Abstract: In recent years,with the “renaissance” of virtue ethics,some scholars of English-speaking academia have proposed that Descartes’ theory of virtue should be interpreted from the perspective of virtue ethics,with Lisa Shapiro and Marcelo de Araujo as representatives.They believe that Descartes’ theory of virtue is a continuation of classical virtue ethics,and compared to the perspective of modern ethics,it should be interpreted from the perspective of virtue ethics.However,through in-depth examination of Descartes’ theory of virtue,it can be found that this position is difficult to hold.Firstly,although Descartes stipulated that “virtue is the highest good”,the connotation of this provision is hollow and does not provide moral judgment standards like other teleological virtue ethics.Secondly,he established what is moral rightness and defined virtue based on it,rather than defining the moral rightness of behavior by defining the connotation of virtue in virtue ethics.Therefore,Descartes’ theory of virtue does not conform to the core provisions of virtue ethics and cannot be simply summarized in virtue ethics.

Key words: Descartes, virtue, virtue ethics, free will