and Julia Annas conceive of virtue as a human excellence. According to sentimentalists like Michael Slote, what makes a trait a virtue is that it involves having and acting from admirable sentiments, such as benevolence, gratitude, compassion, and love. Slote denies that practical wisdom is required for virtue. Christine Swanton is the leading proponent of a pluralistic theory of virtue. Consequentialists tend to focus on two moral concepts: right action and good consequences. The difference between Kantians and Aristotelians concerns the role of practical wisdom.
