Final answer:
Williams' 'reflexively deformed' virtue indicates how virtues like integrity can become vices under certain conditions. Sir William David Ross's pluralist ethics emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach to virtues, acknowledging competing duties. Virtue ethics involves the cultivation of character and recognizes that virtues may have boundaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Williams' "reflexively deformed" virtue refers to instances where a virtue, such as integrity, may become distorted under certain conditions, turning into a vice. This could occur if, for example, an individual's steadfastness to principles leads to harm or if moral blindness is a result of unbending adherence to a rule. While it is not a certainty that Williams' integrity is no virtue, it is suggestive that there can be situations where what is typically considered a virtue may not lead to the morally best action.
Pluralists like Sir William David Ross argue for a more nuanced understanding of ethics, suggesting that competing duties and prima facie duties must be navigated in real-life scenarios. Rather than adhering to a single principle, virtue ethics requires weighing multiple factors to determine the right course of action, often understanding that virtues might have limits or exceptions.
In the context of virtue ethics, Franklin's thirteen virtues may overlook certain societal and economic factors, such as inheriting wealth as opposed to earning it through hard work. Political philosophers argue that virtues like bravery, integrity, and humility are essential, but one must consider the limits and appropriate expressions of these virtues within different contexts to avoid their potential deformation.