Which option places virtue ethics as the correct framework for Aristotle’s focus on flourishing through character?

• A. Utilitarianism
• B. Deontology
• C. Virtue Ethics
• D. Natural Law Theory

Answer: (C)

Aristotle’s approach centers on developing a virtuous character as the path to a flourishing life. He argues that the good for humans is eudaimonia, achieved by forming stable habits that incline us to act in ways that are virtuous, guided by practical wisdom. A virtue is a steady disposition to choose the mean in our thoughts, words, and actions, cultivated through repeated practice and governed by rational deliberation. When someone lives in accordance with virtue, their rational part harmonizes with their desires, enabling them to act well across different situations. This emphasis on character formation and rational activity as the route to a flourishing life is what makes virtue ethics the right framework for Aristotle. In contrast, frameworks that focus on consequences, duties, or natural law address morality without centering character as the primary route to the good life.