Virtue
Regular readers of this blog know that we here at Optimates have healthy and frequent debates about sin and morality (Don't believe me? What about this, this, this, or this?!?).
Well, because it's springtime, let's put that gloom-and-doom talk behind us - for at least a few hours, I mean - and talk about virtue.
A thought exercise, then. What do you think is the greatest of the virtues and why? Furthermore, which of the virtues do you think you possess? Hit me!
Update: Let me make it clear that by 'virtue' I am referring to a kind of human excellence (arete for you Greek lovers!) and not to unique personal abilities.
Well, because it's springtime, let's put that gloom-and-doom talk behind us - for at least a few hours, I mean - and talk about virtue.
A thought exercise, then. What do you think is the greatest of the virtues and why? Furthermore, which of the virtues do you think you possess? Hit me!
Update: Let me make it clear that by 'virtue' I am referring to a kind of human excellence (arete for you Greek lovers!) and not to unique personal abilities.
posted by Joshua @ 8:09 PM
6 Comments:
Apollo's Oracle of Delphi gave this piece of advice: "Know thyself" - arguably that is the greatest human virtue, to know your strengths and weaknesses.
I'd go out on a limb and say that the greatest human virtue is, in fact, patience. Rash actions tend to lean towards selfishness and immediate vengeance, whereas patience not only gives one better knowledge of a situation, but gives others the chance to redeem themselves, and quells irrationality.
I'd go out on a limb and say that the greatest human virtue is, in fact, patience. Rash actions tend to lean towards selfishness and immediate vengeance, whereas patience not only gives one better knowledge of a situation, but gives others the chance to redeem themselves, and quells irrationality.
Humility. Half, if not the entire, problem with people today is that they've gotten into their heads that they're somehow more important that everyone else.
Everyone's the same. Everyone was born, everyone will die, and in a thousand years no will care that you ever existed.
I tend to agree with Headmaster and put Humility at the top of my list, too. By that same token, I think it's one of the virtues that I don't possess to the degree I would like and I need to cultivate.
I don't think I'm so unusual in that regard, because genuine humility is really, really difficult. I think most people reach a level of humility with which they're comfortable and stay there in a mild self-satisfaction, which naturally defeats the entire purpose of humility!
I take my cue here from the Gospel of Matthew (Book Six), as follows:
"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."
Many of our Christianist politicians would do well to remember these words.
My vote would be for compassion as the greatest virtue, followed by self-examination and hence wisdom. Without compassion, the human world would die, but without self-examination and wisdom, actions that are performed compassionately may in fact lead to more suffering. So, compassion and wisdom.
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