As we know, Virtue Ethics argues that virtues are developed aspects of one's character. That is, while individuals may have natural predispositions aligned with particular virtues or vices; our characters are developed over time and can best be understood as habits -- Good or Bad.
And, as is plainly clear to everyone, habits are hard to break. This is good news when it comes to habitual virtues; a person who had developed a habit for courage or honesty will behave courageously and honestly most all the time without even thinking about it too much -- this virtue has become part of this person's character. But this is bad news when it comes to vices -- those who develop a habit for dishonestly, disloyalty, or callousness will, very likely, behave in these ways most of the time -- these bad habits have become parts of the person's character -- the person really IS disloyal and callous.
So, for Virtue Ethics it is important to build good habits and to start when children are young -- before they have had time to engrain vices into their characters. But, who has responsibility to instill virtues into children?
Aristotle remarked that a child's parents are often not in the best position to offer virtue training to their own children. First, parents may tend to see only the good in their children and so not be as diligent as they could be in correcting poor habits. On the other hand, parents may to too hard on their children and fail to praise them properly when they exhibit virtuous behavior. In both cases parents are deemed to be too emotionally tied to their own children to offer the best training. And, of course, it is tough for parents who don't possess virtues to instill virtues in their children. Let's face it, some parents are people with poor characters. Can a dishonest, disloyal, callous parent have any real success in teaching his child to be honest, loyal and compassionate?
Aristotle argued that the government (and society at large) had a huge responsibility in teaching children to be virtuous. Children should attend public education where teachers, coaches and other mentors who have demonstrated virtue are in charge of virtue training.
Obviously Aristotle's advice here seems controversial at best -- we Americans don't like the government telling us or our children what to do. I'd like your thoughts on this issue. Who IS responsible for helping to ensure our children have the best chance possible to become virtuous adults?
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