Virtue ethicists argue that virtues are cultivated through practice and habituation. This process involves engaging in actions that embody the virtue, reflecting on these actions, and learning from both positive and negative experiences. It requires the presence of a community or society that understands and values these virtues, as they provide the standard against which the actions are measured. Moreover, the cultivation of virtues involves a deliberate and mindful attempt to integrate these virtues into one's life, guided by practical wisdom. It is a lifelong journey that evolves with experience and reflection.

Virtue ethics notably accounts for the role of emotions in ethical decision-making, considering them as an integral part of the virtuous life when they are properly aligned with reason and virtue. Aristotle and other virtue ethicists recognise that emotions can be educated and refined to support virtuous action. Emotions like empathy can guide us to act compassionately, while feelings such as indignation might reflect a sense of justice. The key is to cultivate emotions in a way that they harmonise with and support the exercise of virtues rather than lead us impulsively or irrationally. Virtue ethics seeks to integrate emotions into a well-rounded moral character.

Virtue ethics can indeed be applied in a professional context by emphasising the development of good character and the virtues pertinent to a specific profession. In business, this might involve fostering virtues such as fairness, honesty, and respect for others, guiding decisions that affect stakeholders. In law, virtues like justice, integrity, and prudence are crucial for the fair and compassionate practice of legal responsibilities. Virtue ethics encourages professionals to act not just in accordance with regulations or for the best consequences but to embody the virtues that define their professional roles at their best.

In virtue ethics, an action that goes against societal norms can sometimes be justified if it aligns with one's character virtues, provided that these virtues are well-founded and cultivated in accordance with a virtuous life. Virtue ethicists believe that society's norms are not always correct or moral. It's the role of the virtuous person to question and assess these norms through the lens of practical wisdom. For example, a society might normalise greed or dishonesty in certain sectors, but a virtue ethicist would argue against these practices if they conflict with virtues like generosity and honesty. It is the agent's cultivated virtues, rather than societal norms, that offer the best guide to action.

Virtue ethicists approach moral dilemmas by focusing on the character of the moral agent rather than on the application of moral rules or the calculation of consequences. They argue that a person who has cultivated virtues will be able to make the right decision when faced with a moral dilemma. This approach does not provide a systematic method for resolving every ethical conflict but rather depends on the moral agent's ability to discern the most virtuous course of action through practical wisdom (phronesis). The cultivation of a virtuous character is meant to prepare one for such decisions, with the understanding that life's complexity often precludes simple or universal answers.