Active learning ideas
Aristotelian Virtue Ethics shifts the focus of morality from 'What should I do?' to 'What kind of person should I be?'. Students explore the concept of Eudaimonia (flourishing) as the ultimate goal of human life. The topic covers the development of moral virtues through habit and the 'Doctrine of the Mean', where virtue is found as a balance between two extremes (excess and deficiency).
Activity 01
Each station has a virtue (e.g., Courage, Honesty, Wit). Students must identify the 'Deficiency' and the 'Excess' for each, and then describe what the 'Mean' looks like in a specific Year 12 scenario (like seeing someone being bullied).
What does it mean to achieve eudaimonia?
Activity 02
Students compare 'Eudaimonia' (flourishing) with 'Hedonia' (fleeting pleasure). They discuss whether a person could be 'happy' (hedonic) but not 'flourishing' (eudaimonic), and vice versa.
How do we develop moral virtues?
Activity 03
Students are given a difficult moral choice. They must 'channel' a virtuous person they admire and explain how that person would use 'practical wisdom' to find the right action, rather than just following a rule.
Does virtue ethics provide clear guidance for action?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Students often think the 'Mean' is just being 'average' or 'moderate'.
The Mean is the *perfect* amount, which might be a lot of anger in some situations and very little in others. Active role-plays of different 'levels' of anger help students see that the Mean is about 'appropriateness' to the situation.
Students think you can become virtuous just by reading about it.
Aristotle insists virtue is a *habit* (hexis) that must be practiced. Peer-led 'habit trackers' for small classroom virtues (like punctuality or active listening) can help students understand that virtue is a 'skill' you build over time.
Methods used in this brief
Utilitarianism
Students explore act, rule, and preference utilitarianism. They will evaluate the hedonistic calculus and the principle of utility.
8 methodologies
Kantian Deontological Ethics
An analysis of Kant's categorical imperative and the concept of duty. Students will apply the universalisability and humanity formulations.
8 methodologies