Final answer:
Ethics helps determine which character traits are considered virtuous, with virtue ethicists emphasizing the development of good character traits as the basis for right action and moral well-being. Philosophers like Mencius and Confucius stress the importance of virtues like compassion and integrity in ethical development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with moral principles and guides our judgments about what is right and wrong. In regards to character traits, ethics helps to determine B) Which character traits are considered virtuous. Virtue ethics, in particular, is a character-centered approach that asserts right action flows from good character traits. These virtues are personal characteristics that individuals can cultivate through reflection and practice, leading to self-perfection and well-being.
The ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius regarded compassion and empathy as fundamental virtues necessary for moral conduct and social harmony. Also, figures like Sir William David Ross highlighted that our moral duties are not absolute and can be influenced by circumstances, suggesting that ethical judgment requires a nuanced consideration of the complexities of moral life. Confucianism and other philosophical traditions imply that a person is considered to have good moral character if they embody traits such as bravery, integrity, humility, and kindness.
In the context of ethics, your question correlates with virtue ethics' emphasis on the value of character traits in determining moral action and personal development rather than the transactional considerations of consequences as in utilitarianism, or the strict rule adherence proposed by deontologists.