Back to TGE 1257 - Ethics in Applied Technology

Part 4.3: Ethical Excavations (Virtue Ethics)

Authors: Clayn D. Lambert
License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Topic Outcomes

Concise Learning Outcomes Summary

By the end of Part 4, you should be able to:

  • Excavate existing virtue-based patterns in your personal reasoning

  • Analyze origins and development of your character-focused thinking

  • Navigate tensions between virtue ethics and other reasoning approaches

  • Apply archaeological analysis method to discover rather than learn framework concepts

  • Integrate virtue ethics insights into your ongoing conflict map through citations and addenda

Topic Summary

Excavate Existing Virtue-Based Patterns in Personal Reasoning

Students will identify where character-focused, excellence-oriented, and flourishing-centered thinking already appears in their ethical decision-making.

Evidence of Learning:

  • Recognizes existing focus on character traits and moral excellence rather than rules or outcomes

  • Identifies personal virtues they aspire to embody and vices they try to avoid

  • Discovers unconscious character-based considerations in decision-making patterns

  • Maps where virtue-focused reasoning conflicts with duty-based or consequence-focused approaches

Analyze Origins and Development of Virtue-Based Thinking

Students will trace how their character-focused reasoning patterns developed through personal experience and cultural influences.

Evidence of Learning:

  • Connects virtue-based patterns to role models, family values, or formative experiences

  • Explains how focus on character excellence might have been shaped by personal history

  • Identifies sources of their approach to moral exemplars and idealized character traits

  • Recognizes environmental or experiential factors that encouraged flourishing-based thinking

Navigate Tensions Between Virtue Ethics and Other Reasoning Patterns

Students will explore conflicts between character-based thinking and rule-following, outcome-maximizing, or relationship-focused approaches in their reasoning.

Evidence of Learning:

  • Identifies specific conflicts between embodying virtues and following moral rules or maximizing good outcomes

  • Explores tensions between the doctrine of the mean and more absolute moral positions

  • Recognizes where virtue-based logic conflicts with utilitarian calculations or deontological imperatives

  • Analyzes situations where character-focused thinking feels insufficient or culturally relative

Apply Archaeological Analysis Method to Philosophical Framework

Students will use AI-guided excavation to discover rather than learn about virtue ethics concepts, treating themselves as the primary source.

Evidence of Learning:

  • Maintains focus on personal reasoning patterns rather than theoretical knowledge

  • Uses AI to probe for hidden character-based assumptions and excellence standards

  • Engages in genuine discovery of existing patterns rather than confirmation of framework

  • Demonstrates honest assessment of virtue ethics presence (or absence) in their thinking

Integrate Virtue Ethics Analysis into Ongoing Conflict Map

Students will add virtue-based insights to their developing understanding of personal ethical complexity through citations and addendum creation.

Evidence of Learning:

  • Creates virtue ethics addendum that identifies specific patterns and tensions

  • Adds citations to existing conflict map indicating character-based reasoning

  • Updates understanding of ethical complexity based on virtue ethics excavation

  • Builds cumulative analysis that integrates multiple philosophical perspectives

Topic Sources

Topic Authors

Clayn D. Lambert