Question

question 6
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which action demonstrates a shortcoming of virtue - based ethics?
refusing to engage in gossip out of a sense of respect for others’ privacy
participating in an anti - war protest due to personal convictions about the morality of war
lying so that a coworker will lose his job
donating to a charity out of a sense of superiority and ego

Explanation:

Virtue-based ethics focuses on developing good character traits (virtues) and acting in line with them, but a key shortcoming is that it can justify seemingly good actions done for unvirtuous motives.

• The first option reflects the virtue of respect, aligning with virtue ethics.
• The second option acts on moral conviction, consistent with virtue-driven action.
• The third option is a clearly unvirtuous act, not a shortcoming of the framework itself.
• The fourth option involves a charitable (externally good) action motivated by arrogance and ego, which exposes the flaw that virtue ethics may overlook bad motives behind outwardly virtuous acts.

Answer:

D. Donating to a charity out of a sense of superiority and ego