Final answer:
It is true that virtue and character are considered at least as important as the way moral dilemmas are resolved, exemplified by the philosophy of virtue ethics. Socrates emphasized the importance of character over outcomes, viewing harm to character as worse than physical harm or death. Virtue ethics, supported by thinkers like Aristotle and Ross, holds that cultivating good character traits leads to moral actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that matters of virtue and character are equally, if not more important than the way in which people resolve moral dilemmas is generally considered true. This perspective is deeply rooted in the philosophy of virtue ethics, which emphasizes the importance of having good character traits or dispositions. One example that supports the importance of virtue over resolving moral dilemmas can be found in the perspectives of ancient philosophers like Socrates, who argued that harm to one's character is worse than death because a virtuous character is essential for a good life.
Virtue ethics takes a character-centered approach to morality, arguing that right action flows from right character. Historically, this view was articulated by philosophers such as Aristotle, who claimed that states of character arise from habitual actions. Hence, constantly engaging in just actions leads to a just character. Socrates believed that a damaged character leads to a corrupt life, which is more significant than physical harm or death. The legacy of Socratic and Aristotelian thought persists in modern discussions of ethics, emphasizing that being a good person involves the cultivation of virtues such as wisdom, compassion, and courage, recognized as universally moral qualities.
Philosophical pluralists like Sir William David Ross further expanded on this by criticizing reductionist views that oversimplify moral life, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of our moral duties.