Because of these virtues or positive character traits, he or she is committed to doing the right thing no matter what the personal cost, and does not bend to impulses, urges or desires, but acts according to values and principles. These are the virtues, which lead humans to happiness and a good life.

According to Aristotle, things of any variety have a characteristic function that they are properly used to perform. The good for human beings, then, must essentially involve the entire proper function of human life as a whole, and this must be an activity of the soul that expresses genuine virtue or excellence.

Classical virtue ethics is about the good we have to achieve by living and acting in this world and thus becoming ‘good’ as persons acting according to reason. Through her choices or intentional actions, the virtuous person develops her character. Character is good, provided affectivity is ordered according to reason.

Intellectual virtues are qualities of mind and character that promote intellectual flourishing, critical thinking, and the pursuit of truth. So-called virtue responsibilists conceive of intellectual virtues primarily as acquired character traits, such as intellectual conscientiousness and love of knowledge.

Gratitude

Virtue, by definition, is the moral excellence of a person. Morally excellent people have a character made-up of virtues valued as good. They are honest, respectful, courageous, forgiving, and kind, for example. Virtues need to be cultivated to become more prevalent in life.

Fear, says Aristotle, is the expectation of evil, and evil is properly to be feared. Some fears are noble, for instance the fear of disgrace, and to be “fearless” in a situation where disgrace is to be feared is a vice (“shamelessness”), not a virtue.