Abstract
The revival of virtue theory in Western philosophical ethics has been a great benefit to the discipline, as even virtue’s detractors seem to acknowledge. As a main alternative to deontology and consequentialism, it has broadened and enlivened ethical dialogue, and it has reminded us of philosophical debates and traditions that had been too-abruptly set aside and forgotten. Virtue theory’s reappearance also has made for fruitful connections to non-Western theories and traditions, many of which are themselves virtue-based. Further, the study of virtue ethics has helped to foster connections between philosophy and other disciplines such as psychology and education, particularly in the growing interdisciplinary subfield of moral education.