Virtue-based ethics focuses on which aspect?

• A. Character traits such as compassion, courage, and fidelity
• B. Legal rights and duties
• C. Consequences of actions
• D. Duties and obligations

Answer: (A)

Virtue-based ethics centers on who you are becoming and the character you cultivate. It evaluates actions by the moral quality they reveal in a person and the virtues that guide habitual behavior. Traits like compassion, courage, and fidelity are central because they shape consistent, morally praiseworthy choices across different situations. That emphasis on character and virtue is why listing those traits is the best fit for what virtue-based ethics prioritizes.

In contrast, focusing on legal rights and duties reflects a rule- or obligation-based approach, where morality hinges on compliance with duties. Looking at the consequences of actions centers on outcomes to judge rightness, which is the realm of consequentialism. Emphasizing duties and obligations aligns with deontological theories that stress universal principles and required actions regardless of character or results.