Questions: Renae has three brothers. Over the course of a weekend, she observed them in different situations with the new neighbors. Her oldest brother, Nick, stepped in front of her when the neighbors' large dog got loose and started running toward her. Her middle brother, Joe, loudly threatened the neighbors as to what would happen if they did not keep their dog chained up. Her younger brother, Scott, retreated into the house when all the shouting occurred. How might a virtue-based ethicist evaluate Nick's action? The action revealed that Nick has the virtue of courage. The action did not reveal a positive or negative trait. The action revealed that Nick acted without thinking. The action revealed that Nick has the vice of aggressiveness.

The answer is: The action revealed that Nick has the virtue of courage.

A virtue-based ethicist evaluates actions based on the character traits they reveal, focusing on virtues and vices.

This option is most aligned with virtue ethics. Nick's action of stepping in front of Renae to protect her from the dog demonstrates courage, a key virtue. Courage involves facing danger or fear for a good cause, which Nick did by prioritizing his sister's safety over his own.

This option is less likely because Nick's action clearly demonstrates a willingness to protect his sister, which is a positive trait. Virtue ethics emphasizes the importance of character traits, and Nick's behavior is indicative of a virtuous character.

While it is possible that Nick acted instinctively, virtue ethics would focus on the character trait demonstrated by the action rather than the thought process. The action itself aligns with the virtue of courage, regardless of whether it was premeditated.

This option does not fit the scenario, as Nick's action was protective rather than aggressive. Aggressiveness would imply a hostile or violent approach, which is not evident in Nick's behavior. His action was defensive and aimed at safeguarding his sister, aligning more with courage than aggressiveness.