Aristotle on Constitutive Luck

Abstract

One way of distinguishing between different moral theories, which has been popular in recent years, is to distinguish between theories that are outcome-based (the chief example being consequentialism), agent-based (e.g. deontology) and character-based (referring usually to Aristotle and virtue ethics). Whether this distinction is viable and/or useful is an issue which will be discussed within the wider context of moral luck.¹ However, for our present purposes we can start by accepting that Aristotelian theory is indeed character-based and proceed from there to see how this affects the Aristotelian answer to the problem of moral luck. The process of answering this question will also eventually explain what is meant by a character-based theory and how, if in any way, such a theory differs from other alternatives.