Answer each of the following questions, in one brief paragraph for each question. Remember, no long, block-texts
1. What does it mean to be a good person?
2. What is the relationship, if any, between being a good person and being a happy person?
As you respond to the two main questions above, remember that Virtue Theory holds that the virtues enable us to be effective in our lives. We need to be effective in the attainment of our life-goals in order to be happy. Virtue is power and so the virtues empower us to be effective, So virtue empowers us to attain our highest goals and thereby be happy.
Here is an opposite point of view, which constitutes a complete rejection of virtue theory:
Since exercising the virtues means consistently practicing rational self-control, and since rational self-control requires that we mortify our disordered desires, and pursue our desires only inasmuch as they are endorsed by reason, then working toward the virtues in our lives and in our character is a mistake that would prevent us from being happy.
This last, opposite theory to virtue theory can be stated more formally as Rejection of virtue theory and virtue is necessary for happiness.