Method
Vice
Overview
A vice is a practice, behaviour, habit or item generally considered morally wrong in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhealthy habit. Vices are usually associated with a fault in a person's character or temperament rather than their morality.
Synonyms for vice include fault, sin, depravity, iniquity, wickedness, and corruption. The antonym of vice is virtue.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
In the original texts
Passages from public-domain books where Vice is discussed.
But however directly the distinction of vice and virtue may seem to flow from the immediate pleasure or uneasiness, which particular qualities cause to ourselves or others; it is easy to observe, that it has also a considerable dependence on the principle of sympathy so often insisted on. We approve of a person, who is possessed of qualities immediately agreeable to those, with whom he has any commerce; though…
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
a chapter is titled for it; states what it is; names the idea; opens on it
11. The Measure that Man commonly apply to determine what they call Virtue and Vice. That this is the common MEASURE of virtue and vice, will appear to any one who considers, that, though that passes for vice in one country which is counted a virtue, or at least not vice, in another, yet everywhere virtue and praise, vice and blame, go together. Virtue is everywhere, that which is thought praiseworthy; and nothing…
John Locke, An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
For these reasons the former qualities are esteemed virtues, and the latter regarded as vices. Now, since 'tis granted there is a delight or uneasiness still attending merit or demerit of every kind, this is all that is requisite for my purpose.
David Hume, Philosophical Works, v. 2
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; opens on it
So then, of these inclinations, a man may sometimes merely have one without yielding to it: I mean, suppose that Phalaris had restrained his unnatural desire to eat a child: or he may both have and yield to it. As then Vice when such as belongs to human nature is called Vice simply, while the other is so called with the addition of “brutish” or “morbid,” but not simply Vice, so manifestly there is Brutish and Morbid…
Aristotle, The Nicomachean ethics of Aristotle
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
For how do they hurt them but by depriving them of integrity, beauty, welfare, virtue, and, in short, whatever natural good vice is wont to diminish or destroy? But if there be no good to take away, then no injury can be done, and consequently there can be no vice. For it is impossible that there should be a harmless vice.
of Hippo Augustine, The City of God, Volume I
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
Philosophers who discussed Vice
Related ideas
- Faith
- Prostitution
- Latin
- Hatred
- Thomas Aquinas
- Sin
- Jewish ethics
- Buddhism
- Quran
- Epicureanism
- Virtue
- Hope
- Catholic Church
- Dante Alighieri
- Habit
- Immorality
Place in the tradition
Part of Morality.