I’m looking to do a study on virtues and vice, and need to make a list. Here’s my list so far. I like the ones that end in "y." I think I’m interested in this because a few very important virtues, if encouraged into American culture, might make a huge difference, esp. honesty, industry, generosity, and chastity.
Here’s my list off of the top of my head:
- Honesty (dishonesty)
- Loyalty (unfaithfulness)
- Chastity (promiscuity)
- Thrift (wastefulness)
- Industry (laziness)
- Generosity (stingy)
- Charity (unloving)
- Self Control (?)
- Moderation (gluttony)
- Patience (impatience)
Here’s what Bill Bennett’s The Book of Virtues would add:
- Self Discipline (same as Self Control)
- Compassion
- Responsibility
- Friendship
- Work (same as Industry)
- Courage
- Perseverance (same as work or Industry?)
- Honesty (got that one)
- Loyalty (got that one)
- Faith (interesting to view this as a virtue)
Then, there’s this bible verse which we can cull for virtues:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
From that passage, we get:
- Patience
- Kindness
- Contentedness (does not envy)
- Self-effacing? (does not boast)
- Humility (is not arrogant)
- Polite (is not rude)
- Yielding (does not demand own way)
- Jovial ? (not irritable)
- Forgiving (not resentful)
- Righteous (does not rejoice in wrongdoing)
- Truth-seeking (rejoices in the truth)
- Patient (bears all things)
- Has Faith (believes all things)
- Hopeful (believes all things)
- Endurance (endures all things)
Finally, there is this huge list of virtues with definitions. Nice.
If everybody worked on their self-control alone there would be a huge decrease in crime, not to mention all the crap you see on Jerry Springer too! LOL
Nice to make a list of things to aim for, IMO. :)
Btw, in case it happens this week instead of next week, I will tell you now: I am going to be gone for a while. Just in case you might notice that I came up missing ;)
I should be back to my regularly scheduled program in a few weeks though ;)
I like the quote "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." by Cicero.
Gratitude is a virtue, in my opinion, because it activates you toward the other virtues.
Example, you will have the courage to stand up for what is right if you are grateful for the effects of people who are righteous and grateful for the acts of courage of others.
Trekant
Hasn't Bill Bennett been thoroughly debunked since it was revealed that he's an outrageous gambler? How can you trust a man on the issue of virtue when he seems to have none himself? (And this is ignoring the abortion of black children stunt a few years ago.)
I'd be interested to know which of these virtues you like Seeker. As for me, I think there is no more important virtue than tolerance. I doubt it will make your list; you're not the most tolerant fellow. Still, nothing is more important to society and America than the willingness to be tolerant of our differences.
Religious fundamentalists make a mockery of truth. They believe the truth can be found in faith when in reality, truth is not a matter of faith. Truth is a matter of fact!
Truth is a matter of fact, whether empirical methods can prove it or not. Secular fundamentalists make a mockery of truth by stating that they know it, all the while claiming that it is largely subjective. Can you say "illogical?" Me too.
And Sam, stating that you think tolerance is the greatest virtue sounds soo stereotypical of the modern liberal. Congrats on fitting the stereotype.
If you put these two claims you've both made together, you fit the biblical view perfectly – "grace and truth met in Jesus Christ." Tolerance must be balanced by truth, otherwise, we'd be tolerating lies.
At least secular people don't claim to know the truth like religious fundamentalists. Your talking snake is illogical Seeker. Also, regarding Eve. Just to let you know, thats not how women are made. I believe they are born not made of rib bone chips.
Anyway, back to the topic, as Merlin said, truth above all.
You know, this damned typekey thing is weird. It looks like it signs me out, but when i hit Sign In, i am signed in again.
Cin, I understand what you mean, but i really believe that truth must be coupled with mercy (love, grace, tolerance, whatever you call it). YOu can’t just pick ONE virtue.
I love the saying:
Love without truth is powerless sentimentality
Truth without love is powerful brutality
"YOu can't just pick ONE virtue."
My favorite theologian is Peter Abelard. He said this…
I still say truth above all. I would rather live with brutal truth than in blissful ignorance.
I'll be brutally honest. People must understand that the tale of a magical woman created from a magical man's rib in a magical garden with a talking snake who tempts with a magical fruit that contains magical knowledge belongs in the fiction section along with Mormon doctrine.
Here is another tasty quote from Thomas Jefferson for good measure…
Seeker,
I think that tolerance of things is important, particularly things that don't harm me. If you want to be a Christian, more power to you. I'm willing to tolerate this difference between us. If you'd like to restrict my rights, my tolerance for your positions ends. Seems fair enough.
And if you think that I'll be frightened off by you calling me a liberal, you're mistaken. There's no shame in the label, even if it doesn't describe me particularly well. But I'll let you have your moment.