Virtue ethics and the arc of universality: Reflections on Punzo's reading of Kantian and virtue ethics

Abstract

Abstract While I agree with Punzo's central thesis that virtue ethics is superior to Kantian ethics, the aims of my comments are twofold. On the one hand, I draw attention to some ways in which Punzo overstates the case against Kantian ethics, noting that unattainable ideals as such are no mark against a moral theory. On the other, I build upon Punzo's insights in order to bring into sharper focus the superiority of virtue ethics. Accordingly, I distinguish between inter‐species (Kantian ethics) and intra‐species (virtue ethics) morality, maintaining that the former, unlike the latter, invariably proves too wide of the mark.